Another entrant into WDM:
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Proprietary WDM channel design drives formation of company
FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via Individual Inc. -- A solution to the problem of dense wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) channel design provided the catalyst for the formation of Fremont-based Applied Fiber Optics Inc. (AFO).
Unlike other dense WDM devices currently on the market that are based upon the use of optical coatings to separate and define the channels, AFO's WDM is a fused, cascaded fiber (FCF) solution that offers a more precise channel separation and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. The company has applied for a patent on the design.
"Our goal is to provide increased global telecommunications capacity on a single fiber for long-haul access with higher quality and lower cost than what is currently being offered," said Sheau-Sheng Chen, AFO's president and chief executive officer.
AFO offers two multiplexers, a FCF-DWDM structure, available in both four- and eight-channel configurations, and a single mode, two-channel, wide DWDM, available in three pairs of wavelengths.
According to Chen, the company was privately financed, both with seed money and an initial round of investment. Product development is headed by Dr. Peter Chen, vice president and chief technical officer. Prior to joining AFO, Chen worked for Hewlett-Packard doing research on electro-optics.
Chen started his career as a senior process engineer at Intel after receiving a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. He has held several management positions at XMR Inc., where he currently serves as chairman of the board.
Marketing at AFO is headed by James Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing. He has held a variety of sales and marketing positions with Spectra-Physics, Princeton Applied Research and Hewlett-Packard.
AFO designs, develops and manufactures fiber optic couplers and FCF-DWDM components. The company sells these components into a variety of applications including high speed telecommunications, CATV, local area networks and optical fiber amplifiers.
Manufacturing, management, marketing and sales take place at the company's headquarters at 46758 Lakeview Blvd., Fremont, Calif. 94538. The company can be contacted by phone at 510/440-9608 or toll free 888/335-0338; and by fax at 510/440-9668. |
