BY SUSAN J. CAMPBELL
Contributing Editor
Picolight, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of optical transceivers and components, is the first to ship 1310 nanometer (nm) vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) transceivers in a 4 gigabit per second (Gbps) triple-rate Small Form Factor Pluggable configuration to target one of the fastest growing segments of the data center market. The new transceivers offer extended reach and lower power consumption for short-to-medium distance applications.
VCSEL technology emits light vertically through the surface of water as opposed to Fabry-Perot and differential feedback lasers that emit light through the edges. VCSEL devices require very little electrical current to produce optical energy output of 850nm and above and are easy to use to transmit light into an optical fiber as they emit narrow, circular beams.
Picolight’s president and CEO, Steve Hane stated that the company intends to leverage the 1310nm VCSEL development efforts in multiple new markets and applications like high-bandwidth and high-density optical platforms. The company will continue to build on its early lead in the rapidly emerging market for better-performing, more power-efficient enterprise, storage area and metro network interconnect technology, according to Hane.
The 1310nm VCSELs from Picolight deliver lower power consumption, lower electromagnetic interference (EMI) and lower heat generation to produce increased performance and reliability over single-mode fiber according to Vidya Sharma, vice president of marketing for Picolight. Sharma’s position is that next-generation high-density form factors will strongly favor the exclusive use of VCSEL technology due to its low heat and low EMI-generation characteristics compared to that of edge-emitting lasers.
Highlights of the 1310nm VCSEL include the use of 850nm transceiver architecture; single transceiver architecture addressing multiple specifications at 4km and 10km, reaching up to 40km; an un-cooled 1310nm oxide-confined, high-speed VCSEL coupled to an LC optical connector; extended temperature and voltage range options; internal AC coupling on both transmit and receive data signals; all-metal housing for increased EMI shielding.
Jagdish Rebellow of the iSuppli Corporation, an electronic research firm, was quoted as saying that the low power consumption benefits of 1310 VCSEL technology make it an attractive solution for 4G Fibre Channel switches where heat dissipation concerns continue to escalate. The availability of the product proves the maturity of this long-anticipated technology and a major step toward enabling data center connectivity to reach applications at or above 10km.
Headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, Picolight, Inc., designs and manufactures optical components and VCSEL-based optical transceivers for high-bandwidth optical systems. As a venture-funded company, Picolight is focused on leveraging its VCSEL technology, vertically integrated manufacturing strategy and a market-focused culture to drive next generation optical interconnects for datacom applications.
The ability of Picolight to study its product offerings and its market to identify key areas of needed improvement and then be the first to offer improvements signify a forward-thinking company. There will most definitely be followers in this technology, but Picolight is setting a standard, understanding the needs and concerns of the market and addressing them in a way that will generate increasing revenue opportunities.
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