Cork, Ireland and Tongxiang, China - May 21, 2012 - Firecomms, a leading developer of fiber optic components, today announces Hsin Chia, an influential member of the fiber communications industry, has joined the company as CEO. A globally respected industry marketer, Chia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Firecomms that will enable him to drive the company’s strategic expansion in its focus markets.
“Since its foundation, Firecomms has opened new markets and developed highly innovative new products for Plastic Optical Fiber,” says Chia. “As the company’s successful development of the home networking market has been very impressive, I am immensely excited to lead this talented team as we continue to expand and build on this momentum.”
Chia’s immediate focus will be on China, where Firecomms has recently expanded its business, and in accelerating the release of innovative new products currently in the pipeline. These products will include more groundbreaking innovations like the company’s recently announced new Gigabit transceiver, a world’s first for the POF industry, for coupling into POF and large core silica fibers.
In February (2012) , Firecomms announced that it started sampling its GDL1000 Gigabit POF transceiver, a world’s first using Resonant Cavity 650 nm LED (RCLED) technology, known for its excellent reliability in the industrial and automotive industries.
The Company’s new GDL1000 transceiver is the result of extensive research and development by the Firecomms team into new materials, driver ICs, and receive circuit architectures. Key features of the transceiver include a customized driver IC in the transmitter developed internally by Firecomms’ new mixed signal IC design team, a new high speed Resonant Cavity LED, and new receiver IC architecture to efficiently detect and convert the optical signals.
“This latest development breakthrough from Firecomms will allow use of Plastic Optical Fiber in higher end optical communication markets which have been dependent on expensive and difficult-to-use glass optical fiber technology,“ says Hugh Hennessy, Firecomms Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The GDL1000 transceiver enables equipment manufacturers to exploit the simplicity of POF--its ease of use and simple, robust terminations-- at Gigabit speeds. With overwhelming feedback from our Beta customers in the LAN/SAN, medical, industrial and home networking markets, we look forward to rolling out the product across our global customer base.”
Traditionally, gigabit-class fiber optic transceivers are based on 850 nm and higher wavelength light sources, precision mounted on complex optical assemblies, which couple into 200 micron and smaller core glass optical fibers. Firecomms’ new gigabit-class transceiver utilizes an eye-safe, visible 650 nm (red) RCLED packaged in a transparent plastic moulded package with integrated lenses for easy coupling into 1 mm core POF. In the near future it is expected the GDL1000 will be housed in the very popular LC® connector, soon to be ratified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for POF applications.
By removing the significant additional costs associated with glass fiber, Firecomms GDL1000 POF transceiver unleashes an enormous opportunity for several markets. Utilizing Plastic Optical fiber for installations where glass has been the only alternative removes the need for costly splicing or fiber processing equipment. Moreover, because the installer can cut the fiber to the required length and insert into the plugless OptoLock, expensive pre-assembled glass fiber patch cords are made obsolete.
Optimized for data rates up to 1.25 Gbps, the GDL1000 transceiver is compatible with 1000BASESX and SGMii interface standards. With its LVDS interface, the transceiver also is compatible with a wide range of SerDes ICs operating at data rates down to 200 Mbps. Additional features of the GDL1000 transceiver include:
- Non-magnetic version for use in medical MRI , CAT and PET applications
- Transmission distance of 5 m with SI POF
- Transmission distance of 30 m with GI POF
- Operating temperature range of -20°C to +70°C
- Class I Eye Safe, RoHS compliant
- Excellent EMI immunity for use in harsh industrial environments
GDL1000 transceivers will initially be available in Firecomms’ widely popular OptoLock® connector to allow for simple, no hassle plug free terminations. Future options will include SMI® and LC versions for traditional connector requests.
Support products will include a full evaluation kit with SMA connectors, lengths of GI or SI POF cables, and a Gigabit media converter with RJ45 connectors for connecting to 1000BaseT Gigabit Ethernet ports.
A full suite of documentation on the GDL1000 is available on the company’s website at www.firecomms.com and samples can be ordered through distributors or directly at info@firecomms.com.
About Firecomms
Firecomms, a supplier of high-speed optical components optimized for Plastic Optical Fiber, designs and manufactures fiber optic transceivers that drive home, industrial and automotive communication networks. The company’s revolutionary OptoLock® technology, licensed worldwide, employs an innovative connector system to simplify the installation and maintenance of fiber optic communications networks.
Firecomms is a multinational group, with facilities in Ireland, China, Japan, and the USA. Additional information about the company can be found on its web site at www.firecomms.com.
OptoLock is a registered trademark of Firecomms Ltd.
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