Electronics Weekly
The compact integrated optical transmitter and receiver maintains performance even during communication between a stationary object and those rotating 360°, said Hamamatsu Photonics.
The transceiver enables high speed, spatial light transmission for cable-free optical data comms. It can be used for short-range board-to-board communication as well as for datacom equipment with rotating mechanisms such as robotic manipulator arms, and omni-directional cameras, without the limitations of slip rings, traditionally used to transmit signals between rotating and stationary objects. While slip rings prevent cables tangling, the rotating brush and fixed metal ring gradually wear out, degrading the signal quality. The rings’ vibration and friction can also lead to gradual deterioration in signal quality, said the company, adding that the P16548-01AT uses non-contact, spatial light transmission to avoid these issues.
The transceiver has a VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) for light emission and a VCSEL driver for temperature compensation for stable communication over a temperature range of -40 to +85°C. There is a high-speed photodiode for light reception and a signal processing IC to maximise its performance.
The transmitter and receiver are housed in compact packages (6.7mm x 7.6mm x 5.9mm) and are suitable for use in industrial machinery, transportation equipment, medical devices as well as cameras and connectors.
Peak emission wavelength is850nm. The P16548-01AT supports lead-free reflow solder mounting. Sample products and evaluation kits are available now.
