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Technology Stocks : Vitesse Semiconductor -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David Lawrence who wrote (1420)	5/18/1998 4:20:00 PM
From: The Ox	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4710

also, Next Generation MUX/DeMUX Chipset Reduces Cost of 2.5Gb/s SONET/SDH Interface CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 1998--Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq:VTSS) Monday announced the next generation physical interface chipset for 2.5Gb/s SONET/SDH systems. These highly integrated devices, the VSC8161 and VSC8162, continue Vitesse's long history of technical leadership focused at reducing overall system cost for OC-48/STM-16 Telecom systems. The VSC8161 and VSC8162 integrate all necessary functions required to bridge the gap between a CMOS system core and the laser modules that generate and receive optical signals. Integrated into the VSC8161 is a 2.5Gb/s clock multiplication unit, 16:1 multiplexer, and OC-48/STM-16 laser driver. The VSC8162 incorporates an OC-48/STM-16 clock and data recovery unit and 1:16 demultiplexer. Providing higher levels of integration than competing solutions and exceeding Bellcore jitter specifications for their targeted applications, the VSC8161 and VSC8162 are ideal for designing DWDM systems, SONET/SDH terminal equipment, and SONET/SDH add/drop multiplexers. "Instead of trying to replicate the performance of hybrid silicon or GaAs laser drivers and clock and data recovery units, we developed a proprietary circuit topology that exceeds the high current and linearity of these simple silicon bipolar circuits," said Bob Nunn, vice president and general manager of telecom products for Vitesse. "This highly integrated GaAs solution eliminates the need for the simple bipolar components, such as laser drivers and clock recovery units, that were used in previous generation telecom systems. Replacing lower level building blocks with highly integrated devices enables our customers to achieve the aggressive price targets they have set for their systems," continued Nunn. The VSC8161 accepts 16 bits of parallel data operating at a frequency of 155Mb/s and converts it to a serial data stream running at 2.5Gb/s. The serial data stream is output through the laser driver contained on the VSC8161. The laser driver is capable of sourcing 110mA, which allows it to interface directly to currently available and next generation laser diodes that are used in SONET/SDH applications. The serialization function is performed using the on-board clock multiplication unit, which uses a 155MHz reference clock to generate a 2.5GHz clock. The VSC8162 receives a 2.5Gb/s data stream, and using the internal clock and data recovery unit, recovers the data, de-serializes it, and outputs the data 16 bits wide at 155Mb/s. The clock recovery unit provides users with phase timing adjust circuitry, allowing users to adjust the placement of the recovered clock to the optimal point within the data eye. This helps system manufacturers overcome non-linear effects that are inherent in optical transmission media. The clock recovery unit uses a 19.44MHz reference clock that permits it to stay locked under loss of signal conditions. Both loss of lock and loss of reference clock conditions are indicated by the VSC8162. The VSC8161 and VSC8162 products are fully monolithic solutions. No external loop filter components are required for the analog clock multiplication and clock recovery circuits. Parity calculation is also provided in both devices to verify data transfer to and from the low speed parallel interface. "While other suppliers talk of 'compliance' or 'conformance' to SONET/SDH standards, Vitesse strives to significantly exceed these requirements to provide critical design margin for our targeted applications," said Gregg Borodaty, Vitesse's product marketing manager for telecom products. Vitesse has been focused at reducing telecom system cost since 1991, when the 16 bit VSC8061 and VSC8062 MUX/DeMUX chipset were first released. Further cost savings were achieved in 1994, as these devices were moved into low-cost plastic packaging, the first OC-48/STM-16 products to do so. The VSC8063, released a year ago, continued this cost reduction drive by adding a 2.5Gb/s phase lock loop and eliminating the need for an external clock multiplication unit. "Vitesse has been providing OC-48/STM-16 solutions for over 10 years. We continue to lead the market with new innovative devices that offer real advantages to telecom systems manufacturers. By raising the level of integration, the VSC8161 and VSC8162 provide the advantages of increased design margin, reduced power consumption and significantly reduced cost," added Borodaty. Both devices were developed at Vitesse in cooperation with a major telecom system manufacturer. The collaboration included device definition, such as defining the appropriate level of integration, as well as setting specification targets for critical parameters like the output current necessary to drive next generation lasers. Vitesse's customer has successfully evaluated both devices and given the go ahead for a production ramp starting this summer. The VSC8161 is available in a 100 pin PQFP package. The VSC8162 is available in a 128 pin PQFP package. General market availability of the devices is scheduled for September. Pricing is $198 for the VSC8161 and $158 for the VSC8162 in 1,000-unit quantities. Vitesse Semiconductor is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of high bandwidth communications and Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) integrated circuits (ICs). The company's products address the needs of telecommunications, datacommunications and ATE equipment manufacturers who demand a combination of high speed, high complexity and low power dissipation. Vitesse corporate headquarters is in Camarillo, with its second fabrication facility in Colorado Springs, Colo. set to produce volume supplies of IC in mid-1998. Company/product information can be found on the Web at www.vitesse.com.