CompoundTek offers 106-Gbps PAM4 MZI silicon modulator PDK
Global foundry services provider CompoundTek has unveiled a 106-Gbps PAM4 Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) silicon modulator in its intellectual property (IP) design. Use of the PDK IP in optical transceiver designs for 400G/600G/800G applications could save engineers almost two years in commercialization and time-to-market while minimizing manufacturing risks and respins, the company asserts.
CompoundTek says it has verified the performance of the modulator IP via simulation and on-chip fabrication through CompoundTek’s proprietary process flow. A third-party independent company made the performance measurements, CompoundTek points out. The 2.5-mm-long modulator’s typical reach is 3 dB OE bandwidth of 40 GHz at 4 V, 3.25 dB loss, 4 dB extinction ratio (ER) with modulator efficiency of 17 V.mm. CompoundTek says a customer has already licensed the IP block, leveraging the foundry services provider’s post-fab Cu pillars/bump integration with suspended edge coupler, and silicon deep trench for electronic circuits integration.
“This innovation is line with CompoundTek’s services expansion goals, ensuring we bring to customers solutions that save both time and significant investment dollars while meeting performance metrics throughout their prototype-to-market journey. With this transceiver-focused IP design, customers looking to strengthen their 400G to 800G capabilities and reduce the number of iterations can be assured that critical pain points are addressed,” explained K.S. Ang, chief operating officer of CompoundTek.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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