LITEON puts the switch laser on a plug

LITEON’s electronica display included pluggable external lasers for switches with co-packaged or near-packaged optics. In that arrangement the engine next to the switch ASIC still does the work of putting data onto light, but it can receive that light from a separate source. If the source is mounted at the front panel, a technician can replace it without disturbing the switch package. An engine fault would still require access to the package.

The arrangement preserves the short electrical path between ASIC and engine while adding an optical path from the laser module. OIF’s ELSFP implementation agreement specifies a module with a blind-mate optical interface, so the light can pass into the switch through the connection at the back of the module. OIF has started work on a third revision and a separate higher-power variant. Neither project says what LITEON’s show hardware supports.

LITEON has not published a wavelength plan, optical output or shipping date in its announcement. The first two are needed to judge how much usable light reaches the engines after loss through the fibre and connectors.

Sources: LITEON electronica announcement; OIF ELSFP implementation agreement 2.0; OIF November technical projects