Optical Innovation Erases Bandwidth Limits

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Innovation's Compass

Altera's optical innovation will erase bandwidth limits and support applications such as HD video streaming, cloud computing, and 3D gaming.

Have you imagined your possibilities if you didn't have to worry about bandwidth? We have.

We're in the business of expanding bandwidth. Our FPGAs sit in the datapath of many high-bandwidth applications, so we strive to develop devices that deliver high bandwidth. We're also in a prime position to foresee bandwidth bottlenecks, as our customers share their challenges and look to us for solutions.

Copper will soon be one of the roadblocks. As bandwidth demands continue rising, traditional copper interconnects simply won't be able to keep pace beyond 28G data rates.

Video: Beyond Copper: Overcoming Bandwidth Limits with Optical FPGAs

What's the solution to chip-to-chip , chip-to-backplane, and card-to-card bandwidth bottlenecks? We envision a future where optical interfaces cover the entire datapath. These optically interconnected programmable devices will provide:

Substantially increased network bandwidth and port density
Lower system complexity, cost, and power

See our demo of this technology at an event near you. Read our white papers, Transferring High-Speed Data over Long Distances with Combined FPGA and Multichannel Optical Modules (PDF) and Overcome Copper Limits with Optical Interfaces (PDF), for more insight.

Streaming Video Drives Bandwidth Demands

Consumers expect high-definition (HD) video to stream instantly from their PCs, mobile devices, and Internet-connected TVs. They demand fast access to content stored in the clouds. They want the action to be swift and the images stunning in their 3D games. These are just a few of the bandwidth-hungry applications that have driven us to explore new technologies and techniques to replace those that have reached their practical limits.

Copper Starts to Sputter at 28G Data Rates

28G data rates mark the inflection point where we start to see copper being tested. By connecting optical fiber into the side of an FPGA package, however, we can provide nearly limitless bandwidth between chips and over backplanes.

In addition to bandwidth advantages, optical solutions provide:

Exceptional reach and scalability.
Easy placement of the FPGA anywhere on the board.
Lower bill of materials (BOM) costs.

An optical solution makes future-proof backplanes a reality. What's more, eliminating costly copper solutions also removes inherent signal integrity problems related to copper, especially at higher bandwidths.

Consider the equipment in today's data centers, particularly the inter-chassis connections inside the boxes. By replacing pluggable optical modules with optical interfaces, you can reduce linecard power by up to 80 percent.

Transceiver Technology Fuels Optical Success

Transceivers, of course, are vital for successfully connecting an optical interface inside the device package. We're a long-time developer of best-in-class transceiver technology, so you can be assured that you'll have a robust optical solution backed by our extensive engineering expertise.

Transceiver signal speed and quality at the on-chip electrical-optical interface directly impact the ability to drive a high-quality optical signal. Our transceivers have a long history of delivering the industry's highest data rates to support the widest range of protocols—all while providing superior signal integrity.

Creativity Becomes Boundless

Are you ready to imagine a future when bandwidth is no longer a limiting factor in the types of applications you can create? That future is here—just bring your creativity.