OneChip Photonics Announces Relationship with IQE to Produce High-Volume InP PICs

Exhibitor News

PRESS RELEASE

13 March 2013

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jenny@ardellgroup.com

OneChip Photonics Announces Relationship with IQE to Produce High-Volume InP PICs

OTTAWA, March 13, 2013 – OneChip Photonics today announced that it is working with IQE, the world’s leading independent provider of III-V semiconductor epitaxy services, to grow the epitaxial (epi) structures, which OneChip uses to produce its Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for the Data Center Interconnect (DCI) and Passive Optical Network (PON) markets.

OneChip’s unique, regrowth-free Multi-Guide Vertical Integration (MGVI) platform eliminates the need for multiple epitaxial growth steps. This enables OneChip to decouple epitaxial growth and wafer processing, while outsourcing both functions to independent, pure-play commercial foundries. Under this fabless model, OneChip has been working with IQE for the production of its OneChip-designed 4-inch indium phosphide (InP)-based epitaxial wafers. This leverages the infrastructure and expertise IQE has gained over 25 years, supporting the advanced semiconductor industry with its pioneering outsourcing model.

Valery Tolstikhin, Founder and CTO of OneChip Photonics, said, “The iron-doped, semi-insulating 4-inch InP substrates, and the metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) growth technique, required for OneChip’s epi-wafers, are the same as those used by IQE for its high-volume epitaxy products, so we have strong economies of scale in working together. IQE is recognized as a leading independent, pure-play epi-wafer foundry, which not only provides world-class services, but also perfectly fits into our fabless PIC manufacturing model.”

Drew Nelson, President & CEO of IQE, said, “OneChip has developed some exciting new integrated photonics products for the high-volume, but cost-sensitive, optical communications markets. We are delighted to apply our unique high-volume manufacturing expertise in producing InP-based epi-wafers for OneChip’s innovative PIC technology. OneChip’s use of the fabless manufacturing approach further endorses IQE’s outsourcing business model in the field of photonic devices, and we look forward to helping OneChip continue to scale its business as it extends its unique PIC technology to new markets.”

OneChip’s regrowth-free, PIC-based InP technology has proven successful in the very cost-sensitive, high-volume PON market, as OneChip’s PIC-based PON transceivers and Bi-directional Optical Sub-Assemblies (BOSAs) already are being deployed by the world’s largest PON system providers.

Now, OneChip is extending this technology to the high-volume DCI market. This market requires 100Gbps+ solutions with higher interface density and longer reach than those within the reach of currently deployed systems in 0.85um and multi-mode fibers. The DCI market also requires lower cost and power consumption than the solutions offered by the traditional telecom component vendors. [See related OneChip news release, issued today, announcing OneChip’s new family of PIC-based 100Gbps optical interconnect solutions.]

About IQE
IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers, with products that cover a diverse range of applications, supported by an innovative outsourced foundry services portfolio that allows the Group to provide a “one-stop shop” for the wafer needs of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers. IQE uses advanced crystal growth technology (epitaxy) to manufacture and supply bespoke semiconductor wafers “epi-wafers” to the major chip manufacturing companies, who then use these wafers to make the chips, which form the key components of virtually all high-technology systems. IQE is unique in being able to supply wafers using all of the leading crystal growth technology platforms and operates a number of manufacturing and R&D facilities worldwide. (www.iqep.com)

About OneChip Photonics
OneChip Photonics – a privately held company, headquartered in Ottawa, Canada – is a leading provider of low-cost, small-footprint, high-performance Indium Phosphide (InP)-based Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and PIC-based modules for the Data Center Interconnect (DCI) and Passive Optical Network (PON) markets. The company is backed by world-class venture capital investors, including BDC Venture Capital, DCM, GrowthWorks, Morgenthaler Ventures and Northwater Capital Management. For more information, please contact OneChip at +1 (613) 226-6117, +1 (866) 652-4627 (toll-free), info@onechipphotonics.com or sales@onechipphotonics.com, or visit our Web site at www.onechipphotonics.com.

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