Optoelectronics

Plextek's optoelectronics expert design group has designed laser, tunable laser, optical amplifier and receiver control systems including TEC circuits for optical communications, optical instrumentation and industrial applications. Receiver design experience includes high speed transimpedance and integrating. Laser diode driver experience includes CW, pulsed and modulated types at all power levels, and both digital and RF over fibre.

Examples include:

• RF over fibre system analysis
• Free space optical data communications at Gb/s rates
• Tunable laser control circuits
• Optical amplifier (EDFA and SRS) control circuit design
• Beat noise analysis for optical amplifier based instrumentation
• RF design and integration study for novel multi-EAM device driver
• One of only six worldwide design consultants for Altera multigigabit I/O devices
• Product troubleshooting for a commercial 10Gb/s phase locked pulse generating external cavity laser
• Full design cycle to first prototype of a mutli kW pulsed industrial laser controller and subsequent pilot production run

Plextek has a detailed understanding of optical communication systems, for example:

• Familiarity and involvement with the 100Mb/s, 1Gb/s and 10Gb/s optical Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.3)
• Familiarity and involvement with wide area solutions using DWDM and IP/MPLS
• Understanding of system budgets for power, dispersion and crosstalk (multichannel) and how these are impacted by DWDM components such as tunable EMLs, EDFAs and AWGs

To match the system skills, optoelectronic component design knowledge includes:

• laser diode current drivers for CW, pulsed and modulated systems
• optical modulator voltage mode drivers
• low noise transimpedance amplifiers
• control of bipolar TEC drive, for laser or thermo-optic switch etc. up to 10 amps
• control of etalon wavelength lockers
• control of single and multisection lasers, including pumps
• control of switch fabrics, e.g. OXC, OADM etc.
• LTCC integration techniques

Supporting technical skills at Plextek are drawn from the fields of high frequency engineering and integration, digital engineering and software development.

Plextek works with clients ranging from small start-ups to multinationals, with project scopes from initial proof of concept prototypes to qualified preproduction units.  Plextek has design for manufacture expertise in house and can identify and recommend a manufacturing partner if required.

Technical information:

The following information is available in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF),

Optical Communications:

Optoelectronics Adobe PDF Format 318KB.

Optical Ethernet Adobe PDF Format 235KB.

RF over Fibre Adobe PDF Format 151KB.

Compact Tunable Laser Controller (Case Study) Adobe PDF Format 208 KB.

Optical instrumentation:

Gene Expression Microarrays and Biochips: Electronic Measurement Solutions for High Throughput Adobe PDF Format 149 KB.