August 25, 2005 Newark, CA -- Lightconnect, a provider of MEMS-based components and modules for optical networks, recently announced that its Fast Variable Optical Attenuator Series (FVOA) 5000 successfully completed 5000 hours of damp heat testing. According to the company, this is one of Telcordia's most strenuous extended tests (Telcordia GR-1221-CORE, section 6.2.5) for demonstrating device reliability.
Earlier this year, Lightconnect announced that the FVOA 5000 had successfully passed the reliability requirements listed in Telcordia GR-1209 and GR-1221. The FVOA 5000 is a smaller, low-voltage version the company's FVOA 4000.
"The most critical factor affecting long term reliability of a variable optical attenuator is the hermeticity," observes Sushil Shah, president and CEO of Lightconnect. "All our different models of VOA, targeting a variety of applications, are hermetically sealed to protect them from moisture and condensation. If the VOA is not hermetic, continued exposure to atmospheric moisture under normal operation will lead to instability and ultimate failure of the device."
The company says the FVOA 5000 has been designed into several networking applications at large system companies, and has been shipping in volume. The company says the device is an easy, drop-in solution for any network application that already uses MEMS-based or liquid-crystal VOAs. The device measures 5.4-mm in diameter, requires 0 to 5-V control, and is available in either bright or dark configurations when not powered. In addition to meeting Telcordia reliability requirements, the Lightconnect notes that the device has no epoxy in the light path, is not susceptible to in-situ shock and vibration, and includes ESD protection.