Intel pushes optical comps for all transceiver MSAs

Intel pushes optical comps for all transceiver MSAs
Santa Clara, Calif. — Intel has unleashed a range of optical components to speed the development of 10Gb/s Ethernet and FibreChannel optical transceivers.

The range includes the LXT16713 10Gb/s 1:1 Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) chip that the company says is the first for XFP type optical transceivers and optical line cards. The CDR helps the transceiver accurately sample an optical signal on a network.

The device is protocol-agnostic, operating from 9.95 to 11.1Gb/s and also includes an integrated, high-sensitivity limiting amplifier, which post-amplifies the electrical signal. Luminent Inc. is developing an optical transceiver based on the XFP Multi Source Agreement (MSA).

The XFP is one of several multi-source agreements to have emerged over the past year to address the reduced size, cost and power consumption requirements for optical transceivers aimed at enterprise applications.

XPAK/X2 and XENPAK are the two other key MSAs focused on transceivers for such applications, and Intel says it is the only company to offer physical layer components for all three formats.

MSAs define electrical interfaces, physical characteristics, signaling schemes and other essential characteristics that enable companies to provide system OEMs with a reliable supply of standard products.

"These new optical components represent another step in Intel's strategy to bring high-speed communications to the data centre and to drive the convergence of computing and communications," said Joergen Bardenfleth, general manager of Intel's Optical Components Division.

"Working with Intel enabled Luminent to be first to demonstrate an XFP MSA-compliant optical transceiver," said Near Margalit, vice president of marketing, Luminent Inc. "Intel helped facilitate our development process by offering evaluation boards and design kits, combined with local applications support."

The XFP component range also includes the LXT16865 Transimpedance Amplifier (TIA), which receives electrical signals, and the LXT17001 10.7Gbps Low Power VCSEL Laser Driver, which is used to transmit information in an optical network.

The parts for the XPAK/X2 and XENPAK conformant MSA includes the LXT12101 XAUI-to-10Gb/s Serial Transceiver, as well as XAUI-to-10Gb/s transceiver for serial line card applications.

The LXT12101 operates at low power -- typically 1.9 Watts and maximum of 2.2 Watts. The device is highy integrated and meets the jitter and eye diagram requirements for 10Gb/s communications, as well as supporting Fibre Channel

The range for XPAK/X2 and XENPAK also includes the LXT17012 10.7Gb/s laser driver or the LXT17001 VCSEL laser driver and the LXT16865 TIA.