September
12, 2003
Agiltron and AC Win $3.5M ATP Grant
National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Advanced Technology
Program (ATP) has granted Agiltron, Inc. and AC Photonics, Inc. USD$3.5M
to develop a new type of optic switch based on a revolutionary optical
MEMS Technology.
During the four-year project, the Agiltron/AC Photonics team will develop
a new type of fiber optic switch based on a differentiated Micro-Electro-Mechanical
system (MEMS) platform that offers lower loss, higher speed, lower voltage
operation, and longer lifetime compared to competing optical switching
technologies.
MEMS-based
optical switches provide optical switching of large numbers of signals
with minimal signal distortion. However, they do have large optical
signal loss because known MEMS approaches can only generate enough force
to move small mirrors within the switch. To address these issues associated
with current optical switching, Agiltron and AC intend to develop a
new category of optical switches that employ an innovative new high-performance
electrostrictive film material coupled with a relatively large silicon
mirror fabricated on a cantilever arm that efficiently deflects the
light beams within the switch.
This technology could revolutionize optical MEMS technology, replacing
expensive electronic switches and enabling widespread deployment of
all-optical switching networks. In addition, the innovative use of semiconductor
integrated circuit manufacturing technology promises very low production
costs.
Optical
switches will become a major infrastructural telecommunications component,
with many millions of devices needed in the coming years, and could
help revitalize the US broadband telecommunications industry. A recent
report from KMI Research states that optical switches will show double-digit
sales growth from now through 2007. The biotechnology, automotive, defense
and security industries also could find applications for the new MEMS
devices.
Established
in 1995, AC Photonics, Inc. is a fast growing cost-competitive provider
of a complete line of fiber optic components and a wide range of custom-made
precision optics.
The
ATP provides cost-shared funding to industry-led teams which can include
non-profits and universities to help advance particularly challenging,
high-risk R&D projects that have the potential to spark important,
broad-based economic or social benefits for the United States. The program
supports projects that industry cannot fully fund on its own because
of significant technical risks.
ATP awards are made on the basis of rigorous, competitive peer review
of the scientific and technical merit of each proposal. The program
accelerates enabling technology research, but does not support product
development work. Further information about ATP is available at www.atp.nist.gov.
http://www.atp.nist.gov
