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SUMMARY
Bishop & Associates has just released a new 14 CHAPTER research report
exploring the technology of both electrical and optic communication links, and
compares the relative advantages and disadvantages of each in I/O
applications. Connector sales data is provided for the years 2006, 2007, 2012
forecast, and five-year CAGRs.
Copper cables have historically been the primary media that allowed electronic
systems to communicate. Copper cabling systems have evolved over the years to
enable increasing bandwidth as system speeds increased. Cable constructions
including coaxial, and shielded twisted pair along with advanced signaling
devices have pushed the performance capabilities of copper Input / output
cables to multigigabit speeds. Prediction of copper bandwidth limitations has
consistently proven inaccurate as designers find ways to enable copper links
to satisfy their performance requirements. Copper cable assemblies are an
established technology that permits easy repair in the field using common
tools. A variety of industry standards define copper interfaces that enable
equipment connectivity, an essential feature of many of today's electronic
products.
The elements of optic communication technology have been developing over a
long period of time, but the ability to fabricate optic links became practical
in the 1960's. Copper cables have been in a continuous process of evolving to
higher speed performance, while fiber was born with bandwidth capability far
beyond the limitations of copper. Glass fiber was quickly adopted as the media
of choice for long distance communication links that spanned the earth. Low
cost, high bandwidth optic cables have enabled global telecom and Internet
communications that have reshaped the world. In addition to exceptional
bandwidth, fiber links offers excellent signal integrity, electrical
isolation, noise immunity and the ability to transmit over long distances
without the need for amplifiers or repeaters.
A primary impediment to the implementation of fiber is the fact that signals
produced by electronic equipment must be converted to optic pulses before they
can be transmitted over fiber cables. This has been an expensive process that
could only be justified in long distance applications. Improvements in the
performance of optic cables together with the introduction of lower cost
electro-optic conversion devices have allowed fiber to become competitive in
shorter reach applications.
Market demand for higher speed links is putting pressure on copper cables that
must incorporate more exotic features to keep pace. Increasing data rates can
limit the effective length of copper cable assemblies opening the door to
optic alternatives. System designers now have the option of choosing optic or
copper media in many I/O applications of less than 10 meters.
The report is organized into 14 chapters plus a glossary of terms and
definitions.
Some of the issues addressed include:
- What technical and economic factors may be changing the copper vs. fiber
I/O selection process?
- What are the primary applications for high-speed communication links in
current telecom and computing equipment? How may these change in the next five
years?
- What signal loss and distortion factors influence the performance of
high-speed copper and fiber optic links?
- What are the factors that make pluggable small form-factor modules an
attractive option?
- How do formal and defacto industry standards influence the copper vs.
fiber link decision?
- How do the manufacturing and repair processes of copper and fiber optic
cables compare?
- What are the fastest growing markets for high-speed I/O cables?
- At what distance and data rate do fiber links become a more practical
choice over copper?
- Are “active fiber cable assemblies” a long-term solution to
bandwidth and cable bulk problems?
- Where do small form factor pluggable interfaces offer the best alternative
to solutions in high-speed I/O applications?
- What are the market values of high-speed copper and fiber optic connectors
and cable assemblies by region of the world?
- What are the dollar and percent growth forecasts for high-speed copper and
fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies through 2012?
- What emerging technologies now in development may allow fiber to become
the preferred media for the majority of high-speed I/O communication?
- Will the cost of advanced high-speed copper cables tip the advantage to
fiber optic links?
