Firecomms Transceiver Developer Kit for RCLED FOT Expedites Product Development

CORK, Ireland, Oct. 6, 2005 -- Firecomms Ltd. announces the release of the Transceiver Developer Kit (1394/Ethernet) to significantly shorten the development time for product developers taking advantage of the company's RCLED-based 650 nm fiber optic transceiver (FOT).

"Firecomms' customers all over the world develop great products based on our RCLED devices," says Firecomms CEO Declan O'Mahoney. "This kit will expedite the design process by providing an all-in-one evaluation system for any design based on Firecomms FOTs. This means our customers can get their products to market faster, and at a more competitive price."

The Transceiver Developer Kit demonstrates the performance of Firecomms' RCLED-based 650 nm FOT over user-defined lengths of plastic optic fiber (POF) to the design maximum of 50m. This kit is available with one or two evaluation boards, part number F01178-101. The kit with two evaluation boards includes one 10m cable (Eska Mega 0.3NA) completely assembled with connector plugs. The kit with one evaluation board includes one 3m loopback cable.

Firecomms F01178-101 evaluation board takes differential positive-ECL (PECL) data on the data input SMA connectors and drives the FOT transmit side. The board is designed so that the FOTs can be mounted in a through-hole SMI connector, or in a through-hole or surface-mount style IDB-1394 connector -- both are options for the evaluation board. A POF link in loop-back mode (to link back to the receive side of the FOT), or to an optional second board is required. The receive side generates PECL level data signals available on +/- data-out SMA connectors.

The evaluation board is fitted with Firecomms' RCLED FOTs FC300R-120 Tx and FC300D-120 Rx, with the transmitter driven by a Mindspeed MC2042-3. The receiver side of the FOT has an encapsulated PIN diode and TIA, and a Mindspeed MC2044C is used as a postamplifier/quantizer. An on-board regulator accepts a DC input and provides power to the components on the board.

Firecomms' RCLED-based 650 nm FOT solution is designed for 1394b S200 and 100 Mb Ethernet POF applications. This FOT solution pairs Firecomms RCLED technology with a 250 Mbps receiver in a new package design that complies with the IDB-1394 standard and is compatible with SMI and automotive connectors. The integration of the FOT pair in a 50 meter POF link provides for a high-integrity link.

Based on Firecomms' proprietary technology for RCLEDs, the FOT is rated for modulation of 250 Mbps and boasts a tiny emission aperture and narrow beam characteristics.

Firecomms leads the development of devices to drive POF, a low-cost optical alternative to copper cabling. Due to its ease of use, large core tolerances, and low costs, POF is enjoying a huge growth in a wide range of applications. In fact, POF is now used in millions of small area networks, such as those in use in many car models, and is rapidly gaining ground in home network and point-to-point interconnection.

Detailed specifications for Firecomms' Transceiver Development Kit and the FC300R/FC300D FOTs are available on the company web site at www.firecomms.com. Both can be ordered through Firecomms' sales organization (sales@firecomms.com) in Japan, USA, and Europe.

About Firecomms Ltd.

Firecomms, a compound semiconductor company, develops high-speed light sources in visible range wavelengths. Firecomms' lasers and LEDs provide the groundwork that will revolutionize optical data communications for small area networks, such as in-car networks and home networks. Firecomms' low power visible lasers unleash the potential for advances in medical devices, barcode scanners, and optical storage devices.