Summary:

With the use of electro-optic polymers developed in part from BMDO SBIR research, Radiant Photonics, Inc., is developing an optical-core switch that could greatly increase the speed of fiber-optic communications systems. While several organizations are developing optical-core “photonic” switches for this market, RPI’s model promises to be more versatile than competing technologies, due to the polymers. RPI plans to begin commercial production of this photonic switch by summer 2001.

Technology Description:

With the use of electro-optic polymers developed in part from BMDO SBIR research, Radiant Photonics, Inc. (RPI, formerly Radiant Research, Inc.; Austin, TX), is developing an optical-core “photonic” switch that could greatly increase the speed of fiber-optic communications systems. While several organizations are developing optical-core switches for this growing market, RPI's model promises to be much more robust than competing technologies.

Today’s fiber-optic communications lines are limited in speed. Because signals need to be switched through a network node, they must be converted to electronic signals for routing and then converted back to optical signals-slowing throughput. As a result, there is an industry-wide push for an optical switch that would eliminate this conversion process.

RPI’s switching technology relies on electro-optic polymers that are used in an electro-optic prism. This prism can vary its index of refraction in response to input voltage. By directing where the input signal hits a diffraction grating, this prism can control which output fibers the signal will enter. The multifunctional gel polymers are made by either doping the gelatin to obtain electro-optic effects or photo-refractive effects). The polymers are also used in the switch’s beam deflector.

There are several other polymer-based switching technologies in development by competing companies; however these approaches involve complicated phase delays, which can be sensitive to polarization differences or slight wavelength variations that are inherent in less-than-perfectly-transmitted signals. Thus RPI’s switch would reduce the need for more expensive lasers and related correcting equipment. RPI’s switch would also be superior to the micro-mechanical switch, which is extremely difficult to fabricate and, because of its mechanical nature, not as reliable. In addition, RPI’s switch performs equally well over all currently used communications bands (C, L, and S bands), can provide faster switching speeds (up to 1 nanosecond vs 10-15 milliseconds for electric-core switch and 4 ms for other proposed optical-core switch), and feature low insertion losses (less than 1 dB). Also, the interconnect may be designed to accommodate up to 50 output channels.

MDA Origins:

BMDO funded SBIR Phase I and II work to develop multifunctional polymeric materials to facilitate signal amplification, electro-optic switching, and waveguide hologram formation. BMDO needed a polymer for high-speed fiber-optic components that would be stable at temperatures from -170 degrees C to +180 degrees C, which would cover most of the requirements of airborne and spaceborne optical interconnect applications.

Spinoff Applications:

The development of photonic switches is being pursued by several fiber-optic communication companies, including Lucent, Nortel, and Corning. Such switches could be used in everything from city-wide and office-wide communications to major fiber trunk lines that stretch around the globe. To date, there are no commercial production-scale optical-core switches on the market. However, it is expected to be a $900 million market by 2002, and $4.11 billion in 2008.

Other uses of RPI’s technology include add-drop devices (which combine wavelengths into one signal or subtract out a wavelength from a signal at a network node for the purpose of directing the signal), a wavelength switch (which convert a signal from one wavelength to another) and variable optical attenuators (which are used to keep signal intensity within a specified range). The combined market potential for switches and other components could reach $530 billion by 2005.

Commercialization:

So far, RPI has built a 1x2 (one input signal directed to one of two possible output fibers) thermo-optic switch for Raychem Corp. and has received an order from NECI for a similar switch. (Thermo-optic switches operate on the same principal as electro-optic switches, except that the prism is controlled by heat rather than voltage. Thermo-optic switches are slower than electro-optic switches but are easier to produce right now.) RPI plans to begin commercial production of its photonic switches by summer 2001.

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 obtained $18 million in first-round venture funding to start a manufacturing facility for optical networking products. It currently employs 50 people.

Contact Information:

Ron Cowan
Radiant Photonics, Inc.
1908 Kramer Lane Building B Suite A
Austin Texas 78758
Tel:512-339-0500
Fax:512-339-1311
email: ron.cowan@radiantphotnics.com

*UPDATE: Out of business