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Furukawa Electric Commercializes Temperature Independent (Athermal) AWG Module Suitable for Outside Installation
Environment-Friendly, Next-Generation AWG Module (Device for Optical Wavelength Division Multi/Demultiplexer)
March 1, 2006Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., has succeeded in mass producing the world’s first temperature independent AWG (Note 1) module that is suitable for outside installation. In addition to the benefits of not requiring a power source or temperature monitoring, this AWG (Note 2) module is suited for outside installation and thereby accommodates the needs of optical telecommunications networks, which are diversifying to include such platforms as FTTH and CATV.
Furukawa Electric targets sales of ¥100 million in fiscal 2006 and, from fiscal 2007 onward, it projects ¥1 billion in combined sales of AWG modules and related products. |
| Product features |
Rather than a special circuit design, Furukawa Electric’s Temperature Independent (Athermal) AWG Module features a compensating structure built on the package technology. Features include:
- Specification guarantee under a broad temperature range (-30° C to +70°C)
- Accommodates outside installation, such as FTTH and CATV
- No deterioration in specifications due to temperature independence
- Small-sized, thin package
- Accommodates multiple channels (40+)
- Easy to mass produce
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| Development Background |
In recent years, AWG modules have started being used not only as point-to-point in existing long-haul systems but also in the re-configurable optical add/drop module (ROADM) (Note 3) field in metro networks.
AWG modules are expected to see even broader application, as they are increasingly being considered for use in the FTTH WDM-PON market, especially in Japan and Korea.
However, existing temperature-controlled AWG modules require a continual power supply and a monitor for temperature control, making them unsuitable for use in outside environments. This situation has triggered a sharp increase in demand for temperature independent AWG modules in recent years.
To realize a temperature independent module, many optical device makers investigated technologies that involved the embedding of special circuits within the planar optical waveguide (PLC) chip (Note 5). However, this resulted in diminished performance in terms of basic specificationssuch as insertion loss and crosstalk, thereby making it difficult to achieve mass production.
Rather than redesigning its PLC circuit, Furukawa Electric employed its proprietary packaging technology to realize a temperature independent AWG module that is easily mass produced and suitable for outside installation. |
| Market scale |
| Stand-alone AWG modules are expected to represent a market worth ¥1 billion annually, and related products, such as those for use in ROADM, are expected to have a market size of around ¥3 billion. AWG modules are also expected to be applied in the existing field of the products using dielectric thin film filters (¥1 billion annually). These factors, coupled with growth in the use of WDM-PON, are expected to put the AWG module market at ¥10 billion or more in the next five years. |
| Product characteristics |
| To meet customer needs, Furukawa Electric handles two types of temperature independent AWG modules. One is a Gaussian type, which features low loss, and the other is a semi-flat type, which has a broad usage bandwidth. Both types perform as good or better than traditional temperature-controlled AWG modules. Product features are shown in Table 1. |
| Table 1: Product Features |
| Item |
|
100G-40ch Gaussian-type |
100G-40ch Semi-flat-type |
| Insertionloss |
dB |
2.0 |
4.5 |
| Adjacent crosstalk: |
dB |
30 |
30 |
| 1dB bandwidth |
nm |
0.22 |
0.37 |
| Product development history |
- 2000: Start development of temperature independent AWG module
- 2003: Launch temperature independent AWG module
- 2006: Launch temperature independent AWG module suitable for outdoor installation
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| Glossary |
(Note 1) AWG (Arrayed Waveguide Grating)
A device, built with silicon planar lightwave circuits (PLC), that allows multiple wavelengths to be combined and separated in a dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) system. Generally separated into flat-type, semi-flat-type, and Gaussian-type, according to the passband wavelength characteristics.
(Note 2) Temperature independent AWG
An AWG module capable of wavelength stabilization without the use of a heater or Peltier element. One benefit is that it does not require a power source.
(Reference) Temperature-controlled AWG
An AWG module that stabilizes wavelength fluctuations by controlling temperature to a certain extent using a heater or Peltier element to control temperature-induced fluctuations in multi/demultiplexed wavelengths.
(Note 3) ROADM (Reconfiguarable Optical Add-Drop Module)
An optical module that enables the extraction and combination of given optional wavelengths (signals) on lines in WDM transmissions.
(Note 4) WDM-PON (WDM-Passive Optical Network)
In FTTH and CATV systems, networks that link multiple users to a base station on a single optical fiber are called PON systems. PON systems use splitters to branch optical fibers from ordinary base stations to multiple end-users. The method of allocating a single wavelength to each end-user is called WDM-PON. WDM-PON systems use AWG to divide light.
(Note 5) PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit)
An optical waveguide that uses high-precision technology to map the LSI on the silicon or quartz substrate. It enables a multiple circuit composition and thereby facilitates the integration of optical components. |
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