4 April 2003 Newark, CA Lightwave -- Santel Networks introduced the S44701, a 10-Gbit/sec 16:1 multiplexer with integrated optical duo-binary encoder, at last week's OFC event. Duo-binary encoding is attracting increasing attention for its ability to extend transmission distances.
The integrated optical duo-binary encoder in the S44701 uses a spectrally efficient signal modulation technique that creates output that occupies substantially less bandwidth than a binary signal. That method permits extended-reach transmission since it is much less sensitive to chromatic dispersion than traditional modulation formats that occupy broader spectrum. Since no decoding or special processing is required on the receive side, conventional optical receivers may be used.
The S44701 is a SiGe device that offers integrated FIFO and clock multiplier unit (CMU). The chip is programmable for 9.95- to 11.09-Gbit/sec line rates and accepts 16-bit LVDS input signals. The duo-binary mode can be disabled to allow use in conventional optical transmitter circuits. It can be used with Santel's S44501/S44003 10-Gbit/sec electronic dispersion compensator (EDC).
The S44701 will be packaged in BGA format. Engineering samples will be available in the third quarter of this year. Chip pricing will be competitive with high-end 10-Gbit/sec multiplexer chips, according to the company.