(November 1, 2010 – BUSINESS WIRE) — GigOptix Inc. (OTCBB:GGOX), electronic and electro-optic components supplier, named Innovative Micro Technology, Inc. (IMT) as its optical chip fabrication partner. GGOX is now in the process of transferring production of its Thin Film Polymer on Silicon (TFPS) optical modulator chips to IMT in expectation of volume production ramping in 2011.
The TFPS modulator chips are designed internally, will be manufactured at IMT using GigOptix’s proprietary electro-optical polymer material, and packaged externally by the high-volume contract manufacturer in Shenzhen, China.
GigOpitix’ proprietary TFPS technology is used in the manufacture of 40G and 100G Mach-Zehnder (MZ) optical modulator chips for telecom applications. The modulator chip fabrication process uses a production flow that is compatible with industry-standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques. GigOptix’s TFPS technology lowers power consumption by more than 20% compared with competing modulator technologies, such as Lithium Niobate, and also enables significantly smaller modulators that easily fit into industry-standard 3.5 × 4.5" form factor 300-pin transponders, according to the company.
“We are very pleased to have reached the process maturity level with our TFPS technology to partner with IMT to transfer production of our modulator chips from our internal pilot fab to the high-volume production site at IMT,” said Raluca Dinu, VP & GM of GigOptix Bothell, adding that IMT offers established, high-quality, high-volume and cost-efficient manufacturing with optical device experience. "Furthermore, we plan to bring our full family of modulator chips to production at IMT to address various modulation formats, such as 40G DPSK, 40G RZ-DQPSK and 100G DP-QPSK being demanded by the telecom communication market. These steps are in line with our stated strategy of being a fabless solutions provider."
GigOptix’ 40G DPSK LX8410 TFPS modulator is available for immediate sampling.
GigOptix is a supplier of high performance electronic and electro-optic components that enable next generation 40G and 100G fiber-optic telecommunications and data-communications networks.
IMT develops and produces MEMS devices and is the largest pure-play MEMS foundry in the US. Visit the company website at http://www.imtmems.com.
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