First-to-market optical coplanar interconnect allows quick and reliable front blade service or upgrade without disrupting backplane cabling systems.
The new coplanar connector from Molex allows front cards to be replaced without disrupting cabling at the rear of the chassis, resulting in maintenance flexibility and minimal service interruption. The MTP*-CPI (coplanar interconnect) provides a smooth transition from the front blade active devices (LEDs, lasers and receivers) to the rear transition module (RTM).
The MTP-CPI was developed to meet the dimensional requirements of the Advanced Telecom Computing Architectures (Advanced TCA or ATCA), zone 3, connector specification. ATCA is an emerging standard focused on developing a new blade (board) and chassis (shelf) form factor optimized for high-speed communication systems. The principal objective is to provide standardized platform architecture for central office or service provider applications. For more information on ATCA, visit www.picmg.org.
Molex selected the MTP connector interface for use in the ATCA midplane application because of its optical density and interoperability between vendors. The MTP connector is the industry standard connector system for multi-fiber and parallel optical transceiver applications.
The MTP-CPI is not limited to ATCA applications and may be used in any coplanar application. The new MTP-CPI is easy to design-in; it is mounted directly to the card with a simple pass-through cutout in the backplane. The MTP-CPI is a hermaphroditic design, which simplifies the procurement for the customer. With the use of the MT ferrule in the MTP connector, fiber counts from 8 to 72 fibers can be achieved. Molex�s MTP cable assemblies are sold separately.
