TOKYO -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6703) today announced the development of KGL4166, a 10Gbps Mach-Zehnder modulator*1 driver IC for high-speed optical communication. This IC comes in the world’s smallest package for a device equipped with bias-T*2. It also features an output voltage of 9Vpp, which is a 1.5 fold increase from conventional chips, achieving the largest output voltage in the industry.

For 10Gbps optical communication, achieving long distance data transmission and reducing the cost of dispersion compensation are keys. Though new methods such as duo binary module*3 and Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) *4 that are strong in relation to dispersion are being developed, they require driver ICs with higher output amplitude since the modulator is driven with higher voltage than conventional ones.

The KGL4166 is a 10Gbps optical modulator driver IC that runs on 9Vpp output voltage. By adopting high voltage process elements and optimizing circuit designs, the driver IC achieves output voltage of 9Vpp, putting it in the industry’s highest-class while maintaining the high quality wave characteristics for which Oki driver ICs are noted. In addition, by miniaturizing the chip, Oki achieves the world’s smallest mounting area of 10.9 x 8mm, for a chip equipped with bias-T.

“We believe the KGL4166 will have an impact on the 10Gbps optical communication market, which is expected to grow. This super-small driver IC will enable customers in the optical transceiver business to create smaller, higher quality optical communication devices,” said Masayuki Tsuboi, President of Optical Components Company at Oki Electric. “Oki will launch this product from the fiscal year ending March 2008 and utilizing the advantages of high-speed and high voltage in the device, we will target a 50% share in the Mach-Zehnder modulator driver IC market.”

Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd.