News

PON Transceiver IC Reduces Module Cost and Time to Market

Bristol, UK, 11th October, 2005. Phyworks today announced the release of the PHY1078 (click here to see image) integrated burst mode laser driver and post amplifier, the most highly integrated optical interface for FTTx applications. The PHY1078 is designed for use in Passive Optical Network (PON) customer premises applications.

Data rates between 155MBps and 2.5Gbps are supported, making the device ideal for both GEPON systems based on IEEE 802.3ah standard and GPON systems using ITU G.984.2. This makes the use of single design platforms a reality, thus reducing the cost of inventory and simplifying the manufacturing process.

By integrating an on chip state machine, the PHY1078 is also the first available combined driver and receiver which allows an optical module to be built without the need for a micro controller, significantly reducing development time and cost.

The design of the PHY1078 provides a high sensitivity receive path with very low crosstalk, typically less than 0.2dB, and a laser driver with performance which exceed the requirements of GEPON and GPON standards.

Brad Weaterton, Product Line Manager at Phyworks comments, “This is the first time that both the technical and cost goals of PON module suppliers wishing to enter markets governed by differing standards requirements have been met at the same time. When combined with Phyworks’ development tools and applications support capability, the PHY1078 provides the most complete product offering available, reducing development cost and time to market.”

The transmit block includes a high frequency modulator and a laser bias current generator. The bias current can be controlled by using either a burst mode Automatic Power Control loop or an open loop mode based around a temperature lookup table. Driver parameters are set by on-chip registers, loaded from an external EEPROM.

The receiver includes a limiting amplifier, with programmable bandwidth. A loss of signal (LOS) function is implemented using optical modulation amplitude with user selectable threshold and hysteresis.

The PHY1078 is supported by a full suite of design tools, including reference designs, Graphical User Interfaces and evaluation platforms.

Availability and Pricing The PHY1078 is packaged in a 32 pin, 5mm x 5mm, RoHS compliant QFN package and is priced at less than $2.00 in volume.