CyOptics adds detectors to its 40Gbps optical component portfolio
CyOptics Inc., a developer of 10Gbps and 40Gbps active optical components, announced the expansion of its optical component family to include a 40Gbps photodetector. The detector complements CyOptics' current product line of optical transmission modulators by providing a solution for both transmit and receive optics.
CyOptics' 40Gbps detector is based on a high performance edge-illuminated waveguide PIN photodiode, providing high responsivity, high electrical bandwidth, and high overload tolerance. CyOptics detector offers bandwidth in excess of 50GHz, with responsivity of 0.7 A/W, and overload tolerance of 7dBm. High responsivity enables its use in demanding unamplified short haul applications, where power levels at the receiver can be very low. High bandwidth makes it suitable for applications utilizing out of band forward error correction (FEC), typically used in long haul transmission, at higher speed applications, where it can increase the line rate of 40Gbps transmission to 43 Gbps and beyond. High overload tolerance is critical for long haul applications since the optical amplifiers that are utilized can cause high power levels and high power spikes at the receiver.
The detector utilizes a structure similar to CyOptics 10 and 40Gbps electro-absorption modulators (EAMs), providing consistent design and manufacturing efficiencies. Since it is an Indium Phosphide based device, it benefits from Indium Phosphide experience developed over the years in DFB lasers, PIN detectors, and EMLs
Waveguide PIN detectors offer two distinct advantages over conventional surface illuminated detectors commonly used in typical 10Gbps systems. At 40Gbps, the bandwidth requirements quadruple while the need to maintain the efficiency of the detector is critical. The waveguide structure allows for both high bandwidth and responsivity without the inherent tradeoff of a conventional detector. The waveguide provides a longer absorptive length in which to capture light, thus high responsivity, while also allowing a thin active area that increases the bandwidth of the detector. When the detector is reverse biased, it generates photocurrent proportional to the input optical power converting optical to electrical signals. The detector works in tandem with the EAM to create an optical transmission link.
CyOptics devices are based on Indium Phosphide (InP). Unlike Lithium Niobate, InP is a semiconductor, enabling the cost-effective, high volume manufacturing achieved in other semiconductor devices. In addition, its high refractive index enables much smaller devices, and allows integration of multiple functions on one chip. InP has been used since the early 1980's in numerous optoelectronic components, including lasers and receivers. Its use in high speed modulation paves the way to highly integrated, compact devices for optical transmission.
About CyOptics:
CyOptics was founded in early 1999 to develop breakthrough technology for 10 and 40Gbps active optical components.