OneChip’s Revolutionary Transceivers

OneChip Photonics is attempting to revolutionize the access optical transceiver market with their Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technology. Unlike other optical access transceiver vendors, OneChip is monolithically integrating all optical functions onto a single piece of Indium Phosphide (InP). All optical components, including the Distributed-Feedback (DFB) laser, Optically Pre-Amplified Detector (OPAD), Wavelength Splitter (WS), Spot-Size Converter (SSC), and  passive waveguide circuitry are built in a single epitaxial growth step on one piece of InP. OneChip is targeting Fiber to the Home (FTTH) access networks and other mass-market fiber (or fibre) broadband applications.

The transceiver is generally the most expensive component used in FTTH Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). OneChip’s focus on high integration and low cost could have a significant impact on the economics of fiber access networks.

The diagram below shows how their PIC fits into their optical transceiver design.

According to OneChip, their technology has several advantages:

1) Low cost. Both high integration and no requirement for hermetic sealing reduce the cost of optical devices. OneChip’s technology has all optical components on one piece of InP. There are no contaminant-friendly gaps and, therefore, no need for hermetic sealing. Additionally, their single-growth process for PICs can provide high net yields, and high net yields reduce the average cost per usable optical device. Alternative processes for producing these optical devices require multiple growth steps, each of which reduces net yield.

2) High performance.  Their Optically Pre-Amplified Detector (OPAD) receiver has a higher gain-bandwidth and lower cost than Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs), which also require an external high-voltage power supply; OPADs do not. Like many alternatives, OneChip’s transceivers use Distributed FeedBack (DFB) lasers, which are higher performance than Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers for fiber optic applications.

3) Reliability. On OneChip’s PIC, all optical components are part of the same piece of material and aligned for life. These PICs are virtually impervious to vibrations, which can adversely affect other technologies like bulk optics and Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) optics.

OneChip’s first focus is on high volume, low cost Ethernet PON (EPON) transceivers. They are currently sampling EPON transceivers and plan to ship their first production units in 4Q09. OneChip is also developing OLT and ONU transceivers for Gigabit PON (GPON).

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