Historically, fiber optic devices are discrete components which are bulk-optics based. Photonic Integration has been the common vision of the industry. In particular, Photonic Lightwave Circuit (PLC and Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technologies have enjoyed commercial success for several applications. However, many passive optical functions have remained in the old-fashioned discrete/bulk-optics form. Viscore has invested in HPI technology to improve passive components integration.
The simplest fiber-optic devices used in telecommunications are discrete optical components, each of which realizes a single optical function (e.g. optical filter or optical isolator). A combination of these discrete optical components can be assembled through fiber splicing to form more complex modules (e.g. optical amplifiers). Manufacturing these modules involves tedious assembly due to the large amount of fiber splices and fiber handling. Furthermore, fiber routing requirements and fiber bend radius constraints make these modules relatively large. With ongoing advances in telecommunication systems, the increasing demand for more optical functions to be implemented within a smaller physical space, creates challenges in manufacturability and reliability of complex optical modules. To address these new requirements, optical component vendors have been pursuing ways to integrate more optical functions into a single, compact device package.
One approach, borrowing from the integrated circuit (IC) concept used in electronics, has been monolithic integration, in which optical functions are implemented on a monolithic (ie. single material) die. While this technique has been effective for a number of specific applications, it fails to offer a satisfactory universal solution. Unlike electronic functions, many optical functions cannot be realized using a single material or technology, and often rely on a hybrid combination of different materials and technologies to achieve the required performance.
For the past several years, Viscore Technologies Inc has been a leader in the area of optical hybrid components. Its cost-effective core hybrid components, which combine up to 4 optical functions within a small package, have already demonstrated reliability and performance through volume deployment in the optical modules and systems of major customers. Leveraging these achievements, Viscore has made significant advances and innovation in its Hybrid Photonic Integration (HPI) Technology towards a flexible and cost-effective platform to meet the challenges of more complex and next-generation optical modules and systems.