13 March 2017

II‐VI Inc launches miniature tunable optical filter for high-bit-rate DWDM transmission

Engineered materials and optoelectronic component maker II-VI Inc of Saxonburg, PA, USA (which provides solutions for next-generation optical networks) has launched a miniature tunable optical filter for high-bit-rate DWDM transmission applications.

To satisfy the continuing demand for increased capacity in metro, regional and long-haul networks as well as data-center interconnects, system designers are employing advanced modulation formats such as 64QAM with Nyquist filtering to increase the per-channel bandwidth from 100Gb/s to 400Gb/s. II-VI says that its miniature MEMS tunable optical filter (mini-MTOF) is an essential component for these advanced transceivers, improving the signal fidelity and increasing the reach by filtering the optical noise generated at the transmitter. The compact tunable filter, with its low 4.8mm profile, is designed to be embedded in transceivers with high-density form factors such as CFP2 and OSFP. The mini-MTOF also includes a variable optical attenuator (VOA), further optimizing space by removing the need for a separate device.

“Beyond 100Gb/s, tunable filters are increasingly required to maximize the optical signal-to-noise ratio in DWDM transceivers and achieve the desired reach,” says Dr Sanjai Parthasarathi, VP, product marketing & strategy, Optical Communications Group. “II-VI is the leading provider of transceiver-embedded tunable filters thanks to our existing products based on MEMS and etalon technologies,” he claims. “Our new mini-MTOF is a second-generation design that combines best-in-class size and out-of-band isolation performance.”

II-VI’s portfolio of miniaturized components for transceiver-embedded amplification includes hybrid-passives and uncooled 980nm pump lasers with in-package wavelength-stabilizer technology. The mini-MTOF is expected to be generally available in June.

In booth #2101 at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2017) in Los Angeles (21-23 March), II-VI is showcasing new products that are driven by advances in materials and technology platforms. The product showcase will include novel embedded monitoring solutions for transport networks, highly compact optical amplifier solutions tailored to enable high-bit-rate DWDM transceivers, as well as key devices and sub-assemblies for datacenter transceivers.

Tags: II-VI Inc

Visit: www.ofcconference.org/

Visit: www.ii-vi-photonics.com