II-VI Incorporated Unveils Miniature Z-block Optics for 100 Gb/s Datacenter Transceivers

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 23, 2017 -- II‐VI Incorporated (NASDAQ:IIVI), a leading provider of solutions for next generation optical networks, today announced the availability of its miniature Z-block optics for 100 Gb/s datacenter transceivers.

The accelerated build-out of hyperscale datacenters is driving the demand for more compact and cost optimized 100 Gb/s transceivers with up to 10 km reach. The Z-block is a micro-optics precision assembly that combines or separates four wavelengths at the transmitter or receiver respectively, in an extremely small 1.5 x 1.0 x 1.35 mm size that fits in a standard CFP4 or QSFP package. 

“Our ability to miniaturize our micro-optics technology platform allows us to offer our customers a very low loss technology option compared to waveguide or silicon photonics technology,” said Gary Lin, Vice President, II-VI Photop.  “Our micro-optics volume capabilities are based on our state-of-the-art thin-film filter fabrication facility in Guangzhou, China, from which we have shipped more than 200 million filters in the last 3 years for the fiber-to-the-home market. Our existing high-volume assembly lines for our LAN-WDM optics were leveraged to quickly ramp up our mass-manufacturable CFP4- and QSFP-compatible design that is now experiencing high demand.”

II-VI’s micro-optics precision assemblies are available with LAN-WDM and CWDM4 filters physically spaced on a 250, 500 or 750 µm pitch to accommodate a variety of standards for client and datacenter transceivers. II-VI also offers a broad portfolio of prisms and micro-lenses to complement the transceiver’s optical sub-assembly. II-VI’s micro-optics are designed and manufactured in-house using vertically integrated processes including precision polishing, thin-film coatings and high-volume automated assembly manufacturing.

II-VI at OFC 2017, Mar. 21-23, 2017, Booth #2101

II-VI will showcase new products at OFC 2017 that are driven by advances in our materials and technology platforms. The product showcase will include novel embedded monitoring solutions for transport networks, highly compact optical amplifier solutions tailored to enable high bit-rate DWDM transceivers, as well as key devices and sub-assemblies for datacenter transceivers.

About II-VI Incorporated

II-VI Incorporated, a global leader in engineered materials and opto-electronic components is a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, with research and development, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution facilities worldwide, the Company produces a wide variety of application-specific photonic and electronic materials and components, and deploys them in various forms including integrated with advanced software to enable our customers.

CONTACT: Mark Lourie
Director, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
www.ii-vi.com