February 6, 2002–WALTHAM, MA–CyOptics Inc., a developer of indium phosphide-based active optical components has opened a $10 million wafer fabrication facility to produce high performance modulators, lasers and detectors packaged both as stand-alone devices and as hybrid super components.

The new facility, located at the CyOptics Yokneam site, is the first production level indium phosphide fab in Israel and offers nearly 11,000 square feet of ISO Class 5 and ISO Class 6 cleanroom space.

One of the highlights of the new fab is an Aixtron 2400G3 MOCVD reactor capable of growing eight, three-inch wafers in a single growth run, the equivalent of over 10,000 optical devices. According to CyOptics, this reactor enables increased wafer uniformity and improved layer composition control and is expected to contribute to a greater wafer processing yield. Its growth process also offers an additional improvement in layer parameter control, thereby providing excellent capability to develop next generation products.

The fab was built in six months, and will enable an increase in wafer production by 125 percent per month, and a subsequent increase in packaging by 130 percent monthly.

The facility “greatly enhances our ability to provide next generation products which are essential for lowering optical system costs,” says John Pilitsis, CyOptics’ chief executive officer.

Suited for both metro and long-haul systems, CyOptics 10 Gigabit per second (Gbps) and 40Gbps devices aim at minimizing cost of optical fiber networks through higher levels of integration, lower manufacturing costs, lower drive voltage and reduced component size.