Sercalo mVOA Miniature MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator, Coaxial Design
Miniature coaxial MEMS variable optical attenuator, 3.5 mm in diameter, hermetically sealed and voltage-controlled for gain control in amplifiers and
- Wavelength range (SMF 28ultra type)
- 1250 to 1670 nm
- Insertion loss @ min. attenuation
- 0.5 dB typ., 1.0 dB max
- Max. attenuation
- 25 dB min, 45 dB typ.
- Polarisation extinction ratio @ 10 dB
- 18 dB min, 25 dB typ.
Overview
The Sercalo mVOA is a variable optical attenuator built around an electrostatic MEMS mirror. It comes in a hermetically sealed coaxial package; the miniature version has a diameter of 3.5 mm. The optical collimator is assembled by laser welding, and there is no epoxy in the optical path.
Operating principle
A voltage on the drive pin moves the MEMS mirror, which changes the optical path and so sets the attenuation. When power is removed, the attenuator returns to its default state. There are two variants with different default states. The normally open (bright) type has its lowest loss at 0 V. The normally closed (dark) type reaches its lowest insertion loss at a drive voltage between 4.5 and 5.5 V and has better linearity at high attenuation. If the voltage is raised past the minimum-loss point, the attenuation increases again.
Design and compliance
The component is designed to conform to Telcordia 1221 reliability standards and complies with RoHS 2015/863/EU. It can be mounted directly on printed circuit boards. The mVOA is used for gain control in amplifiers and transceivers. It is available with single-mode, PM or specialty fibers.
Key Features
- Coaxial MEMS design based on an electrostatic MEMS mirror
- Miniature housing with 3.5 mm diameter
- Hermetically sealed, laser welded package
- No epoxy in the optical path
- 0-5 V drive voltage
- Bright (normally open) or dark (normally closed) default state
- Low power consumption
- Low insertion loss
- Available with specialty or PM fibers
- Designed to conform to Telcordia 1221 reliability standards
- RoHS compliant (2015/863/EU)
- Can be mounted directly on printed circuit boards
Specifications
| Wavelength range (SMF 28ultra type) |
1250 to 1670 nm
Min 1250, max 1670
|
|---|---|
| Insertion loss @ min. attenuation |
0.5 dB typ., 1.0 dB max
Insertion loss is for smf28ultra fiber, without connectors
|
| Max. attenuation |
25 dB min, 45 dB typ.
For the dark variant, max attenuation is at 0 V
|
| Polarisation extinction ratio @ 10 dB | 18 dB min, 25 dB typ. |
| Polarisation extinction ratio @ 20 dB | 18 dB min, 25 dB typ. |
| Wavelength dependent loss @ 10 dB (C Band) | 0.1 dB typ., 0.6 dB max |
| Wavelength dependent loss @ 20 dB (C Band) | 0.3 dB typ., 1.2 dB max |
| Polarisation dependent loss @ 10 dB |
0.10
typ.
|
| Polarisation dependent loss @ 20 dB |
0.10
typ.
|
| Return loss | 50 dB min, 55 dB typ. |
| Maximum optical power level |
500
max
|
| Switching time (linear scale) |
1
max
|
| Cycle rate | 50 Hz typ., 100 Hz max |
| Durability | No wear out |
| Operation voltage |
5.0 V typ., 6.7 V max
For the dark variant, minimum IL is reached at 4.5 – 5.5 V. The web page gives the control voltage as typically 0-5V or 0-6.5V.
|
|---|---|
| Control voltage range |
0 V – 5 V
Voltage ordering code '-'
|
| Current consumption |
10
max
|
| ESD (internal protection diode) |
500
min
|
| Pins |
2
Ground pin and control pin (0-5V)
|
| Pin length | 8 mm min, 13 mm typ. |
| Operation temperature | -10 to 70 °C |
|---|---|
| Storage temperature | -40 to 85 °C |
| Pigtail length | 50 to 100 cm |
| Weight |
2.5
typ.
|
|
Dimensions (diameter x length), minisize
mVOA
|
3.5 x 14 mm on TO41 header
Hermetically sealed TO41 header
|
|
Dimensions (diameter x length), standard
VOA (standard size)
|
6.0 x 17 mm on TO46 header
Hermetically sealed TO46 header. The ordering information gives the standard size as 5.9x17 mm.
|
| RoHS compliance | 2015/863/EU (no exceptions) |
Specifications are taken from the manufacturer's documentation. See the datasheet for complete and current values.
Applications
- Gain control in optical amplifiers
- Gain control in transceivers
- Telecom
- Instrumentation
- Test and measurement
Options & Accessories
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| m | VOA size: miniature (3.5x14 mm) |
| - (size) | VOA size: standard (5.9x17 mm) |
| - (default state) | Bright at 0V — Normally open type with minimum attenuation at 0 V |
| of | Dark at 0V — Normally closed type with minimum attenuation at 4.5 – 5.5 V |
| 9 | Fiber type: SMF28Ultra — The web configurator lists this as SMF23ULTRA |
| 9PM | Fiber type: PM15u25a — The web configurator lists PM15-U40A (Corning Panda fiber) |
| 7 | Fiber type: SM980 — SM980 for 1050nm |
| 7PM | Fiber type: HP980PM |
| B | Fiber sleeve type: 250um bare fibers |
| R | Fiber sleeve type: 8-fibers or 12-fibers ribbon |
| N | Fiber sleeve type: 900 um sleeve — On rSC only |
| - (dynamic range) | Dynamic range (max attenuation): 1-25 dB |
| A30 | Dynamic range (max attenuation): 1-30 dB |
| A40 | Dynamic range (max attenuation): 1-40 dB |