Omron 2007 Annual Report Download - page 35

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Acquisition of NHK Spring’s optical communication parts
business for the FTTH market
Led by advanced countries, the introduction of FTTH (fiber-
to-the-home), a high-capacity, super-fast continuous connec-
tion network environment using a fiber optic cable connection,
is rapidly progressing. In tune with this trend, ECB has focused
its attention on lowering the cost of optical waveguides* used
in optical splitters, which are key devices in FTTH. To achieve
this, ECB put SPICA** (replication polymer optical waveguide)
technology to practical use. Although as a technology SPICA is
slightly inferior in quality in comparison with fused silica, which
has become the standard, it enables simplification of production
significantly through production based on replication.
Along the same lines, Omron acquired the optical com-
munication parts business for the FTTH market of NHK SPRING
Co., Ltd. in November 2006 to enhance the quality of optical
waveguides and to accelerate the acquisition of a solid cus-
tomer base. This business has become the top supplier in North
America after commercializing high-performance quartz opti-
cal waveguides utilizing precision processing and coating tech-
nologies. This acquisition not only enabled ECB to secure a
sound customer base in North America but also, the integration
of ECB’s cost-cutting technology and NHK Spring’s high per-
formance technology has placed ECB in a prime position for
promoting business expansion in the rapidly growing global
FTTH market.
Acquisition of Aduro, an American venture company and
manufacturer of high-speed communication parts
As the need for high volume data transmission at data
centers and offices and ultra high-speed transmission to
transmit full high-definition television images increases,
electronic transmission is becoming increasingly inadequate
in responding to the growing demands for transmission at
greater speed and distance. As an answer to these needs,
optical transmission is attracting attention. To include
responding to such needs in ECB’s business domain, in
December 2005 Omron acquired Aduro, a US venture
company known for its strengths in optical transmission and
reception modules which combine optical wavelength
multiplexing technology and optical from/to electronic
conversion technology (CWDM-TOSA/ROSA***). With this
acquisition as a launching point, ECB has developed small
and high-speed TOSA and ROSA by integrating its own micro
lens technology and Aduro’s TOSA and ROSA technologies.
ECB has been making progress toward developing the
market including extension of electric cable and integration
into transmission devices and video devices. Furthermore, in
the future ECB will actively provide optimal solutions by
integrating its own technology and the technologies acquired
through M&A in the globally expanding optical high-speed
communications market.
Case 4: Expanding business in optical communication devices world wide
Relay station
Application in fiber optic network monitoring and
as an optical switch for redundancy changeovers
Receipt by a fiber optic splitter
(1/8 & 1/32 type)
OLT(*)
*OLT (optical line terminal): transmission device to connect the backbone network and FTTH
**ONU (optical network unit): receiver set in the home of fiber optic subscribers
Fiber optics
ONU ONU(**)
FFTH System Structure
Fiber optic splitters for FTTH
*** CWDM-TOSA/ROSA
CWDM: Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer (multiplexes and trans-
mits 400 to 1600nm wavelengths).
TOSA: Transmitter Optical Sub-Assembly (transmission module)
ROSA: Receiver Optical Sub-Assembly (reception module)
*Optical waveguide: a component used to branch out optical signals sent
through optical fiber. It transmits, divaricates, branches, and controls opti-
cal signals without leaking them in the circuitry of information communi-
cation devices.
**SPICA: Stacked Polymer Optical IC/ Advanced