News

25 March 2009

 

TriQuint launches first SMT device for 40Gb/s networks

Coinciding with this week’s Optical Fiber Communication (OFC 2009) Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, RF product maker and foundry services provider TriQuint Semiconductor of Hillsboro, OR, USA has launched two new driver amplifiers, including what it claims is the first surface-mount technology (SMT) device for next-generation 40Gb/s optical networks, plus a smaller surface-mount driver amplifier with improved performance for the 10Gb/s optical communications market.

The TGA4943-SL is first to combine multiple amplifiers and filters within a surface-mount package, providing designers easier assembly for 40Gb/s optical networks. Optimized to work with major optical modulators, TriQuint’s new driver amplifier provides high output drive capability, superior edge rates and excellent signal-to-noise ratio, the firm claims.

“Power consumption is appreciably better,” says Optical Networks Product marketing manager Mike Tessaro. “It consumes only 2.1W – about 50% of comparable optical network solutions.”

Based on the heritage of established driver amplifiers including the TGA4953 and TGA4954 for 10Gb/s optical networks, the new driver amplifier module was developed in cooperation with major transceiver and modulator manufacturers specifically to meet the performance requirements of the DQPSK (differential quadrature phase shift keying) modulation standard, which enables high-speed 40Gb/s optical networks. Higher-speed networks with greater bandwidth will allow operators to more cost-effectively meet growing bandwidth demands, says Tessaro.

Market research firm Strategy Analytics has noted that, despite global economic concerns, the continuing expansion of consumer demand for bandwidth, driven by growing social networking and other data-intensive applications, will move telecom companies toward faster, more efficient high-bandwidth systems.

“Telecom companies can’t afford to stop investing in the rollout of 10Gb/s and 40Gb/s networks,” says Asif Anwar, director of Strategy Analytics’ GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service. “The long-haul market in particular uses LiNbO3 (lithium niobate) modulators, for which GaAs-based drivers offer the best performance. Being able to improve the performance of these drivers while reducing power dissipation and improving the thermal operation of the core components will be an important element to maintaining the momentum behind network rollouts,” he adds.

“Strategy Analytics projects the overall growth for GaAs drivers will be 7% through 2012—growth in the 40Gb/s market will be even greater as the need for wider bandwidth on existing fiber networks promotes more efficient pulse transmissions schemes like DQPSK,” says Anwar. “Based on our evaluation of the market, we believe TriQuint is a leader in developing optical driver amplifier technology.”

TriQuint’s new 8mm x 8mm surface-mount driver amplifier (TGA4956-SM) for 10Gb/s optical networks is smaller than previous generations and also offers enhanced performance, including lower power dissipation for less waste heat within a system and lower overall power consumption. The amplifier provides for both low drive voltage (3Vpp) and for high-voltage (6Vpp) drive capability with scalable power supply voltage as well as easier and more economical surface-mount assembly, suiting upgrades to 10Gb/s networks, TriQuint says.

Samples and evaluation boards are available for both the TGA4943-SL (40Gb/s) and the TGA4956-SM (10Gb/s).

See related item:

TriQuint fulfills Northrop’s initial production orders for JSF

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Visit: www.triquint.com