LONDON — Nanotech Semiconductor Ltd. (Bristol, England), fabless chip company developing mixed-signal ICs for fiber-based communications applications, has announced the availability of its CMOS chipset for Ethernet over plastic optical fiber (POF).

Nanotech said the components are suitable for Fast Ethernet which typically refers to multiple Ethernet standards that support 100-Mbit per second data transmission.

The NT22010 is an Ethernet receiver IC. It consists of a transimpedence amplifier and a limiting- or post-amplifier with low-voltage differential signaling outputs. It requires no external components within the fiber optic transceiver, Nanotech said. However, with an external component in the form of a photodiode, a light-to-logic system is supplied.

The CMOS IC has a die area of 1.3 square millimeters and a typical sensitivity of -29 dBm (at 0.3 amps per watt).

The NT22030 and NT22031 are Ethernet transmitter ICs. The NT22030 is optimized for LEDs as light source, while the NT22031 is optimized for resonant cavity LEDs. Neither transmitter requires any external components and the die areas are less than one square millimeter.

Nanotech did not indicate who is manufacturing the chips for it, or how much the company is charging.

"This chip set offers customers the benefits of the most integrated, competitive solution for the Fast Ethernet over POF and paves the way for the expected break-through of POF applications outside the automotive arena," said David Khalifa, vice president of sales, in a statement.

Gary Steele, CEO, added: "With POF offering the ease of installation and use of copper, with the isolation, EMI immunity and quality of service of fiber, numerous industrial and consumer applications are opening up. Set top boxes and gateways in particular are a fast-growing market for fast Ethernet over POF, and this chipset is an ideal fit."

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