IntexyS, Lightfleet to Combine Components

IntexyS Photonics SA of Toulouse, France, and Lightfleet Corp. of Camas, Wash., announced they will combine their optical component technologies to provide an interconnect that enables continuously parallel communications for computing, communications and embedded systems applications. The Lightfleet Corowave interconnect, which uses multichannel, broadcast light to transmit data through "free space" -- eliminating the need for fiber-optic cabling or copper wiring as conduits -- will ship this year. "The combination of optoelectronic receivers with laser transmitters creates multiple, simultaneous channels to achieve continuously parallel communications," IntexyS said. The data-carrying light beams are spread through lenses, reflected from mirrors, crisscrossed in free space and refocused to the receivers. Lightfleet is using modulated light as a high-bandwidth conduit to replace legacy, hard-wired bus technology. IntexyS is supplying receivers used to capture and convert the broadcast light beams into electronic signals, and its surface mount optical devices are providing the data throughput. (See also: Products, Surface Mount Optical Devices)