Munich, Germany, May 16, 2019 – Alps Alpine Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of
high-quality electronic products, has developed the FLHL2 Series Lens
Array with Mirror for optical transceivers that are used, for example,
in optical networks for data centers.
The recent rise in application of Internet of Things (IoT) technology
and artificial intelligence points to an expected threefold increase in
global IP traffic between 2017 and 2022*. This will be buoyed further by
other trends, such as the introduction of 5G mobile and wireless
networks. Optical transceivers used in facilities like data centers will
need to be much faster and have higher density, demanding even greater
size reductions and high-density mounting of the components inside them.
Responding to these needs, Alps Alpine has developed the FLHL2 Series,
with a 0.75mm lens pitch and dimensions of 1.3 × 1.3 × 3.5mm (H×W×L),
which integrates condenser lens and mirror components of an optical
transceiver receiver. Lenses and mirror previously had to be positioned
separately to convey light to the photodiode. Integrating these two
components helps to reduce the number of parts and shorten the optical
distance, thereby contributing to downsizing of optical transceivers.
Cutting the number of components also reduces the work required for
transceiver assembly, leading to lower costs.
Features
-
Lens array combining condenser lenses and mirror helps downsize
optical transceivers and reduce the manufacturing workload
-
Glass lens with little light loss, based on a strong track record
over many years
- Lead-free glass (RoHS*-compliant)
*European Union law on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous
substances in electrical and electronic equipment
<Comparison with Existing Design>
The FLHL2 Series – mass production will begin in August this year –
was designed for existing optical transceivers, but Alps Alpine also
looks to develop lens arrays with 0.5mm and 0.25mm lens pitches in
anticipation of future market requirements for downsizing and
multi-channel transceivers as IoT spreads and 5G services are
introduced.
Alps Alpine has been a leader in the market for optical communication
lenses since developing one of the world’s smallest glass lenses for
submarine cables in 2000. Applying optical design technology built up
over many years, the company will continue to support the realization
of high-speed data communication as part of a connected society.
*Source: Cisco VNI Global Mobile Data Forecast, 2017-2022
Specifications
Model |
FLHL2 Series |
Dimensions (H×W×L) |
1.3 × 1.3 × 3.5mm |
Type |
Photodiode coupling lens |
Target device |
Chip type PD |
Wavelength (λ) |
1310nm/1550nm |
Focal length (f) |
1.51mm (1550nm) |
L1 [WD] |
0.62mm (1550nm) |
Numerical aperture (NA) |
0.2 |
Beam diameter |
0.6mm (1550nm) at effective NA |
Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. On January 1, 2019, Alps Electric
Co., Ltd. and Alpine Electronics, Inc. integrated their businesses and
started out afresh as Alps Alpine Co., Ltd with 42,289 employees. Alps
Alpine will steadily bring about synergies by drawing on the two
companies' advantages in core devices, system design and software
development.
The new company will endeavour to create its own unique value for not
only the automotive market, but also mobile devices and consumer
electronics, as well as new sectors such as energy, healthcare and
industry. For more information please visit www.alpsalpine.com
Alps Electric Europe GmbH
Alps Electric Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Alps AlpineCo.,
Ltd., was established in 1979. Since 2013 the European Head Office has
been located in Munich and as such co-ordinates the Sales, Marketing
and Product Engineering activities of our offices in Dusseldorf,
Paris, Milton Keynes, Gothenburg and Milan, as well as the production
activities of our manufacturing site in Dortmund.