New Focus Introduces Two New Receiver Lines: High-Gain 80-MHz Balanced Receivers and 3.5-GHz Receivers for Test and Measurement.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2002

Balanced Receivers Provide Better Small-Signal Detection at Lower

Frequencies; 3.5-GHz Detectors are Compatible Across Multiple

Communications Protocols 

New Focus, Inc. (Nasdaq:NUFO), a leading provider of photonics technology solutions, today announced the addition of two new detector lines: high-gain 80-MHz balanced receivers, and 3.5-GHz receivers for datacom / telecom test and measurement.

The Models 18X7 80-MHz balanced receivers provide higher gain, thus better signal detection, for coherent heterodyne-detection applications, including doppler LIght Detection And Ranging -- or LIDAR, a laser radar -- which is used to explore the atmosphere, and optical coherence tomography, which is used for mapping sub-surface features such as in the human body.

The Models 159X 3.5-GHz receivers are ideal for fast, accurate, waveform measurements across all communications wavelengths from 450-1630 nanometers, and across multiple communications protocols, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fiber Channel, Xaui, and OC-48.

"Both these new receiver lines complement our current line of leading photonic detectors," says Dr. Timothy Day, chief technology officer and co-founder of New Focus. "The development of these receivers demonstrates our continued dedication to our strong portfolio of high-performance opto-electronic devices."

The receivers are the latest additions to the New Focus photonics tool chest. Photonics products manipulate light -- the flow of photons -- just like electronic products manipulate electricity -- the flow of electricity. Photonics represent a key enabling technology in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, semiconductor IC processing, biotechnology, oil well recovery, and industrial sensing.

The new balanced receivers are ideal for picking out signals in a sea of noise. They work by subtracting the photocurrent from two well-matched photodetectors. Common-mode noise that is present on both the reference and signal beams, such as laser-intensity noise, is cancelled out and does not appear as part of the signal. Any imbalance between the photocurrents generated by the reference and signal detectors, however, is amplified. Available in both visible-wavelength and near-infrared models, these new receivers come with free-space or fiber-connectorized interfaces.

The new DC-coupled 3.5-GHz receivers come standard with a multimode 62.5-micron fiber input and are available with either a gallium-arsenide (GaAs) detector for wavelengths from 400-900 nanometers or an indium-gallium-arsenide (InGaAs) detector for wavelengths from 900-1650 nanometers. They are well suited for time-domain characterizations of 2.5-Gbit/s components and extinction-ratio measurements, as well as for frequency-domain measurements.

About New Focus:

New Focus develops and manufactures innovative photonics solutions for the telecommunications, semiconductor, industrial and biomedical markets. New Focus' product portfolio includes tunable lasers for test-and-measurement applications, advanced photonics tools, and high-speed opto-electronic devices. Founded in 1990, the company is a recognized technology leader in creating advanced optical products for both commercial and research customers. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California.

For more information about New Focus, visit the company's Internet home page at www.newfocus.com.