Flyin Optronics’ 96ch AWG Module
The 96ch awg is a passive optical DWDM Mux/Demux based on silicon planar technology. It operates at ITU 50GHz spacing and is suitable for transporting PDH / SDH / SONET / ETHERNET services.
The 96ch-awg module has passed the low storage temperature reliability test for 2000 h. It has a stable spectrum and center wavelength shift after the test, confirming its ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
1. High-performance athermal AWG
Optical Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) is an essential component for optical transmission systems. It converts incoming Optical Signals into multiple output signals and vice versa. Typical applications include Long-Haul, Metro and Access. In order to meet these demands, the MUX/DEMUX must be high-performance, low-cost and reliable. Flyin Optronics’ 100GHz Athermal Arrayed Waveguide Grating DWDM Module fulfills all these requirements.
AWGs are sensitive to temperature changes because the index of refraction of glass varies with temperature. During operation, the center wavelength of an AWG’s focus point shifts according to temperature. To minimize this effect, it is necessary to actively control the chip temperature. However, this method requires electrical power.
An athermal AWG eliminates this problem by using a self-compensating structure. This technique uses an internal mechanism to adapt the external temperature to change in the index of refraction of the AWG’s input slab waveguide. This reduces the effects of temperature on the AWG’s focus point and center wavelength, thereby improving the performance of the AWG and eliminating the need for external circuit control.
POINTek’s athermal DWDM modules use silicon planar technology and adopt non-hear sensitive structure, eliminating the need for chip temperture control. Besides 96 channel Mux Demux with CWDM and DWDM based on 50GHz ITU spacing, the company also produces 96ch-awg multi-channel type dual athermal DWDM modules for WDM-PON, Metro/ROADM, and Long-Haul applications.
2. High-reliability athermal AWG
96 Channels DWDM Mux Demux is a scalable, high density and standalone passive CWDM equipment. It is perfectly suited to transport PDH/SDH /SONET and ETHERNET services in optical metro edge and access networks. It can perform MUX/DEMUX functions with the minimum loss over the full operating temperature range. It is built with GEZHI athermalization techniques, providing excellent mechanical shock and long term environmental reliability.
The new athermal AWG consists of an input slab waveguide and a temperature compensation board. The temperature change caused by the focus point shifts the smart home center wavelength of the AWG, and the athermal AWG compensates for this variation by adjusting the position of the temperature compensation board. The structure of the temperature compensation board is shown in Figure 2. The two parts are connected by SUS bolts. The bolts are fixed at both ends by an Invar layer, and the gap between them is compensated by the thermal expansion of SUS.
In the accelerated life test, the athermal AWG was able to maintain good communication quality performance for 10 years or more under 40 degC operating conditions. In addition, the insertion loss deviation between three AAWG modules after the aging test was within the tolerance of +-0.01 nm. This demonstrates that the athermal AWG is reliable for 10 years or more under various environments and can be safely used in communication networks.
3. High-temperature stability athermal AWG
The current chip-level athermal AWG has a problem with wavelength stability, where the center wavelength shifts with temperature. It is necessary to apply thermal compensation to overcome this issue. The new athermal AWG module solves this problem by using a metal structure assembly to compensate the temperature change of the athermal arrayed waveguide gratings. This approach greatly improves the temperature performance of the athermal AWG.
This athermal AWG allows multiplexers and demultiplexers to be used without additional heater drive and monitoring electronics. It also opens up new applications for DWDM, such as long-haul networks.
Compared to conventional filter-type DWDM modules, the athermal AWGs provide higher performance and reliability. In addition, they can operate in a wide temperature range (-40 to 85°C), making them ideal for use in outdoor applications.
Athermal AWG DWDM modules are designed to replace traditional TFF (Thin Film Filter) DWDM modules. They can be used to transport PDH, SDH / SONET, ETHERNET services over WDM and CWDM. They offer high channel density, low insertion loss, excellent channel isolation, and easy fiber handling in a compact package. Moreover, the athermal design eliminates the need for electrical power and chip temperate control, eliminating the need for heat sinks. In addition, the athermal AWGs have a lifetime that exceeds 36.7 years, which is more than enough to meet the requirements of a long-haul network.
4. High-temperature reliability athermal AWG
As the demand for broadband services grows, passive WDM network systems will be used in FTTH and 5G wireless fronthaul networks. In order to provide high reliability for these passive devices, they must be able to withstand harsh environmental conditions. For example, they need to be able to maintain stable wavelength performance over a wide temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. In addition, they need to be able to support a large number of channels. To accomplish this, athermal AWGs are an excellent solution.
Unlike conventional AWGs, which suffer from a temperature dependence of their center wavelength (l0), athermal AWGs are designed to have little or no temperature dependence. This is achieved by using a technique that separates one of the slab waveguides. When light enters the input waveguide, the focus point moves a distance corresponding to the change in temperature l0, which is compensated by the thermal expansion coefficient of SUS 304 bolts connecting both ends of the AWG.
POINTek’s newly developed high-performance athermal AWG is based on silica-on-silicon planar technology and is ideal for DWDM Mux/Distribution applications. This athermal AWG features a passive packaging design that requires no electrical power or software, and is capable of operating within an industrial temperature operational range of -40°C to +85°C. The device also offers a low wavelength drift of only 20pm or less, which is much lower than the typical industry average of 0.5pm/degC shift. Moreover, the device’s reliability was proven through rigorous testing under high-temperature stress.
