MILPITAS, Calif. -- Lightwaves2020, an innovative leader in the design and manufacture of fiber optic components, introduces four different Variable Optical Attenuators (VOA) of varying complexity and integration to support the diverse needs of its customers. This flexible approach to VOA design is critical in optical power balancing and adjustment in DWDM, optical add/drop monitor and dynamic gain equalizer applications, applications requiring flexible gain without affecting the noise figure in dynamic gain EDFA, remote controllable optical power adjustment and anywhere optical power overshoot protection is necessary.

Lightwaves2020s new VOA products include: a simple individual liquid crystal (LC) VOA; an LC VOA integrated with a photodiode; an intelligent VOA integrated with a driver; and an intelligent VOA that is integrated with a driver and a digital communication interface. This product diversity enables fiber optic system developers to now choose the degree of direct or remote control over their systems that they need and to acquire the VOA products they need from a single manufacturer.

Lightwaves2020's basic VOA provides simple AC voltage-controlled optical attenuation and enables fast power management in optical networks. The high speed of these VOAs allows for direct integration into the system structure. Lightwaves2020 provides either driver circuits for DC-voltage control or socket board for directly plug-in.

Lightwaves2020's tap plus photodiode integrated VOA offers a closed-loop ready structure for precise power auto-balancing and VOA output monitoring, making it ideal for feedback loop structure design.

Adding intelligent features, the integrated VOA module combines a VOA, tap, photodiode, VOA driver, and TIA (LOG AMP is optional) for small photodiode signal amplification, which establishes a multi-functional electric interface to the system.

Lightwaves2020's most intelligent VOA, which includes all features mentioned above plus a digital interface for intelligent communication, provides maximum remote control capability. Utilizing an intuitive GUI, this VOA provides both VOA control and power reporting through a standard RS232 or I2C connection.

By introducing these four products, Lightwaves2020 seeks to become the long haul and metro industries' one-stop-shop for all VOA products.

Lightwaves2020 Inc.