20 September 2002 -- MetroPhotonics Inc. displayed its SurePath Monitor at this week's NFOEC show in Dallas. This 40-channel 100GHz spaced power monitor is said to be the first monolithically integrated optical power monitor available.
The monitor combines MetroPhotonics' novel echelle grating design produced using indium phosphide . "Our SurePIC building blocks for monolithic integration transform the economics of power monitoring," said Adrian O'Donnell, CTO at MetroPhotonics.
"Power monitoring functionality can now be deployed at minimal cost throughout metro and long haul networks for continuous fault monitoring and network maintenance applications." Its small footprint and low power requirement allows the SurePath Monitor to integrate into EDFA's, dynamic gain equalizers modules, OADMs and optical cross connects.
System and module vendors can now take advantage of adding accurate optical power monitoring functionality across optical network elements without incurring additional costs, enabling advanced quality of service. With less than 1ms response time, the SurePath Monitor offers a ten-fold improvement over detection speeds of existing power monitoring devices, claims MetroPhotonics.
"System and module vendors are evaluating their optical component needs, and they are looking increasingly at photonic integration and solutions such as the SurePath Portfolio," said Stephen Montgomery, President Electronicast Corporation. "MetroPhotonics' SurePath Monitor allows vendors to add critical monitoring and performance functionality while containing costs."