Oclaro to Deliver Lasers for High-Speed Interconnect in Computing and Consumer Electronics

October 26, 2009 8:00 AM EDT

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oclaro (Nasdaq: OCLR), a leading supplier of optical components and modules for communications, industrial and consumer applications, today announced the availability of a new VCSEL laser for the rapidly-developing Intel Light Peak technology market, designed to leverage optical technology to connect electronic devices such as peripherals, workstations, displays, disk drives and docking stations. Intel's Light Peak technology is bringing optical technology to the mainstream, and offers Oclaro the opportunity to further expand the applicability of its products into new markets such as computing and consumer electronics devices.

Existing electrical cable technology in mainstream computing devices is approaching practical limits for speed and length. However, optical technology which transmits data using light instead of electricity does not have these limitations. Intel's Light Peak platform using optical technology is designed to deliver high bandwidth starting at 10Gb/s, which enables a full-length Blu-Ray movie to be transmitted in less than 30 seconds. The technology has the potential to scale to 100Gb/s over the next decade.

"A core part of Oclaro's strategy is to expand into adjacent markets where we can leverage our optical technology and solutions to deliver value for customers," said Yves Le Maitre, executive vice president and division manager of the Advanced Photonics Solutions Division, Oclaro, Inc. "Oclaro has already ramped very high volume production of similar VCSEL lasers in another consumer application and, as a result, has the technology and manufacturing scale necessary to effectively serve the Light Peak market."

Light Peak consists of a controller chip and an optical module that would be included in platforms supporting this technology. The optical module performs the conversion from electricity to light and vice versa, using miniature lasers and photo detectors. Intel plans to supply the controller chip, and Oclaro's new VCSEL is ideally suited, with an inherently reliable design at a competitive cost point.

Intel's Light Peak transport technology uses fiber optics instead of copper wires and supports protocols such as USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, PCIe and others. The technology is designed from the ground up to be inexpensive and small and supports a wide range of devices such as handhelds, laptops, PCs and consumer electronics.

"Intel is pleased to be working with Oclaro to make Light Peak optical components ready to ship in 2010," said Jason Ziller, director, Optical I/O Program Office, Intel Corp. "Light Peak has high bandwidth and the ability to run multiple I/O protocols over a single cable, enabling the technology to connect to many devices such as displays, disk drives, peripherals and docking stations."

About Oclaro

Oclaro, Inc., with headquarters in San Jose, Calif., is a tier one provider of high performance optical components, modules and subsystems to the telecommunications market, and is one of the largest providers to metro and long haul network applications. The company, formed on April 27, 2009, following the combination of Bookham, Inc. and Avanex Corporation, leverages proprietary core technologies and vertically integrated product development to provide its customers with cost-effective and innovative optical devices, modules and subsystems. The company serves a broad customer base, combining in-house and outsourced manufacturing to maximize flexibility and drive improved gross margin. Its photonic technologies also serve selected high growth markets, including industrial, defense, life sciences, medical and scientific, with diversification providing both significant revenue streams and strategic technological advantage. Oclaro is a global company, with cutting edge chip fabrication facilities in the U.K., Switzerland and Italy, and in Tucson, Ariz. during the transition of related activities to Europe, and manufacturing sites in the U.S., Thailand and China.

Oclaro and all other Oclaro product names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oclaro, Inc. in the USA or other countries.

SOURCE Oclaro

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