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New blind mate active optical interconnect

Reflex Photonics launches a new blind mate active optical interconnect product line compatible with VITA and SOSA standards.

Expanding on the successful LightCONEX style A compatible with VITA 66.4 aperture, Reflex Photonics is launching its style B and style C, both compatible with VITA 67.3 type C, D and E standard apertures. These VITA 67.3 apertures can be populated with modules that are either single active, dual active/passive, or a combination of optical and RF coaxial connectors. This flexibility will be particularly attractive to integrators that need to combine multiple I/O interfaces while keeping size, weight, and power (SWaP) at the minimum.

Maximizing performance and system integration

Based on the OpenVPX standards 65.0, the LightCONEX solution for VPX systems is a revolutionary blind mate optical interconnect that includes a fixed active plug-in module connector and a floating backplane connector.

A low-profile LightCONEX optical module is screwed on the board edge and is part of the mating connector, saving board space and eliminating fiber cable handling. The LightCONEX backplane connector is spring-loaded to secure MT to MT mating connection. The rugged LightCONEX assembly ensures error free data transmission under severe shock, vibration, and temperature.

Michel Têtu, Industry Manager for Standardization comments:

"Our clients involved in the development of military C4ISR systems are very excited by this blind mate optical interconnect innovation as the LightCONEX family of products vastly simplifies the implementation of optical interconnects. The LightCONEX is available in 12 and 24 fibers configurations and with bandwidth up to 28Gbps; it offers significant advantages to design engineers for their high-performance system integration".

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LightCONEX®

LightCONEX®

Based on the OpenVPX™ standards 65.0, the LightCONEX solution for VPX systems is a revolutionary blind mate optical interconnect that includes a fixed active plug-in module connector and a floating backplane connector.