ThreeFive Photonics tackles component integration issues
ThreeFive Photonics (Houten, The Netherlands), a subsidiary of ASIP (Somerset, NJ), has secured a US$2.5 million contract from SenterNovem, part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. ASIP will partner with the COBRA Research School of the Technical University of Eindhoven, a world-renown institution in the study of advanced semiconductor nanostructures and photonic technology, to address issues related to optoelectronic component integration.
ASIP and COBRA will research new technologies, such as quantum-dot active regions, high-aspect-ratio photonic-bandgap structures, and advanced integrated-device designs to help eliminate the traditional barriers to achieving large-scale optoelectronic integration. These barriers include high power dissipation, the need for thermoelectric cooling, and poor manufacturing yields.
ASIP is a developer of photonic integrated circuits, including high-speed laser sources and high-sensitivity photodetectors at 10 and 40 Gbit/s. ThreeFive Photonics is a developer of monolithically integrated optoelectronic devices for use in communication networks and was founded in 2001 based on technology originating from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. ThreeFive Photonics merged with ASIP in November 2003 after filing for the Dutch equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in July 2003.
Ibsen Photonics gains grating patent
Ibsen Photonics (Copenhagen, Denmark), a supplier of holographic phase masks, transmission diffraction gratings, and OEM spectrometer modules based on diffraction gratings, announced that it has been granted U.S. Patent 6,762,880, “Grating Structures and Methods of Making the Grating Structures.” This technology enables pure fused-silica transmission grating designs with beneficial optical properties. Design possibilities include polarization and temperature independence combined with highly robust grating surfaces. A prime aspect of the invention described in the patent is very deep (high-aspect-ratio) gratings for diffraction efficiency and polarization control, while a second aspect-fusion-bonded grating structures-offers temperature independence and surface robustness.
Good news for optical telecom suppliers
The optical-networking market will see double-digit growth from 2004 through 2006, according to a new study by KMI Research (Providence, RI), Optical Networking: Worldwide Equipment Markets Update for 2004. Among its significant findings, the report concludes that through 2009 the optical-networking market will grow with a 12% compound annual growth rate. This market, which includes SONET, SDH, DWDM, DXC, and OXC products, was $7.6 billion in 2003 and will reach $15.3 billion in 2009, according to KMI.
NSF grant funds photonic-crystal fibers
Henry Du and his research team at the Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ) have received a $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to further develop and integrate photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs) with nanoscale technologies. The long-term goal of the multidisciplinary project will be robust chemical and biological sensing devices. Using molecular and nanoscale surface modification, state-of-the-art laser techniques, and computer simulation, their research seeks to enhance the prospects of PCF sensors, sensor arrays, and sensor networks for applications such as remote and dynamic environmental monitoring, manufacturing process safety, medical diagnosis, early warning of biological and chemical warfare, and homeland defense.
Also in the news . . .
Fabrinet (San Francisco, CA), an engineering and electromechanical manufacturing services company, signed a three-year volume supply agreement with Northlight Optronics (Järfälla, Sweden). Fabrinet will provide module packaging and manufacture of optical subassemblies for Northlight’s longwave optical transmitters and receivers. Northlight Optronics designs and manufactures optical transmitters and receivers operating up to 10 Gbit/s. . . . Zygo (Middlefield, CT), a supplier of optical metrology instruments, precision optics and electro-optical design and manufacturing services, is planning to sell its vacant Westborough, MA, facility, netting $2 million in the process. According to Bruce Robinson, CEO, the sale marks the company’s withdrawal from the telecommunications segment of its business. . . . iolon (San Jose, CA), manufacturer of a full line of widely tunable products for telecom, CATV, medical, sensing, and test and measurement markets, has named Ammo Engineering as its exclusive distributor in Israel. Under terms of the agreement, Ammo will be responsible for sales and support of iolon’s full-band tunable-products portfolio, including tunable ITU-grid lasers, swept-tuned lasers, tunable filters, tunable receivers, and optical channel monitors.