Optical know-how based on lithium niobate technology

05 FR GEFC 0CFX

Abstract
A French company is a provider of modulation solutions for high-data-rate optical transmission networks and high-bandwidth optical applications. Its complete family of components allows system manufacturers to increase their competitiveness by offering cost-effective and high-performance modulation solutions. The company proposes to industrial partners technical and industrial cooperation to develop systems (telecommunication - sensing - instrumentation) including lithium niobate components.

Description
A French company operates its own LiNbO3 wafer processing (3 inches), packaging and test facility in a brand new clean room environment. It masters all the stages of development and production of lithium niobate based devices: microwave and optical software-assisted design, diffusion and annealing, thin film deposition, etching, thick film plating, dicing and polishing, PM (Polarisation Maintaining) and SMF (Single Mode Fibre) pigtailing, packaging, qualifications, tests and characterisation.

The modulators are manufactured using state-of-the-art Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3) technology. Markets covered are:
- Telecommunications: the company has developed a complete range of intensity and phase modulators dedicated to high data rate transmission networks. These key modulators are vital in developing the next generation of networks with extended bandwidth and robust modulation schemes.
- Sensing and instrumentation: it delivers components for use in fibre sensors and measurement systems such as fibre interferometers and lidars.
- Defence and aerospace industries: the stability of the components makes them compatible with the harshest environment. Many components have already battletested in the extreme conditions of defence and aerospace programs.
- Research and development: the company provides the R&D community with standard and custom-built components.

The company commands two unique LiNbO3 wave-guide fabrication processes; the titanium in-diffusion process and the proton exchange process. These processes enable the company to cover a greater range of applications from 800 nm to 1600 nm. LiNbO3 components work with a low driving voltage (< 5 volts), have low optical losses are compact and light (few cm3 - 50 /100 gr) and are compatible with all fibre devices. This LiNbO3 technology is Telcordia-qualified.

The company has put together a team of top-notch specialists from areas of expertise such as optical design, lithography, thin film processing, microwave technology and packaging to operate this state-of-the-art equipment. Due to the impressive flexibility of LiNbO3 based devices, the company is able to provide a broad spectrum of products tailored to each client's needs or to manufacture in mass production (typically 1000 components).

The technological know-how and manufacturing capabilities of the company allow it to produce custom built systems including LiNbO3 component and electronic subsystems (bias controller, driver, etc.). In addition, a flexible team and start-up structure lend to a fast response to a wide variety of modulator application needs.

Innovative Aspects:
- Modulators with low driving voltage, high bandwidth (> 40 GHz), chirp free, low insertion losses, high extinction ratio.
- Modulators manufactured with ZPol technology (company's patent), combining benefits of both standard z-cut (ultra low driving voltage) and x-cut devices (chirp free).
- Proton exchange technology allowing the fabrication or components working at 1064 nm. Such a component supports 1 watt of launched power with no performance degradations
- Compact packaging with an integrated driver

Main Advantages:
- Great properties of the material: high electro optic, piezoelectric and acoustic coefficients
- Fast response to a wide variety of modulator applications needs
- LiNbO3 components work with a low driving voltage (< 5 volts), have low optical losses, are compact and light (few cm3 - 50/100 gr), are compatible with all fibre devices and can be designed for a large range of applications from 800 nm to 1600 nm

Current Stage of Development

Already on the market

Intellectual Property Rights

Patent(s) granted

Collaboration details
Technical Co-operation

Manufacturing agreement (Subcontracting & Co-contracting)

For more information
Anne-Marie VIEUX

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