Presenting a record energy efficient ELS for Co-Packaged Optics at ECOC2023
- Realized a record low power consumption of 5.6 W operated with a fiber-coupled power of 100 mW/ch for 8 channels -
September 29, 2023
- Realized a very high-efficient 8-channel ELS (External Laser Source) for CPO (Co-Packaged Optics)
- Contributing to the realization of next-generation network switch servers for hyperscale data centers and edge data centers
- We give a talk at a technical session and exhibit the TOSA and ELS at ECOC2023 scheduled on October 1-5, 2023, in Glasgow Scotland.
Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tokiwabashi Tower, 2-6-4, Otemachi, Chiyodaku, Tokyo 100-8322; President: Hideya Motidaira) developed a very high-efficient 8-channel ELS for the realization of next-generation network switch servers employing CPO for hyperscale data centers and edge data centers.
Background
Data traffic has been increasing to support many kinds of IT services such as cloud services and 5G mobile networks. Hyperscale data centers that process big data and edge data centers that realize the low latency for Beyond 5G are faced with the challenge of expanding bandwidth and reducing the power consumption of a network switch server. Therefore, in order to save the power consumption and expand the bandwidth, it has been expected to adapt CPO as a new server architecture that performs photoelectric conversion in close proximity to an electronic device. CPO has a unique packaging structure where high-density silicon photonics transceivers are mounted together with a switch ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) on the same substrate. A wide bandwidth switch ASIC generates a large amount of heat. Hence, it derives temperature increase of the SiPh transceivers. It is difficult for compound semiconductor lasers to realize the required characteristics and guarantee the reliability in such a high temperature. Therefore, an ELS is proposed to operate lasers at a front panel which has an environmental condition of lower ambient temperature (Fig. 1). ELS (Fig. 2) integrates a number of lasers into a pluggable housing. And high optical output power and maximization of power conversion efficiency has been required.
Fig. 1 Schematic top view of network switch server employing CPO
Fig. 2 Examples of ELS for CPO
Details
The developed ELS consists of a QSFP housing which has been standardized for an optical transceiver, an 8-channel TOSA (Transmitter Optical Sub-assembly), and electronic circuities to control TOSA (Fig. 3). The 8-channel TOSA integrates our high-power DFB (Distributed Feedback) LDs (Laser Diodes). In order to obtain high optical output power with an un-cooled laser structure, the optical coupling system was optimized to maximize the optical coupling efficiency and the heat dissipation structure of the TOSA was optimized to reduce an LD temperature. And This TOSA achieves a low LD bias current as low as 300 mA at a case temperature of 55 °C to realize the fiber-coupled power of 100 mW/ch with an uncooled operating condition (Fig.4).
The electronic circuities have LD driving circuitries as well as a power supply regulator, an MCU (Microcontroller Unit), and a temperature sensor.
The ELS achieves fiber-coupled optical power of 100mW for all channels at a case temperature of 55 °C. The total power consumption including the TOSA and the electronic circuitries was as low as 5.6 W and accordingly a record high PCE of 14.3 % was achieved, to the best of our knowledge.
Thus, we realized a very high-efficient 8-channel ELS even with a small QSFP housing. We launched the sample delivery of the TOSA and ELS. And the commercialization has been scheduled in 2025.
At ECOC 2023 scheduled on October 1-5, 2023, in Glasgow Scotland, we exhibit the TOSA and ELSs (at the FITEL-FURUKAWA ELECTRIC EUROPE booth; Booth number 230) on October 2-4, and give a talk at a technical session on October 4. ECOS 2023: https://ecoc2023.theiet.org/
The electronic circuities have LD driving circuitries as well as a power supply regulator, an MCU (Microcontroller Unit), and a temperature sensor.
The ELS achieves fiber-coupled optical power of 100mW for all channels at a case temperature of 55 °C. The total power consumption including the TOSA and the electronic circuitries was as low as 5.6 W and accordingly a record high PCE of 14.3 % was achieved, to the best of our knowledge.
Thus, we realized a very high-efficient 8-channel ELS even with a small QSFP housing. We launched the sample delivery of the TOSA and ELS. And the commercialization has been scheduled in 2025.
At ECOC 2023 scheduled on October 1-5, 2023, in Glasgow Scotland, we exhibit the TOSA and ELSs (at the FITEL-FURUKAWA ELECTRIC EUROPE booth; Booth number 230) on October 2-4, and give a talk at a technical session on October 4. ECOS 2023: https://ecoc2023.theiet.org/
Fig. 3 Photograph of an inner structure for the QSFP ELS
Fig. 4 L-I curves for all 8 channels at case temperature of 55 ºC
Key Characteristics
|
Parameter |
Target |
|---|---|
| Number of channels | 8 |
| Operating case temperature | 0ºC to 55ºC |
| Wavelength allocation | Option1: 1311nm x 8 Option2: 4-λ CWDM x 2 |
| Output power | >100 mW/channel |
| Polarization Extinction Ration | >20 dB (Slow axis) |
| Power consumption (TOSA) | 4 W |
| Power consumption (TOSA & PCBA) | 6 W |
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