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Plastic fibre re-tooled as standard for consumer applications

250 Mbps duplex links over 50m with simpler assembly

Molex has announced a new low-cost plastic optical fibre data link based on the Molex small media interconnect ‘SMI’. As a complete duplex POF solution, the SMI connector and transceiver interconnect system has been adopted by the IEEE 1394 trade committee: the links have low power consumption and are compatible with IEEE 802.3u fast Ethernet data communications standards. Available in active device transceivers, adapters, cables and field termination tooling, you can use the system in consumer electronic devices such as audio, video, home networking and entertainment equipment, as well as OEM equipment applications such as data link solutions and networking markets, including industrial, home/office network PC and server applications. Using Firecomms RCLED-based 650-nm FOT TX/RX transceivers, SMI-based data links offer data speeds up to 250 Mbps for 50 metres. The Firecomms FOTs have digitally integrated driver circuitry to reduce PCB real estate and are compatible with CML signalling for seamless integration into Ethernet hubs. The FOT system’s high sensitivity receiver IC and pin-diode for one-step light to digital conversion also allows integrated optics to efficiently focus and direct light. With surface or through-hole soldering mounting options, the SMI transceivers have been reduced in size and now allow for lower cost, high volume surface mount processing.