Firecomms Announces Breakthrough Gigabit POF Transceiver

Feb. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Cork, Ireland--February 23, 2012--Firecomms announces today that it has started sampling its GDL1000 Gigabit POF transceiver, a world’s first using Resonant Cavity 650 nm LED (RCLED) technology, known for its excellent reliability in the industrial and automotive industries.

The Company’s new GDL1000 transceiver (http://www.firecomms.com/products-gigabit-devices.html) the result of extensive research and development by the Firecomms team into new materials, driver ICs, and receive circuit architectures.  Key features of the transceiver include a customized driver IC in the transmitter developed internally by Firecomms’ new mixed signal IC design team, a new high speed Resonant Cavity LED, and new receiver IC architecture to efficiently detect and convert the optical signals.

“This latest development breakthrough from Firecomms will allow use of Plastic Optical Fiber in higher end optical communication markets which have been dependent on expensive and difficult-to-use glass optical fiber technology,“ says Hugh Hennessy, Firecomms Vice President of Sales and Marketing.  “The GDL1000 transceiver enables equipment manufacturers to exploit the simplicity of POF-- its ease of use and simple, robust terminations--at Gigabit speeds.  With overwhelming feedback from our Beta customers in the LAN/SAN, medical, industrial and home networking markets, we look forward to rolling out the product across our global customer base.”

Traditionally, gigabit-class fiber optic transceivers are based on 850 nm and higher wavelength light sources, precision mounted on complex optical assemblies, which couple into 200 micron and smaller core glass optical fibers.  Firecomms’ new gigabit-class transceiver utilizes an eye-safe, visible 650 nm (red) RCLED packaged in a transparent plastic moulded package with integrated lenses for easy coupling into 1mm core POF.  In the near future it is expected the GDL1000 will be housed in the very popular LC® connector, soon to be ratified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for POF applications.  

By removing the significant additional costs associated with glass fiber, Firecomms GDL1000 POF transceiver unleashes an enormous opportunity for several markets.  Utilizing Plastic Optical fiber for installations where glass has been the only alternative removes the need for costly splicing or fiber processing equipment.  Moreover, because the installer can cut the fiber to the required length and insert into the plugless OptoLock, expensive pre-assembled glass fiber patch cords are made obsolete.  

Optimized for data rates up to 1.25 Gbps, the GDL1000 transceiver is compatible with 1000BASESX and SGMii interface standards.  With its LVDS interface, the transceiver also is compatible with a wide range of SerDes ICs operating at data rates down to 200 Mbps.  Additional features of the GDL1000 transceiver include:
•   Non-magnetic version for use in medical MRI, CAT and PET applications
•   Transmission distance of 5 m with SI POF
•   Transmission distance of 30 m with GI POF
•   Operating temperature range of -20°C to +70°C
•   Class I Eye Safe, RoHS compliant
•   Excellent EMI immunity for use in harsh industrial environments

GDL1000 transceivers will initially be available in Firecomms’ widely popular OptoLock® connector to allow for simple, no hassle plug free terminations.  Future options will include SMI® and LC versions for traditional connector requests.

Support products will include a full evaluation kit with SMA connectors, lengths of GI or SI POF cables, and a Gigabit media converter with RJ45 connectors for connecting to 1000BaseT Gigabit Ethernet ports.

A full suite of documentation on the GDL1000 is available on the company’s website at www.firecomms.com and samples can be ordered through distributors or directly at info@firecomms.com.

Firecomms will demonstrate the GDL1000 transceiver on the POF Technology and Applications Pavilion (booth #2733) at the upcoming OFC/NFOEC 2012 Exposition on March 6-8, 2012.  During the expo, Firecomms CTO John Lambkin will discuss RCLED-based gigabit devices for POF communications at his talk in the POF Symposium on March 7.

About Firecomms
Firecomms, a semiconductor company, develops high-speed optical components that drive fiber optic networks in home, industrial and automotive applications.  The company’s revolutionary OptoLock® technology, licensed worldwide, has created the ability to use fiber within every home in the world. Firecomms is headquartered in Cork, Ireland and has facilities in China, Japan and the USA.  

Additional information about the company can be found on its web site at http://www.firecomms.com.

OptoLock is a registered trademark of Firecomms Ltd. SMI is a registered trademark of Molex Inc.

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Firecomms develops high-speed optical components that drive fiber optic networks in home, industrial & automotive applications. The company’s revolutionary OptoLock® technology has created the ability to use fiber within every home in the world.