7 March 2011

GigOptix 40G DPSK modulator passes Telcordia high-temperature operating lifetime testing

GigOptix Inc of Palo Alto, CA, USA, which designs modulator drivers, laser drivers and transimpedance amplifier (TIA) ICs based on III-V materials as well as polymer electro-optic modulators for high-speed fiber-optic communications systems, says that, as part of the ongoing productization of its Thin Film Polymer on Silicon (TFPS) line of Mach–Zehnder modulators (MZM), its LX8401 40G DPSK MZM has passed pre-qualification assessment, with over 1000hrs of Telcordia’s GR-468 demanding high-temperature operating lifetime (HTOL) testing without degradation in operating performance. This is “an important milestone in our commercialization of our TFPS technology,” notes Dr Raluca Dinu, VP & general manager of GigOptix Bothell.

The HTOL test is a key milestone in the required suite of Telcordia GR-468 reliability assessments. It assesses reliability by stressing the TFPS MZM at a temperature of 85ºC while the device is modulating a 1550nm laser and driven by a high-speed electrical RF signal. The test simulates an accelerated 25 year lifetime of the product. The performance parameters measured included insertion loss, drive voltage, extinction ratio, and bandwidth. This result builds on previously announced reliability assessments by GigOptix of its TFPS optical chips, which have been measured successfully for over 7000hrs at 85ºC to date.

“We are now in the process of running full GR-468 qualification on these devices, including damp heat, mechanical shock and temperature cycling testing to be completed in the third quarter of 2011,” says Dinu. “We expect the LX8401 and subsequent modulators addressing both the 40G and 100G markets to be a major vehicle for future revenue growth as we capitalize on the rapid growth of these optical networking markets,” he adds.

The LX8401 is designed using GigOptix’s proprietary TFPS technology, which enables low drive voltage in the smallest form factor available. The low drive voltage reduces power consumption by more than 20% compared with competing modulator technologies, it is claimed, while the small form factor enables smaller 300-pin optical transponders.

The product is being industrialized by contract manufacturing partner Sanmina-SCI, which has provided process development, manufacturing and supply chain services for the LX8401.

GigOptix to demo first production 40G DPSK TFPS MZ modulator and bundled solution driver

GigOptix is demonstrating its 40G DPSK MZM and 100G driver at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition/National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC 2011) in Los Angeles (8–10 March).

At booth 1931, GigOptix is demonstrating its dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) Bundled Solutions:

• 40G Bundled Solution: the LX8401 DPSK TFPS optical modulator with low drive voltage in a small form factor, designed for long-haul and ultra-long-haul optical transponders;

• 100G Bundled Solution drivers: the GX62455, a low-power integrated quad channel 32Gb/s driver designed for 100G DP-QPSK long-haul optical transmitters.

GigOptix provides DWDM Bundled Solutions that provide a comprehensive solution set consisting of a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), TFPS Mach—Zehnder modulator and matched driver for an optical application. The firm says that the Bundled Solution reduces engineering expenditure, accelerates time-to-market for new products and enables customers to leverage GigOptix’s low-power solutions with enhanced cost efficiencies. GigOptix Bundles will address 40G DPSK, 40G RZ-DQPSK as well as 40G and 100G DP-QPSK applications.

Tags: GigOptix DPSK modulator

Visit: www.GigOptix.com

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