NPO high-density optical interconnect technology drives the high-density optical interconnect challenge in AI data centers.

As AI and high-performance computing drive increasing demand for network bandwidth, Near-Package Optics (NPO) offers a technological approach to shortening high-speed electrical transmission paths and integrating optical and electrical interfaces.

Data Center Cabling | Datacenter / Networking / Telecom

Technical Background

Why Choose Near-Package Optics?

✓ Shorter Electrical Paths: Brings optical engines closer to the switch ASIC.
✓ Lower Electrical Loss: Reduces insertion loss in high-speed PCB channels.
✓ Enhanced Serviceability: Provides a system architecture positioned between conventional pluggable optics and highly integrated Co-Packaged Optics (CPO).

Challenges in High-Speed Optical Interconnects

As AI data centers continue to demand higher transmission speeds and greater bandwidth, system designers face challenges related to signal loss, transmission distance, power consumption, and thermal management. Integrating high-density optical and electrical connectivity within limited space while maintaining signal integrity, transmission efficiency, and system reliability has become a critical consideration for next-generation high-speed network architectures.

Electrical Transmission Loss

High-speed signals traveling through longer PCB channels may experience increased insertion loss and greater challenges in maintaining signal quality.

High-Density Space Constraints

Optical, electrical, and power interfaces must be coordinated and integrated within limited system space.

Thermal Management and Maintenance

Designs must balance thermal management, ease of assembly, and system serviceability.

NPO Technology Approaches

1. Shortening High-Speed Electrical Paths

Positioning optical engines closer to the switch ASIC helps reduce the distance traveled by high-speed electrical signals, creating opportunities to improve channel loss and signal integrity.

2. Integrating Optical and Electrical Interfaces

System integration requires coordination among electrical interfaces, optical interfaces, power delivery, and thermal management. Comprehensive planning can support the architectural requirements of high-density interconnects.

3. Considering System Serviceability

Compared with other highly integrated optical architectures, NPO represents one possible approach for evaluating trade-offs among performance, integration density, and serviceability. Actual results depend on system design.

Key Technical Elements

These functions collectively form the key considerations for NPO system integration. Different products and system platforms may adopt different channel configurations, component specifications, and mechanical designs.

High-Speed Electrical Connectivity

Optical Signal Conversion

Fiber-Optic Transmission Interfaces

Mechanical and Thermal Management

※ This illustration is for technical reference only and does not represent the actual component layout or assembly of any specific product.

Internal Module Structure and System Integration

Short-Reach Optical Transmission and Optical Coupling

Short-reach optical interconnects can transmit signals through optical components and fiber-optic interfaces. Optical coupling designs must consider alignment accuracy, transmission loss, mechanical stability, and manufacturing feasibility. Actual optical path configurations vary depending on the product design.

High-Speed Connectors and Signal Integrity

High-speed connector design requires careful consideration of insertion loss, return loss, near-end and far-end crosstalk, and contact reliability. Appropriate interface design and system validation help meet the integration requirements of high-speed data transmission.

Applications

AI Data Centers

Supporting high-speed network interconnect requirements in high-density computing environments.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

Addressing the bandwidth and signal quality requirements of computing clusters.

High-Speed Network Switches

Exploring optical-electrical integration architectures for next-generation switching systems.

Technical Value and Future Outlook

The technical value of NPO lies in reconfiguring optical engine placement and interconnection paths to potentially reduce electrical transmission demands, increase interconnect density, and improve system integration flexibility. Actual performance, power consumption, and reliability must still be evaluated based on individual designs and validation conditions. As AI and data center networks continue to evolve, high-speed connectivity, optical interfaces, and mechanical integration capabilities will remain essential.

Public Information Disclaimer: This article presents an anonymized technical application overview. All illustrations are redrawn, generic conceptual diagrams and do not contain customer-specific designs, internal engineering drawings, or unapproved test data. This article does not imply deployment or mass-production achievements for any specific customer.