|
Optical Networks and Wiring Harnesses
By Paul Polishuk
IGI Consulting, Inc.
Introductions - Problems and Opportunity
The optical networking industry is booming. Growth rates of 50-100% have
been experienced by components and subsystems, and systems manufacturers.
Delays in component delivery have caused severe impact on subsystem and
system suppliers. Demand exceeds supply for practically all components and it
is anticipated to continue through 2001. Compounding these problems is the
lack of automation in the Photonics business. Components are assembled on a
job shop basis with a heavy demand on human capital. Companies are investing
heavily to build automated facilities but this will take time, as assembling optical
components is not as easy as integrating electronics. Another problem forcing
automation is the lack of manpower available to assemble components.
What are the needs of the Optical Networks Business?
Optical networks are being made possible by three major developments,
which are making all-optical networks possible, these include:
• Single mode fibers
• Optical amplifiers
• Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) (See Figure 1).
From this figure, it should be crystal clear as to the advantages of
DWDM and optical amplifiers (EDFA).
These three developments now make it possible to build optical networks
similar to the electronics systems that exist today. The existing telecommunications
networks were designed for voice traffic but with the growth of the Internet,
data traffic is now surpassing the voice traffic. This is the main reason why
long distance carriers and local exchange carriers are moving quickly to
build all-optical networks.
These all-optical networks are not only cheaper to build than other
electronic systems, but carry a tremendous amount of traffic at much
higher speeds up to several terabits per second and it is still going up.
Simple fiber optic point-to-point links could operate up to 2.5 giga
bits per second on a single fiber. With DWDM, now up to 160 wavelengths
can be carried on a single fiber with each wavelength carrying 1.0 Gbps
or a total of 1.6 Gbps.
With these high capacity systems, there is a need for either a router
or switch for the optical signals. Terabit routers and optical switches are
now being developed and manufactured by a number of manufacturers
such as Cisco, Alcatel, Lucent Technologies, Nortel, and a raft of new
companies. These systems are similar to electronic switches, which
take up bays of equipment similar to what is shown in the Figure 2.
In a recent study by IGI consulting (IGIC), "Riding The Lightwave,"
IGIC identified over 100 new optical companies developing either optic
switches and routers, DWDM long distance systems, Metro DWDM
systems, access optical networks, and enterprise optical networks.
There are so many new companies that IGIC in "Riding The Lightwave"
developed a way to categorize these companies according to Fig. 3.
The chart on page 40 lists the optical network companies and their
product categories. How many of these companies do you recognize?
What Does This Mean for the Wiring Harness Business?
The wiring harness business has benefited from the growth of the
optical networks. Those that have entered the fiber optics field and
have more business than they can handle. With the increased speed
and the use of optical amplifiers which produce higher power into the
fiber, patch cords and wiring harnesses must meet higher technical
standards to meet telco grade requirements.
However, as the optical industry move to all-optical networks using
terabit routers and optical switches, the problems of interconnection
becomes even greater from the number and type of optical interconnects
required. (See attached photos in Figures 4 and 5.) Optical switches are
being designed with 1,000 input and 1,000 output ports. Interconnecting
these ports require massive amounts of optical interconnects such as
patch cords and wiring harnesses, which take up greater amounts of
space and weight. The interconnection issue is more than just
patch cords but includes:
• Component to Component
• Board to Board
• Bay to Bay
All of these interconnects are within a central office and distances
range from a few centimeters to less than 100 meters, with 80% of
the links less than 25 meters, as shown in Figure 5.
The evolution of Telecom interconnection is shown in Figure 6.
Figure 7 shows the benefits of optical interconnection required in the future.
What Are Systems Developers Doing to
Improve Interconnection?
Systems developers are looking at a number of technologies to reduce
the size and weight of interconnection, to increase performance,
reliability and ease of manufacturing. Here are some of the
technologies being considered.
• Free space interconnection — This is mainly for short
distance, such as component to components.
• Flexible lightguides — These are layered levels of polymers, which
are as thin as waxed paper with light paths issued in the lightguide.
These can be layered into a circuit board so optical signals can be moved
around the board. These can also be used to provide board to board interconnects.
• Parallel Optical Links — Parallel optical links use ribbon fiber optic
cables with up to 14 to 24 fibers layered in a plastic or similar material.
This provides smaller size, flexibility and low weight. Ribbon connectors
are required which are factory installed and require new skills and equipment.
What Does This Mean for the Harness Industry?
The harness industry has to adapt to meet the needs of the optical
networks suppliers. The interconnection issues are becoming critical
from size, weight and allowing flexible designs. Business as usual is no
longer sufficient. Unless the industry adapts, new entrants will step up to
meet the system needs.
What Should The Wiring Harness Industry Do?
In order to maintain market shares and growth of their business, companies
need to take a proactive approach rather than sitting back and waiting for the orders.
Companies need to understand the customer's needs, know what he needs to give
him a competitive edge, and offer him a solution before he finds himself in a critical
situation. Many companies already have relationships with their customers. This
overcomes the hurdle of how to get the foot in the door. The key is to use this
advantage to understand the customer's existing problems and future needs
and come up with solutions that are both technically and economically acceptable.
For further information contact
Paul Polishuk, IGI Consulting, Inc.
214 Harvard Avenue
Boston, MA 02134
Phone (617) 738-8088 or Fax (617) 734-8562.
For a complete reprint of this article contact: marilyn@wiringharnessnews.com
|
