FireFly™ Optical Transceivers

Samtec's FireFly™ Micro Flyover System™ embedded and rugged optical transceivers take data connection "off board" for up to 28 Gbps per lane with a path to 112 Gbps PAM4 via optical cable at greater distances, or copper for cost optimization.

Family Overview

FireFly™ Micro Flyover System™ is the first interconnect system that gives a designer the flexibility of using micro footprint high-performance optical and low-cost copper interconnects interchangeably with the same connector system.

Samtec FireFly™ copper and optical cable systems provide the flexibility to achieve higher data rates to 28 Gbps and/or greater distances, simplifying board design and enhancing performance.

FireFly™ Product Explorer

FireFly™ Product Explorer

The system’s miniature footprint allows for greater density and closer proximity to the IC, enabling chip-to-chip, board-to-board, on-board and system-to-system connectivity.

FireFly™

Features

Future Proof

FireFly™ copper and optical systems are interchangeable using the same high-performance connector set.

FireFly™ Copper

  • Performance to 56 Gbps
  • 8 or 12 differential pairs
  • 100 Ω, 34 or 36 AWG Eye Speed® twinax cable
  • Variety of end 2 termination options
  • Low-profile housing for space savings
  • Low-cost solution for seamless integration of new and existing designs
  • Standard copper (ECUE) and PCIe®-Over-FireFly™ copper (PCUE) assemblies available
ECUE Twinax Ribbon Cable

FireFly™ Optical

  • Performance to 28 Gbps; 32 Gbps in development
  • x4 and x12 designs
  • OM3 or OM4 multi-mode fiber
  • Variety of End 2 options and heat sinks for various cooling processes
  • Extended Temperature FireFly™ with a -40 ºC to +85 ºC range for military and industrial applications (ETUO, ETMO)
  • PCIe®-Over-Fiber optical cable systems transmit 3.0/4.0 data up to 100 m (PCUO); 5.0 data rate in development
  • PCIe®-Over-Fiber adaptor card supports transparent and non-transparent bridging (PCOA)
ECUO Active Optical Cable

Downloads & Resources

Literature

FireFly™ Application Design Guide

FireFly™ Application Design Guide

Download PDF
Extended Temperature FireFly™ eBrochure

Extended Temperature FireFly™ eBrochure

Download PDF
PCIe®-Over-FireFly™ eBrochure

PCIe®-Over-FireFly™ eBrochure

Download PDF
PCIe®-Over-Fiber Adaptor Card eBrochure

PCIe®-Over-Fiber Adaptor Card eBrochure

Download PDF
High-Speed Cable Interconnect Solutions Guide

High-Speed Cable Interconnect Solutions Guide

Download PDF
SOSA™ Aligned Interconnect Solutions

SOSA™ Aligned Interconnect Solutions

Download PDF
Military & Aerospace Solutions Guide

Military & Aerospace Solutions Guide

Download PDF
Broadcast Video Solutions Guide

Broadcast Video Solutions Guide

Download PDF

Technical Documents

Videos

FireFly™ Micro Flyover System™
FireFly™ Micro Flyover System™
Samtec Optical Group Tech Center HD
Samtec Optical Group Tech Center HD
Samtec Cable Group Tech Center HD
Samtec Cable Group Tech Center HD
Samtec FireFly™ 28 G Demo
Samtec FireFly™ 28 G Demo
PCIe®-over-FireFly™ - PCUO Series
PCIe®-over-FireFly™ - PCUO Series
Samtec FireFly™ Optical Cable on Xilinx VCU118 Development Kit
Samtec FireFly™ Optical Cable on Xilinx VCU118 Development Kit
Samtec FMC+ Loopback Card on Xilinx VCU118 Development Kit
Samtec FMC+ Loopback Card on Xilinx VCU118 Development Kit

Products

ECUO

FireFly™ Active Optical Micro Flyover System™ Cable Assembly
Features
  • FireFly™ optical cable system

  • Data connection is taken "off board" for easier routing

  • Interchangeable with FireFly™ copper

  • Choice of data rate: 14 Gbps, 16 Gbps, 25 Gbps, 28 Gbps

  • High-performance signal quality with BER better than 1E-12

  • Designed for on-board or on-package placement

  • Variety of integral heat sink, fiber type and End 2 options

  • FireFly™ Evaluation and Development Kits available. Visit samtec.com/kits

  • For more information, contact firefly@samtec.com

ECUO Series Thumbnail Image

PCUO

PCIe®-Over-Fiber, FireFly™ Optical Cable Assembly
Features
  • Meets PCIe® 3.0 (8 GTps) and 4.0 (16 GTps) specifications; 5.0 (32 GTps) data rate in development

