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External Laser Source Interconnect System (ELSIS)

The External Laser Source Interconnect System (ELSIS) is a first-to-market blind-mating optical and electrical interconnect in a pluggable module format that supports co-packaged optics (CPO) requiring a remote laser source. 

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Features and Benefits

Available in one package

Provides customers with a complete external laser source interconnect solution for next-generation CPO implementation.
• Surface-mount (SMT) electrical connector
• Optical connector housing and retaining clip
• Press-fit cage
• Pluggable laser module
• VFI interconnect cable

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CPO implementation

Brings optical fibers directly to the IC substrate or package, eliminating the need for traditional high-speed electrical interfaces. Optical signals are direct to the external network, saving power by eliminating high-speed electrical I/O drivers on the IC and in pluggable modules while increasing front-panel I/O density.

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ELS pluggable module:
Houses high-power continuous wave lasers, which provide optical power to CPO tiles. Simplifies optical eye safety and cabling issues during mating and handling.

Electrical-optical hybrid connector:
QSFP edge card type SMT electrical connector with 25 contacts for ELS module power and control interfaces provides known electrical, assembly and performance characteristics.

OSFP-format cage:
Provides known electrical, thermal and mechanical characteristics with an industry-standard interface.

VFI optical connector interface:
Delivers superior optical performance with any MT-ferrule-based footprint. Meets high-density requirements with 8-, 12-, 24- and 32-fiber MT ferrules.

Overview

Co-packaged optics (CPO) implementations requiring an external laser need high-power lasers located remotely from the optoelectronics IC due to thermal and servicing issues. Pluggable module technology is a useful package for this type of application due to its ease of use and servicing. However, traditional pluggable modules have their optical connections at the user side of the module, creating concerns about eye safety and cable routing.

ELSIS is a complete system of electrical, optical, cage and pluggable modules constructed to allow all connections from the back side of the pluggable module to occur on the inside of the equipment, thus eliminating user access to optical fibers and cables.

Applications by Industry

High-performance computing systems
Machine learning systems

This is not a definitive list of applications for this product. It represents some of the more common uses.

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