SDL, Inc. Announces First Shipments of a New Product
New Device Integrates a 40-Channel Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer And a 40-Channel Variable Optical Attenuator Array
[This PR comes to us courtesy of ZO on the SDLI thread. It continues right after my little rant, which follows, immediately below.]
[FAC: I bolded the clause above because it highlights how one vendor begins to address the treatment of transmission properties of wavelengths that I questioned when we were discussing MEMS [uplink]. Clearly, the product mentioned here is not a replacement for a switch, at least not in its present form. But that's not the purpose for my commenting. Rather, it has to do with the treatment of disparate power levels.
If the product performs as advertized, this silica on silicon planar solution is not all that __blue sky__, after all. Optical network elements - just as their cupric brethren - that serve as aggregation and distribution points in networks, must contend with lambdas that are unpredictable in strength. The technology discussed in the PR below is but one approach to dealing with this variable property.
It, and others, will improve to accommodate growing numbers of wavelengths as time goes by. Probably in lock step, or just a little ahead of, providers' ability to keep up with their adminstration and management.
As things stand now, MEMS devices, as they are presently being applied in optical network nodes, are locked into inflexible [non-variable] situations, and thus, can not dynamically accommodate, treat, or otherwise equalize variable strength optical signals that arrive from who knows where. Maybe someday they will.
A re-read of the Trellis white paper that ftth <the person> posted would be in order in these regards, despite the fact that their own solutions might be off into the wild blue yonder... then again, maybe not.
216.87.28.62 ]
The PR continues:
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan 8, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- SDL, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDLI chart, msgs) today announced the first shipments of a new device that integrates both a 40-channel Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer (DWDM), and a 40-channel Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) into a single module. Based on SDL PIRI's proprietary P-Core silica-on-silicon planar lightguide circuit technology, the device integrates the functionality of both an Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) multiplexer and a thermo-optic VOA. SDL PIRI is a world leader in AWG shipments.
"We believe the level of integration of this device provides unprecedented functionality in the marketplace today," said Donald R. Scifres, CEO and Chairman of SDL, Inc. "Optical networking system designers now have a powerful new component, enabling flexible new architectures and new approaches to scalability. Of particular importance is the application of the integrated component technology to next-generation networks, including both long-haul and metro architectures."
The VOA array equalizes the optical signal intensity from up to 40 separate laser sources, each with a unique wavelength. The signals are then routed to the AWG planar circuit, which performs the essential function of combining the individual laser signals onto a single fiber. The module includes a digital control subsystem allowing individual control of per-channel attenuation levels as well as fine control over multiplexer wavelengths. The wavelength control allows precision alignment of the device to the industry-standard grid of DWDM wavelengths.
"We are pleased with the rapid development effort," says Tadashi Miyashita, SDL PIRI's General Manager, who notes that the effort took only about four months. "Our focused engineering team has successfully leveraged the traditional strengths of the PIRI P-Core technology and applied it to a new device that provides a significant improvement in functionality with reduced complexity, size and cost for our customers. We are presently ramping our shipments of this product to several customers."
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