Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation (Vitesse), a US based provider of IC solutions for carrier and enterprise networks, has introduced a new complete physical media dependent (PMD) chipset for 10 Gbps Ethernet Passive Optical Networks, 10G-EPON. The new chipset is designed to be used in new Fiber-to-the Home (FTTH) deployments and provides original equipment manufacturers a cost-effective migration path to implement faster data rates within the existing network infrastructure.
The new FTTH technology ultimately delivers a high-quality, high-bandwidth, on-demand multimedia experience to consumers.
Driving the need for these higher data rates in FTTH are densely populated residences, such as multi-dwelling units (MDUs), and small and medium sized enterprise (SME) businesses where bandwidth-intensive triple-play applications and services (HD IPTV, VoD, VoIP, and peer-to-peer networking) are now a requirement. In these applications, standards compliant PON-based technology must be used to achieve the ever-increasing demand on bandwidth.
To address this need in the network, Vitesse leveraged its success in 1G-EPON devices to create the 10G-EPON chipset. It pairs four integrated circuits (ICs) to address both transmit and the receive paths within the network. For the transmit path, Vitesse offers the industry’s first 10 Gbps burst mode driver combination: a best-in-class 10 Gbps direct-modulated-laser diode (DML) driver, the VSC7981, with a highly integrated laser burst mode controller, the VSC7960. On the receive side, Vitesse provides a high-performance continuous mode solution using its VSC7978 10 Gbps transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and the VSC7987 limiting post amplifier. Together, this 10G-EPON chipset is compliant with the IEEE P802.3av/D3.0 standard which allows for the coexistence of 1G-EPON and 10G-EPON systems on the same distribution network.
“Considering the current mass-deployed 1G-EPON in Asia is growing over 40-percent year-over-year, many industry experts foresee next-generation 10G-EPON-based products maturing enough for initial commercial deployments by late 2009 or early 2010,” said Angus Lai, product marketing manager for Vitesse. “Understanding the needs of our customers and consumers, Vitesse has capitalized on its success with 1G-EPON deployments in Asia to provide the first 10G-EPON standards-compliant chipset that makes next-generation FTTH technology a reality.”
The 10G-EPON Chipset:
The VSC7981 and the VSC7960 deliver full compliance to the laser on-off timing, optical transmit power, extinction ratio and eye mask margin requirements. Furthermore, the VSC7960 provides rich integrated features such as a digital burst mode automatic power control (APC) loop to maintain constant laser transmit power. The bias current pre-loading feature minimizes burst mode initialization time for fast start-up. Both devices are packaged in a small footprint and low cost 5x5mm QFN package suitable for designs in small form factor ONU modules.
The VSC7978 and the VSC7987 offer a complete limiting receiver solution for 10G-EPON downstream applications. Additionally, the VSC7987 features nine levels of programmable output pre-emphasis to compensate for signal loss between the outputs of this device to the input of the SerDes device. The low 3mV differential input sensitivity optimizes the performance of the ROSA.