11 May 2015

OIF launches integrated photonics projects

In the wake of its April quarterly meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, the Optical Internetworking Forum says that initial work has begun on technical specifications for high-bandwidth optical modulators and receivers for coherent applications. Members also approved implementation agreements (IAs) for 100G applications. The Q2 meeting also saw several OIF technical committees meet to continue the Forum's work on the FlexEthernet and Common Electrical Interface (CEI) projects begun in 2014. Finally, based on the success of technical demonstrations in 2014, Forum members held initial discussions regarding an SDN-focused demo for 2016.

"With as many as 19 documents going to ballot this quarter alone, we are completing technical work at an extremely fast pace," says Karl Gass of Qorvo Inc, the OIF Physical and Link Layer Working Group vice chair, Optical. "These two new electro-optical component projects will fill a gap in the line-side component space, providing systems engineers more tools to increase channel capacity beyond 100Gb/s."

The utilized coherent ASIC Baud Rate is no longer sufficient information to define the frequency response requirements for coherent electro-optical (EO) components now that the industry has embraced the use of pre-conditioning. The High Bandwidth Polarization Multiplexed Quadrature Optical Modulator project enables coherent electro-optical modulation of a wider optical spectrum per optical carrier defined in terms of frequency response. The Intradyne Coherent Receiver project proposes an improved RF high-frequency response that enables coherent electro-optic demodulation of a wider optical spectrum peroptical carrier.

Implementation Agreements approved for public

The IA for Integrated Dual Polarization Micro-Intradyne Coherent Receivers targets coherent 100G PM-QPSK applications with nominal symbol rates up to 32 GBaud in a CFP2 form factor.  This IA also defines a low-speed electrical interface incorporating an SPI bus for control of the transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) in the coherent receiver.

The IA for Generation 2.0 100G Long-Haul DWDM Transmission Module-Electromechanical applies to optical line interface applications. The IA reduces the size and power consumption requirements by defining a 4x5 module that can be used for 100G long-haul DWDM transmission applications.

Tags: OIF

Visit: www.oiforum.com/documents/implementation-agreements