NeoPhotonics Corp of San Jose, CA, a vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of both indium phosphide (InP) and silica-on-silicon photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based modules and subsystems for high-speed communications networks, and Inphi Corp, a provider of high-speed mixed signal ICs for the communications and computing markets, have announced shipments to multiple customers of a new high-dynamic-range integrated coherent receiver (HD-ICR) in production volumes.
The HD-ICR couples the high-dynamic-range, low-noise and high-input-current-handling capabilities of Inphi's IN3250TA transimpedance amplifier (TIA) with the high sensitivity of NeoPhotonics' photodiodes, and is designed to deliver the high performance necessary for next-generation 100G colorless coherent transmission systems.
NeoPhotonics says that 100G coherent networks are rapidly moving towards more efficient 'colorless' operation, meaning that add and drop ports are not limited to fixed pre-determined wavelength channels, and any wavelength channel can enter or exit any port. Colorless operation improves the efficiency and cost of coherent transport networks, but places additional requirements on receiver performance. For colorless applications where the remaining channels are not filtered out optically, the incoming signal power can vary significantly depending on how many other channels are present, resulting in up to 100 times higher optical power falling on the receiver than in the single-channel case. For this case, NeoPhotonics integrates a PIC variable optical attenuator (VOA) that is designed to set the incoming optical power at the optimum point to avoid saturating the detector, while the high dynamic range and low noise of Inphi's IN3250TA enables the desired signal to be reproduced with high fidelity.
For the case where a single wavelength enters the receiver, the high sensitivity of the HD-ICR may eliminate the need for an optical pre-amplifier in front of the receiver, reducing cost and simplifying operation.
"We are pleased to add the HD-ICR to our extensive line of PIC-based intradyne coherent receivers, and we feel that working closely with Inphi has effectively made available to our customers the high performance of both companies' technology," says NeoPhotonics' chairman & CEO Tim Jenks. "Our next-generation 100G optical solutions, coupled with Inphi's 100G electronic chips, can help us meet the needs of our customers in next-generation 100G systems and beyond," he adds.
"Inphi remains uniquely positioned to deliver 100G solutions with its portfolio of CMOS PHY ICs and high-performance TIA and driver products, which will allow for faster deployment of next-generation 100GbE optical solutions in enterprise, data center and service provider networks," says Inphi's president & CEO Ford Tamer.
