iFlame, the industry's first chip-scale 4-channel optical transceiver, is aimed at data centre applications running over InfiniBand, Ethernet and Fiber-Channel. The iFlame chip, implemented as an optical engine, enables high-speed, high-density, cost-effective interconnect applications such as Opto-electrical media converters, optical active connectors and cables as well as traditional transceivers such as the upcoming QSFP form factor.

The iFlame, which is less than 1 square/CM in size, features an array of four state-of-the-art 850 nm VCSELs (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers) and four photo-diodes for data rates of 1.25Gbps to 5Gbps per channel, for a total aggregate of up to 20Gbps.

Key technology highlights:

• 4-channel transmit and receive
• Data rate: up to 5Gbp per channel
• Supports both 62.5µ and 50µ industry standard MTP®/MPO multi-mode ribbon fibers
• Chip size: 10mm X 5mm X 2mm
• Uses 4X850nm VCSEL array
• Data I/O is AC coupling, PECL, LVDS and CML compatible

According to IDC, Grid computing is becoming pervasive in the enterprise data centre and high speed protocols, mainly InfiniBand, are gaining market share. These protocols are trying to break out of the limitations of using bulky copper cables that are both limited in reach and hard to handle.

"We know the industry is looking for high-density, cost-efficient, multi-channel optical solutions in their data centre applications”, stated David Sachs XLoom's CEO. "iFlame enables a multitude of low-cost optical products such as active optical cables, transceivers and small form factor optical interconnects. Our customers now have the opportunity to offer a variety of optical interconnects solutions by using iFlame as their optical engine, designing small form factor devices."

Avner Badihi, XLoom, president and co-founder, added: "iFlame is based on our patented wafer-level XFLame technology and is our second generation of commercial optical chips. Using standard semiconductor processes and allowing for a cost as low as $1 per 1Gbps in volumes, we are positioned to not only satisfy current high-speed protocols, but to also meet the needs of emerging high-speed protocols, such as the upcoming 40Gb Ethernet and InfiniBand QDR (Quad Data Rate)."

iFlame optical chips are currently sampling, with a follow up end-user product to be announced by XLoom Communications during the next month.