Baltimore, MD, July 9 – Bandwidth9 has activated a fourth epitaxial growth reactor used to manufacture its tunable lasers. With four reactors, the firm's material-growth capacity is now capable of exceeding 100,000 gross die per month. Along with the increased capacity, the company also reports that it has experienced favorable yield advancements, as it continues to sample prototypes of its first product, MetroFlex, a tunable OC-48 transmitter subsystem.
“In addition to perfecting our tunable-laser technology, Bandwidth9's other key goal is to build a world-class, high-volume manufacturing capacity to meet the market's needs,” said Hatch Graham, chairman and CEO of Bandwidth9. “Our vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities allow us to make and assemble complete optical subsystems in-house, dramatically reducing the cost of our subsystems and shortening our customers' time to market.”
Bandwidth9 uses growth reactors to process 2-in. wafers with its patented molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process, which the firm claims produces the world's only monolithically grown, tunable, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). Epitaxy is the controlled growth of crystalline layers that make up the structure of a semiconductor. The company uses MBE technology to deposit epitaxial layers with high precision to form the optical cavity, tuning arm, and highly reflective surfaces in its tunable lasers.
The company fabricates its laser components in a single, monolithic structure that includes direct electrical modulation for lower manufacturing and integration costs and higher reliability. Bandwidth9 also manufactures its own dual-mode wavelength lockers and integrates these into its MetroFlex tunable optical transmitter modules.
In November, 2000, Bandwidth9 acquired VeriFiber Technologies – an Atlanta-based designer and manufacturer of fiberoptics transmission, amplification, and line-monitoring subsystems for the telecommunications industry – to quickly gain high-volume manufacturing capabilities for its subsystem products.
Bandwidth9 has shipped samples of its products to several metro optical equipment vendors.