  • x4, x8 and x16 PCIe® micro optical engines

  • Transmits PCIe® signals up to 100 m

  • High-performance signal quality with BER better than 1E-12

  • Transparent and non-transparent bridging

  • Proven 850 nm VCSEL technology

  • Compatible PCIe® adaptor card available (PCOA Series)

Series Image for 292-CM

ETUO

FireFly™ Extended Temperature Active Optical Micro Flyover® Cable Assembly
Features
  • Extended temperature range from -40 ºC to +85 ºC

  • Data connection is taken "off board" for easier routing

  • High-speed performance to 10.3125 Gbps per channel

  • High-performance signal quality with BER better than 1E-12

  • Integral heat sink provides optimal cooling for thermal operating conditions

  • Variety of fiber type and End 2 options

  • For more information, contact firefly@samtec.com

Series Image for ETUO-NULL

ETMO

IN DEVELOPMENT: FireFly™ Extreme Environment Active Optical Micro Flyover® Cable Assembly
Features
  • Sealed and Parylene-Coated for exposed military, aerospace and submersible applications

  • Ruggedized for tin whisker mitigation and fungal resistance

  • Operates in harsh environments including salt fog, blowing sand and dust, jet fuel exposure, altitudes up to 65,000 feet

  • Extended temperature range from -40 ºC to +85 ºC

  • High-speed performance to 25.7 Gbps per channel performance

  • Dual power mode for interoperability with legacy optical modules

  • Integral heat sink provides optimal cooling for thermal operating conditions

  • Variety of fiber type and End 2 options

  • For more information, contact firefly@samtec.com

Product Image for NVAM-CT

PTUO

Extended Temp PCIe®-Over-Fiber, FireFly™ Optical Cable Assembly
Features
  • Extended temperature range from -40 ºC to +85 ºC

  • Meets PCIe® 3.0 specifications; PCIe® 4.0 version in development

  • High-performance signal quality with BER better than 1E-12

  • Transmits PCIe® signals up to 100 m

  • Transparent and non-transparent bridging

  • Allows nontraditional FPGA/ASIC end points

Series Image for 6QP-

ECUE

FireFly™ Low Profile Micro Flyover System™ Cable Assembly
Features
  • FireFly™ copper cable system

  • Data connection is taken "off board" for easier routing

  • Interchangeable with FireFly™ optical

  • Designed for on-board or on-package placement

  • Wide variety of End 2 options

  • 28 Gbps performance

  • Multiple signal mapping options

  • Low-cost solution for seamless integration of new and existing architectures

  • For more information, contact firefly@samtec.com

ECUE Series Thumbnail Image

PCUE

PCIe®-Over-FireFly™ Copper Cable Assembly
Features
  • PCIe®-Over-FireFly™ copper system

  • x4 duplex system

  • Meets PCIe® 3.0 (8 GTps) and 4.0 (16 GTps) specifications; 5.0 (32 GTps) data rate in development

  • Data connection is taken "off board" for easier routing

  • Mates with the same 2-piece connector system as other FireFly™ systems

  • 34 AWG twinax ribbon cable

Series Image for 292-CM

UEC5-1

Up To 20 Gbps FireFly™ Edge Card Socket Assembly
Features
  • Up to 20 Gbps performance

  • Rugged Edge Rate® contact system

  • Low profile right-angle design

  • Available in 19 positions

  • Standard alignment pins and surface mount tails

  • Selective gold plated contacts

  • PCB footprints are not interchangeable for UEC5-1 and UEC5-2 data rate versions

Series Image for 292-CM

UEC5-2

20+ Gbps FireFly™ Edge Card Socket Assembly
Features
  • 20+ Gbps performance

  • Rugged Edge Rate® contact system

  • Low profile right-angle design

  • Available in 19 positions

  • Selective gold plated contacts

  • Standard alignment pins and surface mount tails

  • PCB footprints are not interchangeable for UEC5-1 and UEC5-2 data rate versions

UEC5 Series Thumbnail Image

UCC8

FireFly™ Positive Latching Receptacle
Features
  • Power and low-speed control signal communications

  • Available in 10 positions

  • Selective gold plated contacts

  • Standard alignment pins and weld tabs

  • Part of the 2-piece connector set for FireFly™ optical and copper systems

UCC8 Series Thumbnail Image

PCOA

PCI Express®-Over-Fiber FireFly™ Adaptor Card
Features
  • Uses PCUO FireFly™ optical cable assemblies

  • Supports PCIe® 3.0/4.0 platform

  • PCIe® x16 edge card connector

  • x16, x8, dual x8, x4, dual x4 and quad x4 configurations

  • Transparent or non-transparent bridging

  • Reconfigurable host or target operation

Series Image for PCOA-

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