CAMARILLO, Calif. and DUBLIN -- Eblana Photonics and Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: VTSS) today announced a manufacturing relationship for low-threshold, high-quality, single-mode laser diodes on Vitesse’s 4” Indium Phosphide (InP) Integrated Circuit Fabrication Line.

This manufacturing relationship builds on an industry first where the companies fabricated 2.5 Gbps, single wavelength, laser diodes using established InP IC toolsets and processes. Those lasers exhibit single wavelength lasing emission at wavelength l = 1.54 mm (micron) with threshold currents of 12 mA at temperature T= 25 °C. Side mode suppression ratios (SMSRs) of better than 40dB were observed with optical emission powers of 20mW into a single lasing mode.

Vitesse used its standard VIP-2Ô InP HBT process to fabricate the laser design using Eblana Photonics’ unique regrowth-free laser technology platform.

This landmark process line production of high-quality laser diodes will have significant impact for the communications industry:

1. Short term, it will disrupt the production costs of photonic components by permitting low cost manufacture of the highest quality laser products on a mature electronics fabrication platform using only IC toolsets and processes and their associated process control regime.

2. It will enable the required levels of photonics integration to drive the burgeoning rollout of FTTP and Gigabit Ethernet in Access and Enterprise communications applications.

3. Longer term, by integrating mature InP circuit technology with a breakthrough InP laser technology, it will create new components and new applications based on integrated photonics and electronics.

“Eblana has solved a key problem in laser technology by developing a device with DFB-like performance and manufactured using standard IC process tools,” said Ray Milano, vice president of Optical Technologies at Vitesse. “Furthermore, since Eblana’s technology platform only utilizes standard electronics design rules and mature processes, it achieves performance and product consistency typical of IC products which to date have not been features of Photonics products. This technology will greatly impact the manufacturing and cost of bringing optical transceiver products to the market.”

James O’Gorman, CEO of Eblana Photonics said “We have chosen to partner with Vitesse due to their excellent track record in the manufacture of cost-effective, high-quality InP IC products. Moreover, Vitesse and Eblana Photonics share a goal of simplifying, for transceiver manufacturers, the technical and economic challenges associated with bringing high-speed optical products to market.”

He continued “Eblana already manufactures laser products that are market disrupting due to their unrivalled consistency, performance and cost. Now with Vitesse, we have the ability to manufacture communications lasers on an established, large-scale InP IC fab line, using larger diameter wafers. This best-in-class IC fabrication platform will further lower the volume price point of our products for OEM manufacturers. It will enhance our already market leading product consistency which will in turn further reduce the downstream complexity and manufacturing cost of transmitter products for high volume applications. “

Eblana Photonics Ltd.

Vitesse Semiconductor Corp.