Universally-Applicable Wavelength Division Multiplexer
Summary:
Radiant Photonics, Inc. (RPI; Austin, TX), is developing versatile, high- performance, wavelength division multiplexers (WDMs). The key component of RPI’s WDM, developed in part with BMDO SBIR work, is a diffraction grating that scatters light at an angle that depends on wavelength. RPI plans to focus its marketing efforts for the WDM on telecommunication companies that specialize in serving metropolitan fiber-optic markets, such as office buildings, business campuses and universities.
Technology Description:
Versatile, high-performance, wavelength division multiplexers (WDMs) under development at Radiant Photonics, Inc. (RPI; Austin, TX), are a leading candidate to bring the next generation of broad-bandwidth optical communications to the market. By combining multiple light beams into a single signal, WDM technology promises to vastly increase the transmission capacity of fiber-optical communication systems without replacing existing fiber-optic cables.
The key component of RPI's WDM is a specialized diffraction grating that diffracts light at an angle that depends on wavelength. Thus, a single carrier signal can be de-multiplexed into its component wavelengths by passing through the grating. Alternately, multiple signals can be combined into the carrier signal by passing through the grating in the opposite direction. While diffraction gratings for WDMs have been considered for some time, other techniques were considered superior because conventional diffraction gratings used in WDM systems were considered to be too large, too heavy, and had a high manufacturing cost. They also had environmental stability issues. RPI is solving these problems through innovative design and manufacturing techniques, which include miniaturization, user of fiber lens-arrays, and increased alignment automation.
While other WDM techniques can provide similar performance in single-mode applications, RPI’s grating-based approach is the only technology that can work on both multi-mode (fibers that transmit more than one carrier signal) and single-mode fibers. It also covers all three of the dominant transmission windows (850, 1300, and 1550 nm), is insensitive to polarization effects and temperature variations, features low insertion losses (less than 3 dB), and can be made less expensive than competing technologies.
So far, RPI has built prototype multiplexers and de-multiplexers for several organizations, including an 8-channel de-multiplexer operating in the 1550-nm window, a 4-channel multiplexer operating in both the 850-nm and 1550-nm windows and a 32-channel de-multiplexer operating in the 1550 nm window. RPI has also built a unique 8-channel WDM
for a free-space optical communications system that several companies are building to transmit signals between offices.
MDA Origins:
RPI has completed multiple BMDO SBIR Phase I and II work for a next-generation multiplexing device suitable for satellite-to-satellite laser communications. These optics can send images to a detector without contributing additional air turbulence that would change the refractive index.
Spinoff Applications:
The WDM advances the interconnecting and switching of light by increasing the number of wavelengths that can be multiplexed. WDM-based optical interconnect systems are a significant packaging challenge, and this WDM comes in a smaller, more easily manufactured, more rugged optoelectric package. This technology might have a dramatic impact on a number of light-based technologies including:
•Fiber optics: This represents a new generation of WDMs that will allow one strand of optical fiber to carry all types of communications-voice, video, computing data-by handling all wavelengths. Or it can enable more transmissions to be carried over long-haul telecommunications lines. An optical network adjustable to many wavelengths meets the requirements for speed and bandwidth of the information superhighway.
•Space-based communications: A more rugged WDM not susceptible to external perturbations could advance such optical wireless communications as laser communication between satellites. It could survive missile launch, which opens up the possibility of fiber optics for guidance and navigation systems.
•High-speed optoelectronics: High-speed computing network interconnection to supercomputers could be used for massive data processing.
Commercialization:
RPI plans to focus its marketing efforts for the WDM on telecommunications companies that specialize in serving metropolitan fiber-optic markets, such as office buildings, business campuses and universities. Employing WDMs to increase capacity would be considerably cheaper and easier than digging up the ground to add more fiber-optic lines.
Company Profile:
Radiant Photonics, Inc., was founded in 1995 as Radiant Research, Inc., within the Austin Technology Incubator, the University of Texas national technology commercialization facility. The company's stated mission is “to lead the global photonics market in developing strategic technologies for manufacturing powerful optical components that enable the deployment of short-haul and metropolitan area all-optical networks.” RPI has designed and built electro-optic switches and modulators, optical interconnect devices, and WDM modules. In September 2000, the company has obtained $18 million in first-round venture funding to start a manufacturing facility for optical networking products. It currently employs 50 people.
Contact Information:
Fred Patterson, Vice President
Radiant Photonics, Inc.
1908 Kramer Lane Bldg B Suite A
Austin Texas 78758
Tel:512-339-0500 x201
Fax:512-339-1311
email: patterson@radiantphotonics.com
*UPDATE: Out of business
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