From the METHA annual Report!:In May of 2000 Methode formed a subsidiary
company composed of its optical subsystem and
related optical component business units. The
new company, Stratos Lightwave, Inc.,
was formed to focus on optical technology for
fiber optic communications, and to better
address the rapidly growing networking and
telecommunications markets.
Leading edge
products and custom
optical assemblies require
highly skilled and flexible
manufacturing organizations
that can respond to fast
ramp-up production
demands.
Original Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs) of networking infrastructure
systems face accelerating new
product design times as a
prerequisite to remain competitive.
Increasing data traffic, more users,
and more complex networks have
made faster data rates, increased port
density and advanced product
features basic requirements for
market acceptance. As a result, OEMs
increasingly rely on highly integrated
subsystem suppliers to rapidly
develop major elements of their
systems, allowing them to better
focus on their core competencies in
overall product design, marketing
and distribution.
Stratos Lightwave produces a
broad range of optical transceivers
for use in local area networks
(LANs), storage area networks
(SANs), metropolitan area networks
(MANs), wide area networks (WANs),
and central office networking in the
telecommunication markets. Our
optical subsystems are compatible
with the advanced transmission
protocols used in these networks,
including Gigabit Ethernet, Fast
Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and
asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).
Stratos provides a full line of
fiber optic components and cable
assemblies, and special termination
services for advanced optical
applications.
Stratos Lightwave provides key
advantages that shorten OEMs’
product development times and
add valuable technical features:
HIGH-PERFORMANCE
Stratos products provide industry
leading optical line transmission
performance with specific attention
to standards compliance and
interoperability. Our gigabit speed
optical transceivers are engineered
using advanced packaging which
allows us to deliver some of the
industry’s lowest radiated
electromagnetic interference (EMI)
solutions. Stratos is also one of
a few companies with the complete
spectrum of optical expertise that
provides the end-to-end optical
precision required for the most
demanding applications.
The demand for Bandwidth, the measure of data
throughput, is projected to triple on an annual basis,
exceeding even the exceptional growth rate of the computer
microprocessor. The Internet, high-speed DSL modems,
wireless communications, long distance
telecommunications, and extended computer networks
have one thing in common — all rely on a vast fabric of
optical technology for their high bandwidth requirements.
Behind the scenes, “backbone” fiber optic connections
have mostly displaced traditional electronic based signal
technology, except in the highly visible “last mile”, where
communications directly interface with the consumer. This
wholesale replacement is primarily based on one technical
fact: the distance an electronic signal can economically be
propagated directly
decreases as the data
rate increases — the
faster the speed, the
shorter the distance. The
increasing amount of data
and distance requirements of
modern communications makes
optical technology the only practical
solution. Gigabit per second electronic signals
are currently limited to about 100 meters, while
optical technology at equivalent data rates
can be economically employed to over
20,000 meters.
THE STRATOS ADVANTAGE
BROAD PRODUCT LINE
Our broad line of optical subsystems
and components are available in a
variety of fiber optic interfaces,
support a wide range of data rates,
protocols, wavelengths, modes and
transmission distances, and have
applications in the Enterprise, MAN,
WAN and Telecommunication
markets. In fiscal 2000 Stratos
introduced a large number of
new products, representing both
improvements to existing designs
as well as products addressing
incremental new markets:
Fiber Optics is a key technology
enabling the Communications Age.
• High Data Rate 2x Fibre
Channel and 2.488 Gbps Optical
Transceivers — Stratos was one of
the first to provide these data rate
versions in a number of form factors
and wavelengths. Combined with
our industry-leading optical line
transmission performance, low EMI,
and fast production ramp-up
capability, Stratos has continually
provided a time-to-market advantage
to leading-edge optical equipment
manufacturers.
• Small Form Factor and
Small Form Factor Pluggable
Optical Transceivers — Based on the
compact LC fiber optic connector,
these new form factors provide
twice the port density over standard
transceivers — an important benefit
in the crowded equipment spaces
of today’s networking and telecom
environment.
