Responding to optical equipment manufacturers' need for lower power usage and smaller footprints, Corning today introduced the F-10, a 12.5-Gbit/sec Lithium Niobate (LiNb03) modulator with the lowest drive voltage requirement in the industry, say company representatives.
With only a 4-volt drive voltage, designers can reduce the power consumption of their transmitter up to 30%. This reduction translates to lower direct costs (from the driver) and indirect costs (from the savings in power and heat dissipation).
The design also includes an integrated monitor PIN diode in the industry's smallest low-profile package for PCB surface mounting. The small footprint and low profile make it compatible with the MSA Transponder standards. Designed for advanced metro and long-haul communication systems, the Corning F-10 has a broader electro-optic response to accommodate higher bit rates and it meets the exacting requirements of the industry's "Super FEC" scheme. Like other Corning modulators, this device is produced on x-cut LiNbO3 substrate to ensure reliable operation. This is the first x-cut-based device in the industry to exhibit such a low voltage, contends the company.