http://techresearch.intel.com/articles/None/1813.htm
Light Peak Technology
Bringing optical to the mainstream
“Sony is excited about the potential for Light Peak technology that Intel has been developing, and believe it could enable a new generation of high-speed device connectivity.”
- Ryosuke Akahane, Vice President of VAIO Business Group, Sony
“Nokia believes that Light Peak technology enables new wired connectivity solutions for Mobile Computers and Smartphones, and looks forward to working with Intel and the industry to create a global standard based on Light Peak technology.”
- Markku Verkama, Director, Devices R&D Technology, Nokia
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Light Peak is the code-name for a new high-speed optical cable technology designed to connect your electronic devices to each other. Light Peak delivers high bandwidth starting at 10Gb/s with the potential ability to scale to 100Gb/s over the next decade. At 10Gb/s, you could transfer a full-length Blu-Ray movie in less than 30 seconds. Optical technology also allows for smaller connectors and longer, thinner, and more flexible cables than currently possible. Light Peak also has the ability to run multiple protocols simultaneously over a single cable, enabling the technology to connect devices such as peripherals, displays, disk drives, docking stations, and more.
Existing electrical cable technology in mainstream computing devices is approaching practical limits for speed and length, due to electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and other issues. However, optical technology, used extensively in data centers and telecom communications, does not have these limitations since it transmits data using light instead of electricity. Light Peak brings this optical technology to mainstream computing and consumer electronic devices in a cost-effective manner.
Intel CEO Paul Otellini discusses Light Peak at CES keynote:
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Light Peak consists of a controller chip and an optical module that would be included in platforms supporting this technology. The optical module performs the conversion from electricity to light and vice versa, using miniature lasers and photo detectors. Intel is planning to supply the controller chip, and is working with other component manufacturers to deliver all the Light Peak components. We expect that the components will be ready to ship in 2010. Over time, the optical components, designed to be small, easy to manufacture and affordable, are expected to enjoy the economies of scale that other components have in the computing and consumer electronics industries.
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Intel is working with the optical component manufacturers to make Light Peak components ready to ship in 2010, and will work with the industry to determine the best way to make this new technology a standard to accelerate its adoption on a plethora of devices including PCs, handheld devices, workstations, consumer electronic devices and more. Light Peak is complementary to existing I/O technologies, as it enables them to run together on a single cable at higher speeds. The Light Peak initiative builds on Intel’s commitment in working with the industry on existing I/O standards, and provides a path to continued progress into the future.
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Click image for high-res. Photos from left to right:
- Light Peak module with four fibers each capable of carrying 10Gb of data per second.
- Close-up of the Light Peak module.
- Light Peak module with laser light added for illustration (actual infrared light is invisible to the eye).
- Light Peak module close-up with laser light added for illustration (actual infrared light is invisible to the eye).
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