A CPO optical transceiver typically comprises: Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC): Usually SiPh-based, integrating modulators (e., Mach-Zehnder Modulators - MZMs), photodetectors (PDs), waveguides, and potentially multiplexers/demultiplexers (Mux/Demux). This is the core. CPO stands for Co-packaged Optics. It refers to the co-packaging scheme in which the switching chip and optical engine are assembled within the same integrated socket. They make the signal path much shorter, from centimeters to millimeters. This can cut power use by up to half. CPO technology lets more data fit in a small space. However, it's worth noting that Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Arista and a long-standing visionary in data centre. Co-packaged optics (CPO) technology, a key enabler for next-generation data center architectures, promises unprecedented bandwidth density and power efficiency by tightly integrating optical engines with switch silicon.
[PDF Version]