Five Companies to Offer Next-Generation Fiber-Optic Components
11/26/99 IBM Microelectronics, Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group (Allentown, PA),
Methode Electronics Inc. (Chicago), MRV Communications (Chatsworth, CA), and Sumitomo
Electric Lightwave (Research Triangle Park, NC) will provide the industry with new small form
factor (SFF) fiber-optic components that will use the LC connector interface. Designed by Bell
Labs, the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies, the LC connector is a
high-density optical connector used for single-mode and multimode fiber-optic applications in both
public and private networks.
The LC connector uses an RJ-45 telephone-style housing and interfaces with next-generation
optical transceivers measuring « in. wide as opposed to 1 in. a generation ago. The smaller size
doubles the port density of network interface cards, hubs, routers, switches, as well as patch
panels and wall outlets. Using the LC connector with SFF transceivers not only increases port
densities by up to 100% in fiber-optic communications systems, but it also allows network
equipment engineers to design circuit boards and panel cutouts to accommodate copper
connectors as well as fiber-optic ports.
Lucent is now shipping the 2417 single-mode SFF fiber-optic family of transceivers with the LC
interface. The devices support Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and asynchronous transfer mode
(ATM) applications and join a complete line of Lucent's LC-based cabling products including
multimode and single-mode connectors, cable assemblies, adapters, wall outlets and patch
panels.
IBM is currently shipping its LC-based multimode SFF pin through-hole optical transceivers for
Fibre Channel and Gigabit Ethernet applications.
Edited by Kristin Keiser |
