Ottawa, Canada, February 19, 2003. MetroPhotonics announced the completion of prototype evaluation of its SurePath Monitor to Tier 1 customers. These devices reportedly represent the highest level of monolithic integration in WDM components to date. This single chip solution replaces 91 discrete components (filters and detectors). Fully packaged, the device is approximately 2 inches by 1 inch.
The SurePath Monitor engineering prototypes successfully demonstrated the monolithic integration on a single indium phosphide chip of a 40 channel DWDM with a parallel array of 40 discreet photodectectors. MetroPhotonics fabricated the chips using its proprietary VMI technology. The SurePath Monitor product is a 100GHz optical power monitor that combines MetroPhotonics echelle grating technology with waveguide-based PIN detectors.
The SurePath Monitor redefines the economics of optical power monitoring. This product will enable the cost-effective deployment of monitors throughout the network to improve network management and quality of service. It has a small footprint, low power consumption, and fast response time. This allows it to be directly retro-fitted into network elements such as DFA's, ROADM's, Cross Connects, and discrete network nodes. It performs at very high speed (10 nanosecond range) and in parallel with these network elements, thus providing real-time network management capabilities on a per wavelength basis.
For more information, visit www.metrophotonics.com
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