December 21, 2021
The process makes it possible to combine lasers, amplifiers, modulators and detectors in one chip. Tower will allow companies to experiment with the new technology through a Multi-Project Wafer model, in which they share production costs
Tower Semiconductor Company (Tower) From Migdal Haemek announced the completion of a joint project with Juniper Networks (Juniper Networks), Which develops the first silicon photonics (SiPho) platform of its kind in the world that combines a III-V laser manufactured from InGaAsP, optical amplifiers, optical modulators (modulators) that allow information to be transmitted on a high-frequency wave, and detectors – all in a single chip. Tower has announced that the technology is now available to all of its customers and not just to Juniper Networks.
“The joint development process with Tower has been particularly successful and has yielded unique and groundbreaking technology in the field of silicon photonics,” said Juniper Networks CEO Rami Rahim. “Through this capability open to the entire industry, we can significantly reduce the prices of optical components.” According to Tower CEO Russell Alwanga, “We are the only company to offer this technology to all customers in the industry.”
The new production platform is suitable for many applications, including: telecom, data centers, LiDAR and more. Tower announced that the development kits (PDK) for the new process will be ready by the end of 2021. In the second quarter of 2022 it will publish initial reference designs of integrated components including silicon photonics and laser, which provide data transfer capability at 400Gb / s and 800Gb / s rates.
The overarching goal: floor-to-ceiling optical manufacturing services
Silicon Photonics is one of the fastest growing areas in the field of chips. According to Emergen Research, it will grow in the coming years at a rate of about 22.7% per year, and will reach a sales volume of about $ 4.6 billion in 2027, compared to sales of $ 980 million in 2019. But in order for this area to meet forecasts, two preconditions are needed. : Building blocks Technologies that enable the implementation of complex solutions, and an infrastructure of production services that provides access to technology even for small and medium-sized companies.
Tower has recently been in the process of strengthening these two arms. In terms of availability, it will allow new customers to experience the new technology as part of the Multi-Project Wafer – MPW service designed to reduce the costs of experience and feasibility testing of new designs. The program allows companies to integrate their design into the manufacturing process of silicon wafers that have free space or are intended only for experimental projects, in a way that customers share with each other in production costs.
The second component is reflected in a series of optical technologies it has acquired in recent years, including: Germanium-based silicon laser diode manufacturing capability that works at the wavelength of optical communication, photodiodes used to detect signals and convert to electrical signal, modulators, optical waveguides of various types, and more.
It also recently announced a collaboration with Synopsis and a collaboration with American Anello Photonics to implement a technology that enables the production of gyroscope sensors within a chip (Silicon Photonic Optical Gyroscope) rather than using fiber optics. The overarching goal is to build Tower as the industry’s first manufacturing contractor to provide full manufacturing services in the field of silicon photonics.
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