Multisource agreement cuts
new transceivers' size

Six companies have signed a multisource agreement for next-generation fiber-optic transceivers that are approximately half the width of currently available transceivers. Signed by AMP (Harrisburg, PA), Hewlett-Packard (Santa Clara, CA), Lucent Technologies (Breinigsville, PA ), Northern Telecom (Research Triangle Park, NC), Siemens (Cupertino, CA), and Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (Research Triangle Park, NC), the agreement is aimed at reducing circuit board space in fiber-optic data and telecommunications systems.

While standard transceivers have a 1-in.width, the MT-RJ transceivers manufactured under this agreement will be 0.535 in.wide and 0.386 in. high. Fiber-optic system designs that implement the new small-form-factor transceivers will be able to double port densities, thereby saving on system costs and reducing overall design time. Under the agreement, all the companies will follow a common transceiver-package outline and definition of pin functions for pc-board layout.

According to Richard Mack, vice president of the optoelectronics analysis firm KMI, “The establishment of uniform package sizes and pinouts from multiple component suppliers can contribute to lower equipment costs, increased demand for fiber-optic equipment, and higher production volumes. Previous efforts to agree on standardization or interchangeable components, such as FDDI modules and Fibre Channel optical link modules, have contributed to fiber-optic market growth, and this agreement is even broader in the number of applications that can be served with the compatible parts.”

The agreement encompasses both single-mode and multimode small-form-factor transceivers that operate at 100 to 1,250 Mbits/s. It addresses several protocols including asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), fiber distributed data interface (FDDI), Fibre Channel, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, synchronous optical network (SONET), and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) applications.

The MT-RJ transceivers will be configured with 10 or 20 pins. The 20-pin versions will include optional features like clock-recovery for ATM applications as well as laser diode monitoring and control. Both types will accept several RJ-45-style optical connector types including duplex LC, MT-RJ, and SC/DC.

Although all the companies have not yet released products, some introductions have been made. AMP will provide transceivers that operate from 100 Mbits/s to 1.5 Gbits/s. Lucent Technologies expects to introduce both a 10-pin Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel-compliant model and a 20-pin ATM/SONET/ SDH-compliant device. Both versions are expected to have LC duplex receptacles.

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave will initially release an OC-3 156-Mbit/s device with a duplex LC receptacle in May and later offer an OC-12 transceiver. Siemens plans to release a 155/195-Mbit/s device with an SC/DC connector (3M Volition) and Hewlett-Packard anticipates release of Fast Ethernet, ATM, and Gigabit Ethernet transceivers.

Product design, development, marketing, and distribution of the transceivers will take place independently. For information on specific product development, pricing, and availability, contact the individual companies in the accompanying box.

The following companies are
mentioned in this article:

AMP
Harrisburg, PA
Amanda Oppitz 717-985-2305 aloppitz@amp.com

Hewlett-Packard
Santa Clara, CA
Information 408-435-6765

Lucent Technologies
Breinigsville, PA
Information 800-372-2447

Northern Telecom
Research Triangle Park, NC
Information 800-4-NORTEL
lyoung@nortel.comSiemens
Cupertino, CA
Tom McHale 408-777-4909
tom.mchale@smi.siemens.comSumitomo Electric Lightwave
Research Triangle Park, NC
Paul Pace 919-541-8339
ppace@sel-rtp.com