Corning Introduces New Optical Switches Designed to Lower the Cost of Optical Networking; Corning launches PurePath -TM- optical switches that extend the reach of reconfigurable metro and long haul networks.CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1999-- Corning Incorporated Corning Incorporated NYSE: GLW is an American manufacturer of glass, ceramics and related materials, primarily for industrial and scientific applications. The company was known until 1989 as Corning Glass Works. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : GLW GLW Glasgow Airport (UK) GLW Gross Laden Weight GLW Good Lady Wife (Australia) ) today introduced two new PurePath(TM) optical switches that will enable carriers to more cost effectively manage the dynamic delivery of bandwidth in metropolitan and long-haul Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing See WDM. (DWDM (Dense WDM) The term given to wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) when significantly more channels were being added. Since WDM is increasingly more "dense" all the time, both terms are used synonymously. See WDM. DWDM - wavelength division multiplexing ) systems. "The PurePath(TM) optical switches represent the application of Corning's photonics technology to optical wavelength management," said Wendell Weeks, executive vice-president, Opto-Electronics. "They offer system-equipment manufacturers the ability to access and switch wavelength channels optically, in a way that improves system performance and lowers system cost for their customers." The importance of accessing and switching channels optically continues to increase as networks become more diverse, driven by the need to handle multiple communication protocols such as SONET, ATM, and IP, and to accommodate a variety of data transmission rates. "The innovative PurePath(TM) optical switches will permit more network functions to be performed in the optical layer, while uniquely minimizing the spectral spectral /spec·tral/ (spek´tral) pertaining to a spectrum; performed by means of a spectrum. spec·tral adj. Of, relating to, or produced by a spectrum. impairments which typically limit the reach of optical networks," said Mark Newhouse, business manager, Corning Optical Networking Communications between computers, telephones and other electronic devices using light. An optical network is far more reliable and has far greater potential transmission capacity than networking in the electrical domain. See optical fiber. Devices. "These optical switches will permit carriers to reduce costly or unnecessary electrical conversions and to more flexibly allocate bandwidth to customers." The PurePath(TM) Wavelength Selective Switch The PurePath(TM) Wavelength Selective Switch, based on liquid crystal technology, is the first high-count, wavelength-selective optical switch that offers high isolation, low insertion loss The amount of loss attributed to a particular device being used in (inserted into) the system. For example, a circuit added to filter out unwanted frequencies may reduce the output current by some amount. See injection loss. , and a bi-directional design. The current model can switch up to 40 channels individually, each at 100 GHz , with uniformity of better than 1.0 dB across all channels. System equipment manufacturers can use the PurePath(TM) Wavelength Selective Switch to provide dynamic wavelength routing for optical path protection or for the interconnection of metropolitan rings. The switch can also be used as a 40 wavelength, reconfigurable add-drop module. This level of functionality and performance is unique to the market today, and is the result of Corning's extensive research and development. PurePath(TM) Wavelength Selective Switch samples will be available in the first half of 2000, and a pilot manufacturing line is scheduled to commence operation in the second half of 2000. The PurePath(TM) Wavelength Modular Switch The PurePath(TM) Wavelength Modular Switch is a reconfigurable optical add/drop module, capable of individually adding or dropping specific wavelengths, at 100 GHz or 200 GHz, without any interruption of through traffic. The module can be designed for 2 to 12 wavelengths, depending on configuration requirements. Corning's innovative integration of patented MicroPlasma(R) thin-film optical filters and switch functions results in improved insertion loss uniformity and the elimination of pass band narrowing for pass through channels. The combination of improved channel uniformity and signal quality allows carriers to transmit optical signals farther before requiring costly electrical conversion and regeneration. The switch also offers small size and latching latch n. 1. A fastening, as for a door or gate, typically consisting of a bar that fits into a notch or slot and is lifted from either side by a lever or string. 2. switch functionality. Prototypes of the PurePath(TM) Wavelength Modular Switch will be available in the fourth quarter of 1999 for customer evaluation. A demonstration of both switches, showing channel reconfiguration functionality, will be on display at Corning's booth (#549) at the National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (NFOEC NFOEC National Fiber Optical Engineer Conference NFOEC National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference ) being held in Chicago, Sept. 26-30. For more information about the rest of Corning's extensive line of photonic Dealing with light (photons). See photon and photonics. products check out the Photonic Technologies Division's website at http://www.corningphotonics.com. Established in 1851, Corning Incorporated creates leading-edge technologies for the fastest-growing segments of the world's economy. Corning manufactures optical fiber, cable and photonic components for the telecommunications industry; and high-performance displays and components for television and other communications-related scientific, semiconductor and environmental markets. Corning's total revenues in 1998 were $3.5 billion. Information on the company is available at http://www.corning.com. |
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