Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. announced a new line of photodiode products for the resurgent optical communications market. The first two products in the family, the VSC7750 and VSC7780, are designed for use in the optical receiver side of both the Small Form Factor (SFF) and its pluggable counterpart (SFP). These modules are being used in the growing Ethernet and multi-rate Fibre Channel markets as well as for Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) applications. The VSC7750 and VSC7780 provide a cost model not achieved to date in the industry while enabling customers to reduce design cycles by as much as 14 weeks when combined with Vitesse's proven reference designs. These products support both long (1310-1550 nm) and short (850 nm) optical wavelength applications, respectively.

The optical module market is under relentless pressure to reduce costs while maintaining a high level of performance. High quality, inexpensive optical components like these Vitesse photodiodes solve both issues by combining manufacturing economies of scale with advanced product design. Costs savings are passed along to customers which ultimately lower the cost of network data rate upgrades for applications such as the migration of high-speed Ethernet into the core of the network and for PON networks, designed to meet the growing demand for in-home, high-bandwidth data services (i.e. broadband internet access, VOIP, IPTV, and HDTV).

"The proven techniques we have used in both design and manufacturing have produced a new breed of photodiodes -- lowest cost-per-unit with exceptional performance," said Kevin Redner, product marketing manager for the Network Products Division at Vitesse. "As an added benefit, a customer can significantly shorten their design cycle when using our PON Pro and SFP Pro reference designs kits that incorporate the photodiodes. No other offering in the industry compares to Vitesse's optical module solutions that now extend all the way to the optical fiber."

Lowering Cost Through Manufacturing Process and Stellar Design

The VSC7750 and VSC7780 are manufactured using robust, repeatable fabrication techniques. These include the use of large 4-inch wafers as well as other proven high-volume manufacturing methods to realize unrivaled economies of scale and high device yields. These advancements produce up to four times as many devices per wafer as compared to the two-inch wafer size commonly used for optical devices today. Higher device yields equal lower costs and direct savings to the customer.

Both devices offer high levels of performance with features like low dark current and capacitance, and high responsivity. They require only 2 V bias to achieve rated performance, as opposed to competing devices that are specified at 5 V bias. Additional user-friendly features include a large 75 um (VSC7750) and 100 um (VSC7780) diameter optical active area, large 100 um wirebond pads, and 100% on-wafer die DC and AC parameter screening.

Availability and Pricing

The VSC7750, an InGaAs/InP PIN photodiode, fits all SONET, Ethernet, and Fibre Channel long wavelength (1310-1550 nm) applications with data rates up to 4 Gbps. It is priced at less than $1.00 USD in volume. The VSC7780, a GaAs PIN photodiode, fits all Ethernet and Fibre Channel short wavelength (850 nm) applications with data rates up to 4 Gbps. In volume quantities, the VSC7780 sells for less than $0.65 USD each. Both devices are available for sampling now, with production ramping in the fourth quarter of 2005.

These products will be featured in the Vitesse booth (B070, Hall 1) during the China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE) in Shenzhen, China, September 6 - 9, 2005.