Several fiber optics companies have taken a step toward industrywide standardization at the component level by signing an agreement to reduce the width of transceivers. The pact could lead to the reduction of circuit board space in fiber optic data and telecommunications systems by up to 50 percent.
The multisource agreement specifies the mechanical package dimensions, circuit board layout footprint, pin size, positioning and functions of a compact, internationally compatible family of transceivers.
Companies signing the agreement include AMP Inc. of Harrisburg, Pa., Lucent Technologies' Microelectronics Group of Murray Hill, N.J., Hewlett-Packard Co. of Santa Rosa, Calif., Nortel of Nashville, Tenn., Siemens Corp. of Madison, Wis., and Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp. of Research Triangle Park, N.C.