Wavelength-Agile Optical Module Boosts Flexibility and Reduces Costs for Service Providers
SUNNYVALE, Calif., September 9, 2002 – Silicon Light Machines, a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE: CY), today introduced a Reconfigurable Blocking Filter (RBF) that provides dynamic wavelength management capabilities for dense wave-division multiplexing (DWDM) optical networks. Designed for use in reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs), the SLM 3000 RBF blocks any or all wavelengths, offering complete agility and control of up to 80 channels with spacing of 50 GHz and above.
"Reconfigurable system architectures that facilitate rapid network optimization are critical to the future health of telecom service providers," said Tom Werner, CEO of Silicon Light Machines. "Next-generation networks will rely on ROADMs for either mesh or all-optical, ring-to-ring reconfigurability. Silicon Light Machines’ new RBF enables ROADMs that can block or pass any and all channels, providing the ultimate flexibility and allowing for more efficient use of fiber infrastructure."
Compared to traditional static add/drop multiplexers (in which the number of channels that can be added or dropped is fixed), ROADMs use tunable components to allow network operators to selectively add or drop any channel or group of channels by remotely reconfiguring the system with a keystroke. All-optical modules, such as the RBF, eliminate costly optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversions and provides the dynamic functionality to enable future optical networks.
In contrast to alternative products on the market, most of which only support 100 GHz channel spacing, Silicon Light Machines’ RBF provides customers with complete control over any channel, with either 50 or 100 GHz spacing. In addition, its compact size makes it more attractive for space-constrained systems providers to implement.
Unique MEMS-Based Architecture
The SLM 3000 RBF utilizes the patented Grating Light Valve™ (GLV™) technology – a diffractive optical micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) comprised of a series of ribbons on the surface of a silicon chip. The scalability and reconfigurability of the GLV device make it well-suited for dynamic wavelength management applications that maximize optical networking infrastructure. Silicon Light Machines has already implemented the GLV architecture in its Dynamic Gain Equalizer (DGE) 2200. Customers can use the same easy-to-use interface to perform power management functions in the DGE and switching management functions in the RBF.
Availability
The SLM 3000 Reconfigurable Blocking Filter will be available to customers in the fourth quarter of 2002. It will be sold through the Cypress Semiconductor sales channel. Photo A high-resolution photo of the Silicon Light Machines RBF can be downloaded from http://www.cypress.com/pub/rbf.jpg.
About Silicon Light Machines
Founded in 1994, Silicon Light Machines is a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor. Silicon Light Machines’ Grating Light Valve™ (GLV™) technology is a means for creating a high-performance spatial light modulator on the surface of a silicon chip, and is used in optical components, print and display related products. Cypress Semiconductor acquired SLM in August, 2000 to accelerate the proliferation of Cypress’s pure-optical and optoelectronic products targeted at the networking and telecommunications markets. The company is located at 385 Moffett Park Dr., Suite 115, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1208. For more information about Silicon Light Machines, visit www.siliconlight.com.
About Cypress
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: CY) is Connecting from Last Mile to First Mileâ„¢ with high-performance solutions for personal, network access, enterprise, metro switch, and core communications-system applications. Cypress Connectsâ„¢ using wireless, wireline, digital, and optical transmission standards, including Bluetooth, USB, Fibre Channel, SONET/SDH, Gigabit Ethernet, and DWDM. Leveraging its process and system-level expertise, Cypress makes industry-leading physical layer devices, framers, and network search engines, along with a broad portfolio of high-bandwidth memories, timing technology solutions, and programmable microcontrollers. More information about Cypress is accessible online at www.cypress.com.
