Low-cost optical sub-assemblies for metro access applications

The fiber optic communications industry is experiencing significant change as datacom 10 Gb/s Ethernet (10GbE) networks merge with telecom SONET 10G networks in the drive to reach metro access applications. Lower data rate (1G Ethernet, 1G & 2G Fiber Channel, and SONET OC-48) applications have already merged to some extent as various versions are available within the SFF [1] or SFP standard transceiver form factors. Traditional 10 Gb/s optical subassemblies (OSAs), developed for SONET OC-192 applications, used variations of the expensive butterfly type package However, smaller form factor modules (such as the XFP that use SFF optical connectors [2] and LC duplex optical connectors) require much smaller OSAs. To meet the size limitation of packaging 10G OSAs into the XFP transceiver and also meet the 10 GbE market challenge of providing low-cost solutions, new 10 Gb/s OSA components are needed.