OFC 2000 takes a quantum leap
The Optical Society of America (OSA) says the number of attendees at the March Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference in Baltimore, MD, was 17,378—an increase of some 50% from 1999. Exhibitors numbered 475. Technologies that held the interest of attendees included Raman amplification, optical switching, microelectromechanical systems, tunable lasers, and metro WDM. With overlapping applications, these technologies indicate the directions of new commercial growth. Raman amplification, for example, has finally found its supporters after years of suspicion by OEMs. Its most common use appears to be in elevating system power enough to extend transmission distance when used by erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. Next year's conference will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center (Anaheim, CA; March 17-22).
JDS Uniphase acquires MEMS-maker Cronos
A definitive agreement has been signed by JDS Uniphase Corp. (San Jose, CA) to acquire Cronos Integrated Microsystems (Research Triangle Park, NC) for $750 million in stock. JDS Uniphase currently produces both optomechanical and polymer-based switches, and the company expects to offer microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) based optical switches in the future. Cronos designs, prototypes, and manufactures MEMS optical devices based on all three recognized forms of the technology: surface, bulk, and high-aspect-ratio micromachining. "All-optical switching is clearly one of the next great hurdles for the fiberoptics industry," said Kevin Kalkhoven, cochairman and CEO of JDS Uniphase.
Nortel acquires MEMS-maker CoreTek
For up to $1.43 million in stock, Nortel Networks (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) is acquiring privately held CoreTek (Wilmington, MA), a maker of tunable lasers and detectors based on microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) technology. The firm is developing a tunable laser that uses a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and an adjustable tuning membrane. Pilot production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter, with full production next year. Up to $361 million of the purchase price is contingent on the firm reaching milestones for product development and delivery. Whereas its competitor Lucent Technologies (Murray Hill, NJ) is developing MEMS-based components internally, Nortel has opted to buy companies developing the technology. The firm recently spent $3.25 billion in stock to buy Xros (Sunnyvale, CA), manufacturer of network optical switching systems based on optical MEMS technology.
Fiberoptics laboratory emphasizes practical technology
The Photonics Center at Boston University (Boston, MA) has expanded its fiberoptics capabilities by bringing in the Laboratory for Lightwave Technology, which was formerly at Brown University (Providence, RI). The laboratory, which director Ted Morse says is now in the final stages of setup, will research the processing of optoelectronic materials, optical-fiber sensors, and high-power fiber lasers.
Bookham expands ASOC manufacturing capacity
A major plant-expansion program by Bookham Technology (Milton Park, England) should double its manufacturing capacity and create up to 300 new jobs. To meet demand for application-specific optical-component (ASOC) products, the new facility in Swindon, England, will serve as an automated assembly area for die bonding, fiber attachment, and seam welding. ASOC technology enables highly integrated silicon optical devices for access and WDM networks.
Also in the news. . .
Corning Incorporated (Corning, NY) and MEMS-supplier IntelliSense Corp. (Wilmington, MA) have entered into a joint development agreement to design and develop optical-communications products based on MEMS technology. . . . Soliton-based WDM technology manufacturer Algety Telecom (Lannion, France) has closed its second round of venture-capital funding at $31 million.
Paula Noaker Powell
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