Tunable Next-Gen Products Squeezed Into Small Form Factors

Optical communications manufacturer Bookham Inc. has demonstrated the ability of its LambdaFLEX tunable transmitter assembly (TTA) and its tunable small-form-factor (TSFF) transponder to operate within metro and long-haul applications in noisy environments. The next-generation products are based on the company’s InP Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator technology. The demonstration showed the ability to provide full-band tunability within a small form factor and for long-haul performance—capabilities previously achievable only with large-format transponders and discrete components.

The TTA integrates the Bookham LambdaFLEX Tunable Compact MZ onto an iTLA-size module platform—a footprint significantly smaller than that offered by a continuous-wave laser and external modulator. The TTA features an industry-standard integrable-tunable-laser-assembly (iTLA) interface and command set. Based on the Telcordia-qualified LambdaFLEX DS-DBR laser, the product has extremely fast wavelength tuning and power switching capability, and has full C- and L-band capability.

The TSFF pairs the Tunable Compact MZ with Bookham’s Telcordia-qualified APD receivers. Based on a 300-pin MSA SFF standard, the TSFF integrates optics and electronics into a 76- by 56-mm package. While previous SFF transponders focused on intermediate-reach point-to-point links, the Bookham TSFF expands this capability with a negative-chirp option for regional and metro applications and a zero-chirp option for multi-span long-haul applications where low OSNR conditions are common. The TSFF can operate at up to 11.3 Gbits/s and has a typical power dissipation of less than 7 W.