Narda East Launches Optical Modulator Drivers For Lightwave Communications Systems

October 12, 2007

Hauppauge, NY -- Narda, an L-3 Communications company, has introduced a family of Telcordia GR-468-CORE, Issue 2-qualified, high-performance drivers for Electro-Absorptive (EA) and lithium niobate (LiNbO3) optical modulators serving OC-768 communications systems operating at data rates between 39 and 44 Gb/s. They are excellent choices for 300-pin MSA transponders and line cards in both long-haul and ultra-long-haul systems.

There are two main models in the modulator driver family. The Model FO-MDA-40-10 is designed to drive LiNbO3 modulators and the Model FO-MDA-40-13 to drive EA modulators. With an input voltage of 500 mVpp, the FO-MDA-40-10 delivers adjustable output amplitude of 4.2 Vpp to 5.5 Vpp and the Model FO-MDA-40-13 provides output amplitude voltage of 2.5 Vpp to 3.7 Vpp. At 20 GHz, the Model FO-MDA-40-10 provides small-signal gain of 26 dB while the Model FO-MDA-40-13 delivers small-signal gain of 21 dB.

RMS jitter of both devices is typically 0.75 ps, which ensures quality eye patterns and high signal integrity, and their rise and fall time (20% to 80%) is 10 ps. The FO-MDA-40-10 consumes less than XXX mW power and the FO-MDA-40-13 consumes less than XXX mW from their +3.3 VDC and +5.0 VDC bias supplies. Input and output return loss is 10 dB and their operating temperature range is 0o to +75º C.

In addition to having exceptional electrical characteristics, the modulator drivers provide a wide range of features that give fiber-optic transceiver designers the flexibility they need to optimize system performance. For example, they have eye crossing point control of 40% to 70%, output voltage dither control, an integrated bias tee for output DC bias adjustments, and are housed in laser-sealed hermetic packages measuring 1.16 in. long by 0.817 in. wide (excluding connectors).

Each modulator driver is available four standard models with or without bias pins and with either V or GPPO connectors. All models are available for immediate delivery.

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SOURCE: Narda Microwave-East - An L-3 Communications Company