Silicon Light Machines™ Questions & Answers |
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Company Q. Who is Silicon Light Machines? A. Founded in 1994, Silicon Light Machines (formerly Echelle, Inc.) develops and markets products based on a unique optical MEMS known as Grating Light Valve™ (GLV™) technology. Based in Sunnyvale, California, Silicon Light Machines is a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor. Q. What is the relationship between Silicon Light Machines and Cypress Semiconductor? A. In August 2000, Cypress Semiconductor acquired Silicon Light Machines to advance the proliferation of optoelectronic products in the networking and telecommunications markets. With world-class manufacturing capabilities and a strong presence in the communications market, Cypress is the ideal corporate partner to help Silicon Light Machines commercialize products based on the GLV technology. Technology Q. What is Grating Light Valve technology? A. Silicon Light Machines’ Grating Light Valve device is based on a diffractive optical MEMS comprised of a series of tiny ribbons on the surface of a silicon chip. When electrical voltages are applied, the ribbons move by a fraction of a wavelength - creating a dynamic, tunable grating that precisely varies the amount of light that is diffracted or reflected. Q. What are the applications of Grating Light Valve technology? A. Due to the versatility of the GLV technology, Silicon Light Machines offers innovative products that solve the problems of OEM customers in a variety of markets. The GLV device is currently used for spatial light modulation in high-resolution displays (with an exclusive license to Sony Corporation) and high-performance computer-to-plate equipment. In addition, the characteristics of the GLV device are practical for a variety of applications in fiber optic communications networks. The technology is well-suited for dynamic wavelength management applications that increase the signal bandwidth and reliability of optical networking products. Q. How can the same device be used for both high-end imaging and optical networking applications? A. The basic technology is readily adaptable to cover a broad range of wavelengths. It was designed for near-IR print and visible display applications, and has proven effective by several leading manufacturers for these applications. Silicon Light Machines has also adapted the ribbon dimensions to accommodate the longer wavelengths of optical telecom. Rigorous testing has proven that the devices work very well for both imaging and telecom applications. Q. Are diffractive MEMS devices reliable? A. Silicon Light Machines’ diffractive MEMS are extremely reliable. The ribbons’ total range of motion is very small (~0.2 micrometers), and there are no points of contact between moving parts. In addition, the GLV device can remain stable over a long period of exposure to high power laser illumination. We have tested our MEMS devices for over a trillion cycles, and we could not measure any onset of fatigue. Q. How does the GLV device differ from tilting mirror MEMS? A. In many tilting mirror designs, the MEMS device is etched out of a silicon substrate, leaving a raised mirror on a bearing surface. The movement and positioning of the mirror may require precise control electronics and accurate feedback mechanisms. In operation, this type of device will "sweep" light at constant amplitude from the source to the destination fiber. In other words, the light amplitude is constant; the output angle is variable. In contrast, the GLV device is an addressable diffraction grating that can serve as a simple mirror in the static state, or a variable grating in the dynamic state. This unique approach offers significant advantages in terms of speed, accuracy, reliability and manufacturability over the common "tilting mirror" MEMS structures. Optical Communications Products Q. What optical communications products does Silicon Light Machines offer? A. Silicon Light Machines recently introduced its flagship wavelength management product for the optical communications market - the Silicon Light Machines 2200 Dynamic gain equalizer (DGE) that balances spectral power levels in long-haul optical networks with unprecedented precision. Silicon Light Machines is currently working on its next products, which will be ready near the end of 2002. We will use our proven GLV technology for applications in reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers. Q. Why is dynamic gain equalization so important in optical networks? A. To ensure low data error rates, it is critical that all DWDM channels in a single fiber have approximately the same power level. However, power levels become unequal as a signal travels through a fiberoptic network - due to the basic characteristics of optical amplifiers and environmental factors. Dynamic gain equalizers correct this channel power imbalance - allowing telecom carriers to extend the reach of their networks, increase network performance and lower total equipment costs. Q. Where are dynamic gain equalizers deployed in optical networks? A. Long-haul and ultra long-haul optical networks include a cascaded series of amplifiers which maintain the quality of the signals that travel between its orgin and destination. Dynamic gain equalizers are installed inside these optical amplifier nodes. Q. How does a dynamic gain equalizer differ from existing static gain filters? A. Traditionally, optical networks relied on static gain flattening filters to balance the power levels. However, DWDM networks are becoming more complex and dynamic - with higher data rates, increased spectral density and constantly-changing traffic loads. In this next generation of networks, maintaining flat power levels over all channels is even more critical and difficult. To keep pace with network evolution, yesterday’s static correction filters are being replaced with dynamically controlled modules that accurately equalize channels based on a user-selectable correction function, and can be remotely reconfigured without bit-stream interruption. Q. How does the Silicon Light Machines 2200 DGE compare to competitive products? A. The Silicon Light Machines 2200 DGE is superior to competitive offerings in its ability to equalize power levels with an unprecedented degree of accuracy and and its ability support any channel count (or channel spacing). Q. Why is it so important to have the flattest possible spectrum? A. A flatter DWDM power spectrum gives carriers tighter control over the performance of a network - enabling them to increase the overall distance of transmission and improving the bit-error rate. At the same time, a flat power spectrum can decrease the cost of a DWDM system by reducing the total number of amplifiers needed to monitor and maintain signals - allowing for more simple and cost-effective amplifier designs. Q. What is meant by "spectrally-seamless?" A. Due to the miniscule spacing between the ribbons on a GLV device, it has no "blind spots" - making it spectrally continuous. This means that the Silicon Light Machines 2200 DGE can operate effectively, regardless of the channel count or channel spacing that is transmitted onto the device. As customers add channels to their next generation DWDM networks, they do not need to replace the DGE one with additional capacity. Q. Is there a cost premium for additional capabilities not found in competitive products? A. No. The Silicon Light Machines 2200 DGE offers superior performance at the same cost as other DGEs on the market. Print & Display Products Q. How is GLV technology used in CTP print systems? A. When used with a high power laser source, the GLV device acts as a very high-speed spatial light modulator - capable of writing several hundred spots simultaneously onto an offset printing surface. The advantage of this approach is that several hundred channels of information can be written to the printing plate simultaneously, instead of creating one "spot" at a time. The GLV device not only features hundreds of precisely-controllable elements, but also switches light very rapidly - enabling better, faster and cheaper computer-to-plate (CTP) solutions. Q. How does the GLV device improve the throughput and image quality of print equipment? A. The GLV device can simultaneously handle multi-channel operation, fast switching speeds and very high-power lasers. Together, these capabilities improve system throughput. In addition, the precise imaging spot that is formed on the offset plate by the GLV device is ideal for creating very high quality images. Q. Who are your customers in the imaging market? A. The GLV technology has been licensed to Sony for use in future display applications, such as a high definition television system. In addition, both Agfa and Dainippon Screen have integrated the GLV device in their next-generation thermal platesetter products. We are currently investigating applications of the GLV technology in other areas of the print and display market. return to the top |
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