Do You Know about Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexers?

Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer (CWDM) is a wavelength division multiplexing technology that supports multi-protocol transmission. The Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer (CWDM) system uses multiplexers to multiplex the optical signals carried by different wavelengths to a single optical fiber for transmission. At the receiving end of the link, the demultiplexed wavelengths are sent to different optical fibers are connected to the corresponding receiving device. Each fiber has 4 to 8 wavelengths, sometimes more. Used in short and medium-range networks (regional and metropolitan areas). The biggest advantage of the Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer (CWDM) system is its low cost. The cost of components is mainly reflected in filters and lasers. The wide wavelength interval of 20 nanometers also brings the advantages of low requirements on the technical indicators of the laser and the simplified structure of the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer. The structure is simplified and the yield is improved, so the cost is reduced.

Overview of Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer

Coarse wavelength division multiplexer is a low-cost wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technology for the access layer of the metropolitan area network. In principle, this technology uses an optical multiplexer to multiplex optical signals of different wavelengths to a single optical fiber for transmission. At the receiving end of the link, the mixed signal in the optical fiber is decomposed into different wavelengths with the aid of an optical demultiplexer. The signal is connected to the corresponding receiving device. The main difference with the dense wavelength division multiplexer is that the coarse wavelength division multiplexer (CWDM) has a wider wavelength than the 0.2nm to 1.2nm wavelength interval in the dense wavelength division multiplexer (DWDM) system. Interval, the standard wavelength interval common in the industry is 20nm.

Due to the wide wavelength interval of the coarse wavelength division multiplexer (CWDM) system, the technical indicators of the laser are relatively low. The wavelength interval is up to 20nm, so the maximum wavelength shift of the system can reach -6.5℃～+6.5℃, and the emission wavelength accuracy of the laser can be relaxed to ±3nm. Moreover, in the operating temperature range (-5°C to 70°C), the wavelength drift caused by temperature changes is still within the allowable range, and the laser does not need a temperature control mechanism, so the laser structure is greatly simplified and the yield is improved.

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Advantages of Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer

The most important advantage of the coarse wavelength division multiplexer (CWDM) is the low cost of the equipment. In addition, another advantage is that the operating cost of the network can be reduced. Because of its small size, low power consumption, easy maintenance, and convenient power supply, the 220V AC power supply can be used. Secondly, because of its small number of wavelengths, the amount of board backup is small. The use of 8-wave CWDM equipment has no special requirements for optical fibers. G.652, G.653, and G.655 optical fibers can be used, and existing optical cables can be used. The system can significantly increase the transmission capacity of optical fibers and improve the utilization of optical fiber resources. The construction of metropolitan area networks is faced with a certain degree of shortage of optical fiber resources or the expensive price of leased optical fiber.

In addition, another advantage is its small size and low power consumption. The lasers of this system do not require semiconductor coolers and temperature control functions, so power consumption can be significantly reduced. For example, the dense wavelength division multiplexer (DWDM) system consumes about 4W of power per laser without the coarse wavelength division of a cooler. The multiplexer (CWDM) laser consumes only 0.5W of power. The simplified laser module in the coarse wavelength division multiplexer (CWDM) system reduces the volume of the integrated optical transceiver module, and the simplification of the equipment structure also reduces the volume of the equipment and saves the space in the computer room. Due to the above-mentioned advantages of Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer (CWDM) technology, it has been increasingly used in fields such as telecommunications, broadcasting and television, enterprise networks, and campus networks.