NEWSTREAM, March 15 -- NTT Electronics Corporation (NEL) has developed design technology required to create an all-in-one arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) module that can be integrated with an array of on-board variable optical attenuators (VOAs) -- elements indispensable for building and stabilizing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems, which enable optical signals of varied wavelengths to be efficiently bundled and transmitted over a single optical fiber.
    The new product incorporates electrical circuits for the digital control interface, setting attenuation levels and controlling temperature into a module board. VOA and AWG optical devices that are chosen to meet customer specifications for such variables as number of channels, channel spacing wavelength range can be mounted onto the module board. Since this all-in-one module is made possible by connecting each wavelength channel between VOAs and the AWG via 8-fiber ribbon cables, its wiring cost can be greatly reduced, the company said.