Jun 18 2013
GigOptix, Inc., a supplier of advanced semiconductor and optical communications components, leverages its position as a key merchant component supplier in datacom markets serving the Cloud, to introduce devices that enable a wide range of high speed optical links for consumer systems and applications.
GigOptix’s parallel optical devices are now shipping in production volumes for use in embedded active optical cables (AOCs), pluggables and optical backplanes targeting high speed optical data links for consumer electronics connectivity and applications, such as:
- Tablets, ultrabooks, and smartphones using the highest video and display resolution
- 4K/8K high resolution video capture and multi-link transfer for video recording and consumer TVs in the living room and in studios
- High definition video broadcast links for end points with reaches of greater than 100 meters
- High speed applications used in 2D and 3D security and safety systems, gesture recognition and motion tracking
Recently, GigOptix parallel chipsets were used by a global electronics OEM to enable full production of 4K high definition video capture and transfer in several of its consumer products. GigOptix 4-channel parallel devices were used in 40Gbps active cable transfer rates to support increased video frame rates and HD 3D imaging. GigOptix chipsets simplify consumer system designs by being fully programmable and providing advanced signal conditioning for superior optical performance with low power consumption.
“We are thrilled with strong interest in our VCSEL parallel arrays of drivers and TIAs from an expanding number of companies designing consumer electronics applications. GigOptix optical driver and receiver technology is moving towards high volume applications with the integration of our chipsets in applications such as 4K video systems. System designers are migrating to our parallel chipsets for consumer applications as they face increased data rate and signal integrity challenges with copper interconnects and copper ribbon cables,” said Dr. Raluca Dinu, General Manager and Vice President of the Optics Product Line at GigOptix, Inc. “The growing gesture recognition and motion tracking markets in consumer electronics which gauge distance and detect object motion and boundaries, may also be addressed with GigOptix TIA technology, and is a natural progression to our current datacom TIAs. When we look at all the exciting opportunities in short-reach, embedded very short reach (VSR), and 3D home entertainment, our extensive chipset portfolio and expertise put us in excellent position to continue providing leading solutions and capitalize on near-term growth in these markets.”
For short-reach connectivity applications, GigOptix’s broad optical interconnect portfolio of 1-12 channel VCSEL driver and TIA arrays fulfill high speed links requirements with advanced performance of 1 to 28Gbps per channel. GigOptix chipsets have been specifically designed to address low power consumption AOC, pluggable and backplane optical connectivity applications that avoid electrical crosstalk seen in conventional systems, enabling excellent transport sensitivity at high speeds.
Based on the March 2012 Light Counting Active Optical Cable Forecast report, which provides initial data for only a small set of consumer electronic applications such as HDTVs, video equipment, notebook computers, tablets and smartphones, management estimates the total available market (TAM) associated with embedded parallel devices for those optical links alone to grow at least 20X, from approximately $2.5 million in 2013 to approximately $50 million by 2016. Many new consumer electronics optical link applications are emerging, and these will provide additional component TAM opportunities in the next few years.
Source: http://www.gigoptix.com/