16 September 2011

GigOptix unveiling ultra-low-power datacenter 10Gb/s SFP+ transceiver 

At the 37th European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC 2011) in Geneva, Switzerland next week (19–22 September), GigOptix Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which supplies semiconductor and optical components for high-speed information streaming addressing emerging high-growth opportunities in the communications, industrial, defense and avionics industries) is to unveil an ultra-low-power 10Gb/s SFP+ transceiver designed for power conscious datacenter interconnects.

The SFP+ transceiver was implemented using GigOptix’s ultra-low-power HXT/R4101 vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) driver and transimpendence amplifier (TIA) chipset. The firm claims that the solution's unique system-level architecture enables power savings of more than 60% for power-hungry data-center interconnects. The SFP+ transceiver (now shipping in production volume) was designed in partnership with Hong Kong-based Energeia Innovations Co Ltd (which acted as the program manager) and with high-volume ODM/OEM manufacturer PCL Technologies (which designed the product for manufacturability). The transceiver program was executed through the GigOptix’s Virtual-Vertical alliance approach, in order to provide the best cost-performance solution to customers.

At ECOC, GigOptix will showcase the 10G SFP+ module dissipating less than 275mW running a full 10Gb/s link over 100m.

“We implemented this highly innovative product to address data-center customer demand not only for high-performance but also for low-power-consumption applications,” says GigOptix’s chief technical officer Andrea Betti-Berutto. “Together with our partners in what we call a Virtual Vertical Model, we re-evaluated how SFP+ transceivers are architected and we identified optimization that could be leveraged across the value chain,” he adds.

“We utilized the latest process and design technologies to define a chipset design that not only improves performance but also reduces power consumption, effective footprint and system cost,” Betti-Berutto continues. “We will continue to execute the Virtual Vertical model in working with value-add partners to bring more products to not only the communications market, but also to other markets and industries, in order to enhance our customers’ benefit.”

Tags: GigOptix

Visit: www.gigoptix.com