Advanced Optical Termination —
In high performance applications,
such as long-distance
telecommunications, the transmission
of higher data rates over very long
distances has pushed the limits
of signal integrity. Even small
differences in optical signal loss
due to the quality of individual
connections can substantially reduce
the distance over which optical
signals can reliably be sent.
Stratos’ complete range of optical
proficiencies gives us the precise
termination and device matching
capability for the very highest
levels of optical performance.
distances. Stratos
Lightwave is one of the
first to offer Gigabit
Ethernet and Fibre
Channel transceivers
that comply with the
telecommunications
industry’s quality
standards typically
used in MAN and
WAN applications.
• Miniaturized Single and
Multiport Optical
Transceiver Modules —
Highly integrated transceiver
modules maximize design real
estate and cost efficiencies.
• Small Form Factor LC and
MT-RJ Fiber Optic Connectivity —
These new compact higher density
fiber optic interfaces represent the
fastest growing segment of the fiber
optic interface market.
• Quantum QX Backplane
Connectivity — Fiber optic
backplane connectors replace
electronic interconnections inside
many high-performance systems,
such as high speed data networking
and telecommunications switching
equipment, and solve many of the
heat, space, distance and
electromagnetic interference
problems associated with
electronic based wiring.
• 3.3 volt Optical Transceivers —
New, lower voltage versions address
advanced circuit board design trends,
reducing electromagnetic and thermal
emissions.
•
Telecordia (Bellcore) Compliant
Transceivers — Recently, Gigabit
Ethernet and Fibre Channel standards
have made up the fastest growing
portion of the MAN and WAN
markets, as the low cost and high
interoperability of Gigabit Ethernet
and Fibre Channel have extended
their capabilities to metropolitan
International Data
Corporation, a marketing
research firm, projects
that the demand for
Fibre Channel switch
ports will grow from
25,800 in 1998 to
2,551,300 by 2002,
a 215% compound
annual growth rate.
INTEGRATED DESIGN
AND MANUFACTURING
Our in-house design,
engineering and manufacturing
personnel have extensive experience
in electronics, optical systems and
electro-mechanical packaging,
enabling us to produce high-performance
optical subsystems and
components with shortened product
design cycles and faster times to
market. Our advanced technical
capabilities in miniaturization and
integration allow us to design
products with higher port density
and smaller packaging, and allow
us to rapidly scale our production
to deliver high volumes of
these products.
RELIABILITY
Stratos’ unique in-house integrated
design, engineering and manufacturing
allows us to take a complete
approach to reliability. Our optical
subsystems undergo rigorous
verification and qualification testing
before designs are released to
production. Extensive design
validation testing, on-going
accelerated life testing, and 100%
thermal stress screening ensures the
Compound
semiconductor epitaxy
provides key optoelectronic
components such as VCSELs
and detectors.
Dell’Oro Group Inc., a
market research firm,
forecasts that the
demand for Gigabit
Ethernet switch ports
will grow from 219,700
in 1998 to 17.4 million
in 2002, a 198%
compound annual
growth rate.
consistent reliability of our optical
subsystems throughout their life
cycles. Our control over testing
throughout the complete design and
manufacturing process results in
greater reliability and higher
performance for our products.
As bandwidth technology expands
towards 10 gigabits per second and
beyond, Stratos Lightwave is well
positioned at the technical forefront
of the fiber optic revolution. Stratos
Lightwave has the entrepreneurial
spirit, the culture of innovation, the
customer and quality focus, and the
practical manufacturing experience
that are required for success.
Precise
optical alignment
of the transmitting laser
to the fiber optic core is
a key requirement for
reliability at high speed
data rates.
the end
may be a bit jumbled but, this is available from the METHA annual report on their website via PDF files...and adobe |
