Cable assemblies cram in more fibres

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Feb 21, 2005

New high density cable assemblies create multiple space-saving options on the front panel by making configurations up to 72 fibres possible, reducing installation times and lowering applied costs.

New high density MT cable assemblies from Molex create multiple space-saving options on the front panel by making configurations up to 72 fibres possible, reducing installation times and lowering applied costs.

By using the 72-fibre MT ferrule with both MTP connectors and Molex's high-density panel mount array connectors, Molex has extended the optical capabilities of traditional MT-style connectors with these new high density MT cable assemblies.

As the latest addition to Molex's optical cable assembly product family, the High Density MT Cable Assemblies have been designed to be used with parallel optic transceiver interconnections such as Xanoptix XTM series of multifibre transceivers.

They also are ideal for a variety of high density interconnects such as OE modules, PC cards and patch panels, optical backplanes, optical switches and routers, and datacommunication centres.

Over the past year, Molex has developed termination and polishing capabilities to achieve insertion loss levels that are comparable to those of 24-fibre terminations.

As a result, the high density MT cable assemblies have an optical insertion loss (IL) below 1.0dB across all 72 channels, which exceeds the industry's optical performance standards.

"With the high density MT cable assemblies, Molex delivers the industry's highest density interface available, resulting in lower installation times and reduced costs", said Tom Schiltz, Product Manager, Fibre Optics Division, Molex.

"Molex is also working closely with cable vendors to develop new cable configurations to be more user-friendly and to increase design flexibility, further enhancing the features of the cabling solutions currently available".

The high density MT cable assemblies offer standard MPO/MTP connecter interfaces to ensure industry compatibility.

For customers that have implemented 12-fibre transceivers on their card, a 72-fibre cable assembly with six bare ribbon breakouts provides a smooth transition on the front panel, which saves valuable real estate with a single 72-fibre MTP interconnect.