2002 Press Releases-09

Ando Electric Co., Ltd. and Yokogawa Electric Corporation have jointly developed the AP9950 Pulse Pattern Generator and AP9951 Error Detector, Bit Error Rate Test Sets that evaluate high-speed devices and optical components for 40 Gbit/s optical transmission systems.

The companies start accepting orders as of March 19. The products will be displayed at Ando's booth (#3613) at the OFC 2002 exhibition in Anaheim, California from March 19-21.

Not only do the two new units feature high-quality waveforms, compact form, light weight, and low power consumption, they are also the world's smallest stand-alone test sets of their kind.

Since it started selling 40 Gbit/s Bit Error Test System last September, Ando has been synergizing its communications measuring instrument expertise and Yokogawa's device technology in its ongoing drive to raise its share of the growing market for 40 Gbit/s BER testing solutions.

Background of development

As WDM transmission at 2.5 Gbit/s-10 Gbit/s plays a key role in backbone and metro networks, broadband access lines are evolving, and the volume of data transactions expanding steadily. This may lead to a shortage of existing transmission line capacity in the near future.

To address this challenge, optical transmission component makers have focused recent R&D on a key to the industry's future: ultra-high-speed devices for 40 Gbit/s optical transmission. Rising demand for high-quality waveform output, space-saving design and functional flexibility define the priorities of developing such systems.

Product summary

Ando and Yokogawa have combined their technological resources to help customers make the switch from conventional measurement systems to smaller, better-integrated high-performance systems.

At only about 2/3 the size and weight of more conventional predecessors, the new products are very portable space-savers. Their single-box, stand-alone design does away with connections between measuring instruments, which complicate conventional test systems and degrade signals. The benefits: superior waveform quality and lower power consumption.

AP9950/AP9951 major features

1. World's smallest stand-alone products of their class
   Dimensions: Approx. 425(W)×221(H)×500(D)mm each
   Mass: Approx. 25 kg each
2. High-quality waveform output
3. Capable of various measurement applications
   Three measurement modes and burst signal measurement functions provided.

1. Multi-bit rate
   Can be preset between 36 Gbit/s - 43.5 Gbit/s.
2. Full remote control

Application

-?	Research, development and manufacturing of 40 Gbit/s high-speed devices
-?	Research, development and manufacturing of 40 Gbit/s optical transmission modules
-?	Research, development and manufacturing of 40 Gbit/s transmission system

?

Projected sales: 100 units (first year)
Sales channels: Ando and Yokogawa distribute worldwide
Standard price: JP 120 million yen(aroundUS$960,000)
Shipment: From April, 2002

Corporate data
Ando Electric Co., Ltd. headquarters are at 3-484, Tsukagoshi, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 212-8519. Its president is Masao Motohashi. The company is capitalized at 7,597 million yen.
Yokogawa Electric Corporation headquarters are at 2-9-32, Nakacho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8750. Its president is Isao Uchida. The company is capitalized at 32,306 million yen.