U2t, Inphi Team on Receivers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. and BERLIN -- u2t Photonics AG, a Berlin-based vendor of leading-edge opto-electronic components, today introduced two differential pin-TIA photoreceivers for SONET OC-768/SDH STM-256 fiber optic networks, the result of ongoing collaborative design and development between u2t Photonics and Inphi Corporation. The KPRV2021 and KPRV2022 photoreceivers incorporate Inphi's newest high-performance TIAs, which operate at data rates up to 43 Gbps. These products provide equipment manufacturers with a reliable and cost-effective solution across multiple wavelengths for metro, short reach, and long haul transmission systems. Inphi, a leading supplier of precision integrated circuits, initially worked with u2t Photonics to develop the XPRV2021 photoreceiver, announced in September 2002.

"Once again, Inphi has played a decisive role in enabling u2t Photonics to develop and launch highly integrated receiver modules that address customer demand for bandwidth, gain, and low power consumption," stated Michael Kneier, vice president of sales and marketing at u2t Photonics. "Our next generation of photoreceivers delivers enhanced functionality in a small form factor coplanar package for a wide range of transponder and line card designs," continued Kneier. "Moreover, the differential output mode allows our customers to directly drive the subsequent decision circuits."

KPRV2021

The KPRV2021 photoreceiver consists of Inphi's high-bandwidth 4334TA TIA with a limiting output buffer and u2t Photonics' waveguide-integrated pin photodiode. With an optical-to-electrical bandwidth of 40 GHz and a differential conversion gain of 300 V/W, this device is designed specifically for OC-768 applications. The KPRV2021 also has a control option to adjust DC offset between differential outputs to provide the end user with maximum design flexibility.

KPRV2022

The KPRV2022 differential photoreceiver incorporates Inphi's high-gain 4331TA TIA with a limiting output buffer and u2t Photonics' waveguide-integrated pin photodiode. The module has an optical-to-electrical bandwidth of 33 GHz with a differential conversion gain of 1000 V/W and is optimized for high sensitivity non-return-to-zero (NRZ) applications.

"Inphi's enduring relationship with u2t Photonics has enabled us to furnish our high-speed TIAs directly to customers designing 40 Gbps systems in an easily integrated module format," said Gary Franzosa, director of marketing at Inphi Corporation. "As a result, equipment manufacturers can obtain all of our OC-768 products, which include drivers, multiplexers, and demultiplexers, in both die and packaged versions."

The KPRV2021 and KPRV2022 receivers come in an MSA-compliant small form factor package, which provides direct access to the differential RF output as well as to the DC lines via a coplanar waveguide (CPW) ceramic feedthrough. This package complements u2t Photonics' product line of single-ended receivers with V connectors. Fabricated in indium phosphide (InP), both receivers exhibit low supply voltage (+3.3 V) and low power dissipation (less than 350 milliwatts). These receivers have large dynamic range, with a bit error rate (BER) of less than 10-12 between -10 dBm and +3 dBm optical inputs. In addition, both parts provide sufficient overhead to support forward error correction (FEC).

The KPRV2021 and KPRV2022 photoreceivers from u2t Photonics are available in coplanar waveguide packages and will be available in sample quantities upon request. Production is scheduled for the first quarter of 2004. The new parts will be on display in both the u2t Photonics booth (#754) and the Inphi booth (#724) in Hall C5 at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) in Rimini, Italy, beginning September 22.

u2t Photonics AG

Inphi Corp.