New Product Introduction

High Port Asymmetric Optical Switch

The Polatis team is excited to introduce a new line of products, the HPA-OST series, a series of high port count, non-blocking, asymmetric switches. Polatis is the first to offer a product in this class of switch, which has instrument-grade optical performance in a non-blocking switch matrix with the ability to rapidly switch without light in the path to establish a connection. The HPA series is based on the same award-winning DirectLight beam-steering technology, which ensures highly reliable switching without the use of MEMS or micro-mirrors. The new products are aimed at providing unique capabilities into the growing network test and monitoring markets.

The HPA series is the first product to be introduced after the merger of Continuum Photonics & Polatis Ltd earlier this month. The product is designed for applications where there is a need to aggregate or connect many devices or signals (dozens or even hundreds) to a few high value output ports. The HPA series is unique in the ability to deliver instrumentation quality connections, in a fully non-blocking fabric available in flexible MxN configurations such as 2x48 to 2x224, 4x192 and 6x96. As with all Polatis products, the HPA is fully transparent, and is capable of carrying any signal format (analog, digital), any protocol (ATM, IP, SONET, FC), and at line rates from DC to 40 Gbs and beyond. The HPA series is based on DirectLight technology, a beam-steering architecture using piezoelectric technology for precision alignment of fiber collimators. This technology guarantees extremely reliable, precise switching. Like other Polatis switch products, the HPA delivers low insertion loss, high return loss, very low crosstalk, and extremely high repeatability. Since a traffic signal is not required to enable a connection path across the switch, the HPA is versatile enough for any traffic situation: dark fiber monitoring, burst mode traffic, bi-directional traffic (on same fiber), and DWDM transport.

There are numerous applications for the new HPA series, including:

• Advanced network monitoring for core and access networks
• PON/FTTx network test & monitoring
• Automated component test
• Shared equipment test facilities
• RF over fiber
• Optical sensor systems
• Video feed distribution
• High power laser source switching

The HPA series is an ideal match for network monitoring applications in the core, and also for next generation monitoring systems in access networks. Built around customer requirements for real network deployments, the HPA provides access into the network for parametric and service-layer testing. The high asymmetry and large port counts of the HPA are well matched to typical network architectures, with traffic fibers in the dozens or hundreds, but the need for only a handful of test access ports. Low insertion loss ensures the maximum dynamic range of the installed test equipment, while the ability to switch without light means it is possible to monitor dark or active fibers. PON networks place additional challenges for test & monitoring equipment, requiring the ability to function under specific bi-directional multi-wavelength conditions.

Read more about Advanced Network Monitoring

Read more about PON/FTTH Monitoring & Test

The HPA-OST incorporates the same easy-to-use interfaces as all other Polatis products, including SCPI and an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI).

To find out more about this new product: Link to the HPA-OST datasheet.