Alps Alpine Develops Lens Array with Mirror for Optical Transceivers

Contributing to High-Density Packaging for 5G Mobile and Wireless Communications

Munich, Germany, May 16, 2019 – Alps Alpine Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of high-quality electronic products, has developed the FLHL2 Series Lens Array with Mirror for optical transceivers that are used, for example, in optical networks for data centers. The recent rise in application of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and artificial intelligence points to an expected threefold increase in global IP traffic between 2017 and 2022*1. This will be buoyed further by other trends, such as the introduction of 5G mobile and wireless networks. Optical transceivers used in facilities like data centers will need to be much faster and have higher density, demanding even greater size reductions and high-density mounting of the components inside them. Responding to these needs, Alps Alpine has developed the FLHL2 Series, with a 0.75mm lens pitch and dimensions of 1.3 × 1.3 × 3.5mm (H×W×L), which integrates condenser lens and mirror components of an optical transceiver receiver. Lenses and mirror previously had to be positioned separately to convey light to the photodiode. Integrating these two components helps to reduce the number of parts and shorten the optical distance, thereby contributing to downsizing of optical transceivers. Cutting the number of components also reduces the work required for transceiver assembly, leading to lower costs. Features Lens array combining condenser lenses and mirror helps downsize optical transceivers and reduce the manufacturing workload Glass lens with little light loss, based on a strong track record over many years Lead-free glass (RoHS*-compliant) *European Union law on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment Comparison with Existing Design (see fig. "comparison") The FLHL2 Series – mass production will begin in August this year – was designed for existing optical transceivers, but Alps Alpine also looks to develop lens arrays with 0.5mm and 0.25mm lens pitches in anticipation of future market requirements for downsizing and multi-channel transceivers as IoT spreads and 5G services are introduced. Alps Alpine has been a leader in the market for optical communication lenses since developing one of the world’s smallest glass lenses for submarine cables in 2000. Applying optical design technology built up over many years, the company will continue to support the realization of high-speed data communication as part of a connected society. *Source: Cisco VNI Global Mobile Data Forecast, 2017-2022 Specifications (see table "specifications")

Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.  On January 1, 2019, Alps Electric Co., Ltd. and Alpine Electronics, Inc. integrated their businesses and started out afresh as Alps Alpine Co., Ltd with 42,289 employees. Alps Alpine will steadily bring about synergies by drawing on the two companies' advantages in core devices, system design and software development. The new company will endeavour to create its own unique value for not only the automotive market, but also mobile devices and consumer electronics, as well as new sectors such as energy, healthcare and industry. For more information please visit  www.alpsalpine.com Alps Electric Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Alps AlpineCo., Ltd., was established in 1979. Since 2013 the European Head Office has been located in Munich and as such co-ordinates the Sales, Marketing and Product Engineering activities of our offices in Dusseldorf, Paris, Milton Keynes, Gothenburg and Milan, as well as the production activities of our manufacturing site in Dortmund.