News Article
NeoPhotonics unveils colourless receiver for 100G optical networks
VICR, which incorporates InP (indium phosphide), is designed to improve signal-to-noise ratio and increase coincident channel count in 100G coherent systems
NeoPhotonics Corporation has launched a new 100G variable power intradyne coherent receiver (VICR).
The photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based VICR integrates a variable optical attenuator (VOA) on the signal path and is designed to increase dynamic range and improve the optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) for both single channel and multiple coincident signals.
This capability is designed to enable service providers to better manage network capacity in colourless coherent networks.
NeoPhotonics is currently sampling the VICR and expects to enter general availability with this product in the second half of 2013.
Core networks are rapidly moving towards more efficient “colourless” operation, meaning that ROADM add and drop ports are not limited to fixed predetermined wavelength channels. Instead, a tuneable transmitter can connect any wavelength to any add port and the ROADM can route any wavelength to any drop port receiver.
Colourless operation improves the efficiency of valuable line cards and transponders in coherent transport networks, where a single DWDM channel carries 100Gbps of information.
In coherent optical communications systems the coluorless channel drop operation is enabled by using the local oscillator laser and the VICR to select the receive channel, eliminating the need for a terminal optical filter.
The VICR then detects the signal channel to which the local oscillator laser is matched, but all other channels are outside the device bandwidth. In colourless applications the remaining channels are not filtered out optically, so the incoming signal power to the VICR can vary significantly depending on how many other channels are present, resulting in up to 100 times higher power falling on the receiver than in the single channel case.
The NeoPhotonics VICR integrates a PIC variable optical attenuator that provides control and stability to the input signal. In both colourless and conventional optically filtered systems, the VOA also improves performance by allowing system selection of the optimal operating point to enhance OSNR and reduce the effects of optical impairments such as polarisation dependent loss (PDL).
“We are pleased to add the VICR to our extensive line of PIC based intradyne coherent receivers,” says Tim Jenks, Chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. “The VICR illustrates the power of photonic integration to provide additional functionality to our existing products, which are designed to benefit our customers with improved performance in the same form factor and simplified board layouts.”
NeoPhotonics is showcasing the VICR alongside its existing product portfolio, including other intradyne coherent receivers and narrow linewidth tuneable lasers for 100G coherent communications, its 100G CFP and CFP2 transponders for client side transmission and an extensive line of OLT transceivers for FTTH PON networks, at the OFC Exhibition in Anaheim, California (March 19th to 21st, 2013, Anaheim Convention Centre at booth #1601).
In addition, NeoPhotonics personnel are participating in a workshop and a panel devoted to PON access applications and presenting a paper on ROADM-based wavelength agility:
David Piehler, Chief Scientist, Access Products, will discuss the topic, “Statistical WDM is antifragile,” in Workshop OM1D: Can Access Networks Afford to be Wavelength Agile?, Monday, March 18th, 9:00am - 12:00pm in Room: 303D. This workshop will examine architectural and cost considerations in the coming multi-wavelength PON systems and optical distribution networks (ODN).
Also on Monday, between 4:00pm and 6:00pm in Room: 304C, Piehler will give a presentation on “Scaling PON OLT port utilisation – HFC style,” in connection with Panel NM3J: PONs as Used by MSOs. This panel will consider the role of PON architectures for commercial and residential services in MSO networks and the timing of PONs in the residential sector.
Winston Way, Chief Systems Architect, and two co-authors from NEC Laboratories America, will present the paper, “Contention resolution within colourless and directionless ROADM,” on Wednesday March 20th at 8:00am in Room: 304C.
The photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based VICR integrates a variable optical attenuator (VOA) on the signal path and is designed to increase dynamic range and improve the optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) for both single channel and multiple coincident signals.
This capability is designed to enable service providers to better manage network capacity in colourless coherent networks.
NeoPhotonics is currently sampling the VICR and expects to enter general availability with this product in the second half of 2013.
Core networks are rapidly moving towards more efficient “colourless” operation, meaning that ROADM add and drop ports are not limited to fixed predetermined wavelength channels. Instead, a tuneable transmitter can connect any wavelength to any add port and the ROADM can route any wavelength to any drop port receiver.
Colourless operation improves the efficiency of valuable line cards and transponders in coherent transport networks, where a single DWDM channel carries 100Gbps of information.
In coherent optical communications systems the coluorless channel drop operation is enabled by using the local oscillator laser and the VICR to select the receive channel, eliminating the need for a terminal optical filter.
The VICR then detects the signal channel to which the local oscillator laser is matched, but all other channels are outside the device bandwidth. In colourless applications the remaining channels are not filtered out optically, so the incoming signal power to the VICR can vary significantly depending on how many other channels are present, resulting in up to 100 times higher power falling on the receiver than in the single channel case.
The NeoPhotonics VICR integrates a PIC variable optical attenuator that provides control and stability to the input signal. In both colourless and conventional optically filtered systems, the VOA also improves performance by allowing system selection of the optimal operating point to enhance OSNR and reduce the effects of optical impairments such as polarisation dependent loss (PDL).
“We are pleased to add the VICR to our extensive line of PIC based intradyne coherent receivers,” says Tim Jenks, Chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. “The VICR illustrates the power of photonic integration to provide additional functionality to our existing products, which are designed to benefit our customers with improved performance in the same form factor and simplified board layouts.”
NeoPhotonics is showcasing the VICR alongside its existing product portfolio, including other intradyne coherent receivers and narrow linewidth tuneable lasers for 100G coherent communications, its 100G CFP and CFP2 transponders for client side transmission and an extensive line of OLT transceivers for FTTH PON networks, at the OFC Exhibition in Anaheim, California (March 19th to 21st, 2013, Anaheim Convention Centre at booth #1601).
In addition, NeoPhotonics personnel are participating in a workshop and a panel devoted to PON access applications and presenting a paper on ROADM-based wavelength agility:
David Piehler, Chief Scientist, Access Products, will discuss the topic, “Statistical WDM is antifragile,” in Workshop OM1D: Can Access Networks Afford to be Wavelength Agile?, Monday, March 18th, 9:00am - 12:00pm in Room: 303D. This workshop will examine architectural and cost considerations in the coming multi-wavelength PON systems and optical distribution networks (ODN).
Also on Monday, between 4:00pm and 6:00pm in Room: 304C, Piehler will give a presentation on “Scaling PON OLT port utilisation – HFC style,” in connection with Panel NM3J: PONs as Used by MSOs. This panel will consider the role of PON architectures for commercial and residential services in MSO networks and the timing of PONs in the residential sector.
Winston Way, Chief Systems Architect, and two co-authors from NEC Laboratories America, will present the paper, “Contention resolution within colourless and directionless ROADM,” on Wednesday March 20th at 8:00am in Room: 304C.
