Tokyo, Aug 18, 2009 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Optical Components Limited and Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. today announced to jointly develop 40Gbps and 100Gbps integrated receivers. 40Gbps receivers will be used in 40Gbps optical networks whose deployment is growing constantly on a global scale; 100Gbps receivers will be used for next-generation 100Gbps optical networks.

Furukawa Electric is responsible for developing PLC(1) technology which effectively reduces the size of integrated receivers. Fujitsu Optical Components is responsible for developing and commercializing the receiver utilizing integrated module technologies for PLC, high-speed photodiodes, and amplifier.

By speeding up its product development process, Fujitsu Optical Components will deliver compact, energy-efficient and low-price integrated receiver for ultra-high-speed optical networks.

By strengthening PLC technology of the optical interferometric circuits for receiver, Furukawa Electric will market the product as a key device for next-generation optical communications.

In recent years, the global expansion of new services such as cloud computing and on-line streaming has brought about a dramatic increase in data communications. As the data transmission volume of communications networks rises, optical transmission equipment for 40Gbps backbone networks is being widely introduced. At the same time, R&D activities related to the commercialization of next-generation 100Gbps optical networks have gained significant momentum.

However, due to advances in transmission speed, the components that constitute these optical transmission equipments are growing both in size and complexity. Larger equipment results in the need for larger installation space and higher power consumption. Meeting the demands of growing data communications while reducing environmental impact at the same time has become a major challenge for 40Gbps and 100Gbps optical transmission systems.

The multi-level modulation using phase modulation or digital coherent detection is being introduced into 40Gbps and 100Gbps optical transmissions compared with traditional On-Off Keying (OOK), since these are not easily affected by signal distortion and noise caused by transmission fibers. The receiver part for DQPSK(2) modulation transmitting 2 bits per symbol consists of the delay line interferometer(3) and the balanced receivers(4), and the receiver part for DP-QPSK(5) modulation of digital coherent detect consists of 90 hybrid (optical mixer)(6) and the balanced receivers, which are installed as discrete components that are connected by fibers. In the future, however, a receiver module that integrates the individual components is required in order to lower the size and cost of 40Gbps and 100Gbps systems, as their deployment further expands. Moreover, since the structures of delay line interferometer and optical mixer grow in complexity in DQPSK and DP-QPSK modulations, the PLC technology which helps reduce their size, cost and power consumption becomes very useful.

Leveraging on both companies' long-standing expertise in the optical communications field, the combination of the following technical advantages will speed up the development of integrated receivers.

Technical Advantage of Fujitsu Optical Components

1. Superior design and mass-production technologies for a variety of advanced optical components ranging from devices such as LN modulator to DWDM full-band tunable 300pin transponders.

2. Cutting-edge designs for reducing product size and cost, including the high-frequency design, device control, optics design, and high-density mounting design.

3. High-level manufacturing technologies for mass-producing high-quality products, including the LN process, micro assembly, and automatic adjustment and testing technique.

Technical Advantage of Furukawa Electric

1. Superior design and mass-processing technologies ensuring high quality for PLC chips, such as optical splitter and arrayed-waveguide grating.

2. Managed to develop and commercialize the processing technology with high refractive index difference (>1%), which contributes to reducing the size of PLC chips.

3. Technologies realizing low cost and mass production of package technology, such as the thermal-independent technology for arrayed-waveguide grating.


(1) PLC: Acronym for Planar Lightwave Circuit. Optical circuit chip that forms waveguide that propagates light with accuracy exceeding optical wavelength order on silicon or quartz substrate.

(2) DQPSK: Acronym for Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying. It is a method of phase modulation for digital signals, in which 2 bits of data are allocated to each of 4 modulated optical phases (0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees).

(3) Delay Line Interferometer: A component that converts phase modulation to intensity modulation. The light modulated on phase is divided in two optical paths with half strength, and after one side is delayed for the time corresponding to about one bit, these two lights are combined to one light and interfered.

(4) Balanced Receiver: Consisting of two photodiodes that receive both positive optical phase and reverse optical phase output from delay line interferometers and 90 degrees Hybrid, it improves receiving characteristics by using the difference of those photodiode currents.

(5) DP-QPSK: Acronym for Dual Polarization-Quadrature Phase Shift Keying. It is a method of phase modulation for digital signals, in which 2 bits of data are allocated to each of 4 modulated optical phases (0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees) for both P-polarized light and S-polarized light.

(6) 90 Degrees Hybrid: An optical mixer. A component used for coherent signal demodulation for either heterodyne or intradyne detections. It would mix the incoming optical signal with the reference optical signal from optical source in receiver side, and then deliver the combined optical signals to balanced receivers.


About Fujitsu Optical Components

Aiming to strengthen Fujitsu's optical module business, Fujitsu Optical Components was established on April 1st, 2009 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited. With the establishment of the new company, the sales, research and development, and manufacturing functions of Fujitsu's optical module business are integrated under a unified management structure. Headquartered in Kawasaki, Japan, Fujitsu Optical Components is a leading supplier of the most advanced, high-reliable and customer-focused optical components for datacom and telecommunications applications in the global market. Its broad products line-up includes DWDM pluggable transceivers, full-band tunable 300pin transponders, G-PON transceivers and 40G/100G LN modulators. The company also plans to provide the most advanced 40G/100G integrated receivers in the near future. For additional information, visit http://jp.fujitsu.com/foc/en.

About Furukawa Electric

Furukawa Electric CO., LTD. (Furukawa Electric), was established in 1896. Its telecommunication segment consists of two major businesses, the optical fiber & cable and the photonics network. The optical fiber & cable business, including its fully subsidiary 'OFS-Fitel', has been a global supplier for optical fiber and cable. On the other hand, the photonics network business has been supplying key components for WDM telecommunication systems, such as optical fiber amplifiers, wavelength multiplexers & de-multiplexers, pump lasers and more, all over the world. Furukawa Electric commits to contributing to the growth of optical networks now and future by supplying key components for higher speed, more capacity and more flexibility of optical networks.

All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice. Please visit www.furukawa.co.jp.

About Fujitsu Ltd



Fujitsu is a leading provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 175,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$47 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com

Source: Fujitsu Ltd

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