- Will 10 Gb/s Ethernet drive a movement toward greater use of fiber optic
links?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 - Report Scope and Methodology
- Methodology and Approach
- Report Objectives Study Methodology
- Data Collection Forms
CHAPTER 2 - Introduction
- Introduction / History
- Copper Interconnect Technology
- Optic Interconnect Technology
- Basic Principals of Optical Transmission
- Optical Fiber Types
- Fiber Optic Connector Less Characteristics
- Optical Connector Types
- Copper Connector Termination Process
- Optic Connector Termination Process
- Advantages / Disadvantages of Copper Connectors
- Advantages of Copper Connectors
- Disadvantages of Copper Connectors
- Advantages of Fiber Optic Interconnects
- Disadvantages of Fiber Optic Interconnects
CHAPTER 3 - Overview of High-Speed Copper Cable Assemblies
- USB 2.0 / 3.0
- MicroGiGaCN, CX4
- IPass
- HSSDC-2
- High-Speed Backplane Cable Connectors
- DensiShield
- Display Port, HDMI
- Enhanced RJ-45
- Active cables
CHAPTER 4 - Overview of Common Fiber Optic Connectors
- Single Fiber Connectors
- ST Connectors
- FC-PC Connectors
- SC Connectors
- LC Connectors
- MU Connectors
- VF-45 Connectors
- Multi-Fiber Connectors
- FDDI Connectors
- ESCON Connectors
- MT Connectors
- MR-RJ Connectors
- MTP Connectors
- Lightray MPX
- Fiber Optic Adapters / Special Purpose Intefaces
- Circular MT Connectors
- HD-OPTY Fiber Optic Backplane Interconnect
CHAPTER 5 - The Small Form Factor Pluggable Option
- Gigabit Interface Adapter
- Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP)
- XFP
- QSFP
- SFP+
CHAPTER 6 - Active Optical Cables
- Tyco Electronics
- Emcore
- Zarlink
- Fujitsu
- Luxtera
- Finisar
CHAPTER 7 - The Interface Selection Process
CHAPTER 8 - Fiber Optic and Copper Connector and Cable Assembly Suppliers
- Optic Interface Manufacturers
- Molex, USConec, Timbercon, Stratos Lightwave, Sabritec
- Yazaki, Sumitomo Electric, Corning, Sanmina SCI, NTT
- Copper Interface Manufacturer
- Amphenol, Molex, FCI Electronics, Tyco Electronics, Samtec, Gore
- Meritic, Sanmana, SCI
CHAPTER 9 - Optic Interconnect Industry Standards
- FOCIS Standards.
- TIA / EIA Standards
- SONET
CHAPTER 10 - High-Speed Copper and Fiber Cable Applications
- History.
- Networking.
- PCI Express
- Infiniband
- Ethernet
CHAPTER 11 - The Copper or Fiber Decision
- Traditional Copper and Fiber Applications
- Advances in Fiber to Address Shorter Reach
- Selection Criteria
- Data Rate/Distance/Density Trends
- Copper / Fiber 10 Gb/s Performance Comparisons
CHAPTER 12 - Advances in Copper and Fiber Interconnects
- Technology Drivers
- 40 / 100 Gb Ethernet
- Fiber to the Home
- Optical Connector Roadmap
- Optical Backplanes
- Silicon Nanophotonics
CHAPTER 13 - Copper and Fiber Market Estimates and Forecast
- Introduction
- World Fiber Optic Cable Terminated Connector Market, 2006-2007
- World High-Speed Copper Cable Terminated Connector Market, 2006-2007
- World fiber Optic Cable Terminated Connector Market, Telecom / Datacom
Applications, 2006 2007
- World High-Speed Copper Cable Terminated Connector Market, Telecom /
Datacom Applications, 2006-2007
- World Fiber Optic Cable Terminated Connector Market, Computing
Applications, 2006-2007
- World High-Speed Copper Cable Terminated Connector Market, Computing
Applications, 2006-2007
- World fiber Optic Cable Assembly Market, Telecom / Datacom Applications,
2006-2007
- World High-Speed Copper Cable Assembly Market, Telecom / Datacom
Applications, 2006-2007
- World Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Market, Computing Applications, 2006-2007
- World High-Speed Copper Cable Assembly Market, Computing Applications,
2006-2007
- Fiber Optic Connector Forecast, Telecom / Datacom Applications, 2007-2012
- High-Speed Copper Connector Forecast, Telecom / Datacom, Applications
2007-2012
- Fiber Optic Connector Forecast, Computing Applications,2007-2012
- High-Speed Copper Connector Forecast, Computing Applications, 2007-2012
- Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Forecast, Telecom / Datacom, Applications,
2007-2012
- High-speed Copper Cable Assembly Forecast, Telecom / Datacom Applications,
2007-2012
- Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Forecast, Computing Applications, 2007-2012
- High-Speed Copper Cable Assembly Forecast, Computing Applications,
2007-2012
CHAPTER 14 - Major Findings and Conclusions
Appendix A - Terms and Definitions
Appendix B - List of Contributors
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