NIST invests in fiberoptic-component developers
Under its Advanced Technology Program, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST; Gaithersburg, MD) has awarded several matching grants to fiberoptic-component manufactures. Bell Communications Research Inc. (Morristown, NJ) is leading a team to develop a computer-simulation environment for evaluating optoelectronic equipment at the component, system, and network levels before it is built. Xerox Corp. (Webster, NY) and partners are developing more-efficient manufacturing of micro-optoelectromechanical systems. A team led by 3M (St. Paul, MN) is creating high-capacity, low-manufacturing-cost optical data links. And GenOA Corp. (Berkeley, CA) is developing low-cost manufacturing technology for optical amplifiers and switches.