Dual rate 100G CFP2 LR4 module drives emerging data center applications

Components and subsystems manufacturer NeoPhotonics (NYSE: NPTN) has released low-power, dual rate 100G CFP2 LR4 transceivers for telecom and datacom applications as well as the high-performance laser and driver to go inside such modules. The 100G CFP2 LR4 optical transceiver consumes less than half of the power and is half the size compared to 100G CFP form factor transceivers. This makes the CFP2 LR4 an attractive option for next-generation 100G client-side modules for bandwidth-hungry data center applications, the vendor asserts.

Neophotonics new 100G CFP2 LR4 transceiver is designed to fully comply with the IEEE 802.3 100GBASE-LR4 and CAUI-4 electrical interface, as well as OTN OTU4 standards for link distances up to 10 km. It also complies with the CFP2 multi-source agreement and MDIO functionality. The module is based on a four-channel photonic integrated circuit (PIC) transmitter, which builds onthe company’s existing high-volume manufacturing platform for 28G EML lasers and drivers.

"CFP2 is the first 100G interface that provides face plate density advantages over 10G SFP+," said Tim Jenks, chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. "Therefore we believe this new form factor, based on our industry leading 28G EML laser technology, will provide additional value to the rapidly expanding 100G market in which maximum bandwidth management is a necessity."

In related news, NeoPhotonics announced general availability of its low power consumption 28G EML laser and driver as a matched pair for customers developing their own dual rate 100G LR4/ER4 CFP2 client-side transceivers. Low power EML lasers and drivers are especially critical for 100G CFP2 power class 3 transceivers, which must consume less than 9W total, according to the vendor.

NeoPhotonics CFP2 EML laser and driver are fully compliant with the 25G IEEE 802.3ba 100GBASE-LR4/ER4 standard and the stringent 28G OTU-4 standards. The driver and the EML laser designs are optimized in harmony with each other to shorten the design cycle for CFP2 transceivers, the company says.

The laser, a four-channel PIC-based laser transmitter, and driver are supplied as a 100G Quad TOSA (transmitter optical sub-assembly) and also as matched chip-on-carrier pair. The maximum power consumption for the Quad TOSA is 2W over its operating temperature range while the typical maximum power consumption for the driver is 0.3W over the same range.

Source: Lightwave