April 26, 2004 Camarillo, CA -- Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. has introduced three optical receivers that support the industry's migration to intelligent small-form-factor pluggable (SFP) modules and the emerging 4-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel markets. The optical receivers incorporate Vitesse's new low-jitter transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs).
The VSC7773 supports a data rate of 4 Gbits/sec, the rate at which the majority of SANs deploying Fibre Channel systems will be supporting by 2006. Critical to acceptance of this new INCITS/T11-approved standard is backward compatibility and comparable cost to existing 1-Gbit/sec and 2-Gbit/sec devices. The VSC7773 meets this requirement by allowing OEMs to design a single SFP-8074-compliant module for 1-, 2-, and 4-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel and Gigabit Ethernet applications.
SAN applications are moving aggressively to the next generation of Fibre Channel transceivers operating at 4 Gbits/sec according to Jagdish Rebello, Ph. D., a senior industry analyst with iSuppli. Dr. Rebello forecasts deployment of 4-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel transceivers will start this year and ramp to approximately $350 million by 2008.
"The availability and performance of these products allow the market move to intelligent SFP modules at data rates up to 4 Gbits/sec. Vitesse has been instrumental in helping us achieve our products' cost and performance targets," remarked David Harrison, director of fiber optics development at Infineon Technologies. "We will continue to look to Vitesse for high-performance, cost-effective solutions."
The VSC7773 integrates a photocurrent monitor that reports on received optical power as required by the SFP digital diagnostic standard outlined in the SFF-8472 specification. Typically, the monitor is implemented via discrete components residing outside of the receiver optical sub-assembly (ROSA), consuming valuable module board space and adding to the module cost. Vitesse has improved and simplified the design by integrating the photocurrent monitor feature on the TIA die. This function enables active optical alignment during the module manufacturing process.
The VSC7971 and VSC7973 offer the same functionality as the VSC7773, but are designed to operate at 1 to 2.5 Gbits/sec. All of the new receivers operate from a single 3.3-V power supply and consume 25 mA of supply current, representing a 15% savings versus competitive devices, according to Vitesse. The receivers also offer 10% higher overload protection and 40% greater transimpedance gain versus competitive devices in Vitesse's estimate, resulting in greater system architecture flexibility.
The VSC7971, VSC7973, and VSC7773 receivers are available assembled in TO-46 package with an integrated PIN detector. The receivers are available in 850-nm or 1310-/1550-nm wavelength ranges to support both short-wave (SX) and long-wave (LX) applications. All of the devices are 100% tested at-speed to demonstrate that all DC and high-speed specifications are met. Vitesse also offers the TIAs in die form for those customers desiring to assemble their own receivers. Vitesse plans to expand this product family by offering these products in a ROSA with plastic or metal LC ferrules in the near future. The devices support an extended temperature range of -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C.