Technology

Optical Networking

GigOptix is a leading supplier of electro optic components in the Optical Network market. Moreover, GigOptix is a fabless design and manufacturing company utilizing best in class technology for each optical application. The Optical Networking line utilizes high frequency silicon and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) processes for high volume performance applications. Process Fit Solution (PFS) or Fit Process Solution (FPS) approach provides the most cost effective products that use a variety of technologies including .15um pHEMT process technology, InGaP HBT, and SiGe.

GigOptix’s Thin Film Polymer on Silicon (TFPS™) is a disruptive new technology for high speed optical modulation based on a proprietary electro-optical polymers developed by GigOptix. Compared to LiNbO3 and InP materials traditionally used to fabricate optical modulators, electro-optic polymers have fundamental property advantages that enable high data rate operatio. Advantages include:

1. Fast electro-optic (EO) response time of less than 10 femto-seconds
2. High EO coefficient up to 300pm/V compared with ~31pm/V of LiNbO3
3. Low dielectric constant that has minimal dispersion up to 200 GHz
4. Negligible velocity mismatch between the optical and RF waves
5. Enhanced thermal and photochemical stability

GigOptix's TFPS technology enables properties coupled with GigOptix’s material’s enhanced thermal and photochemical stability enable low drive voltages of 2.5Vpp, broad bandwidths of up to 100Gb/s and reliable operation at 85C. Our industry leading RFPS technology coupled with the capability for integrating the TFPS on active circuitry uniquely positions GigOptix to enable the next generation of extremely high-speed optical systems.

Optical Interconnect

GigOptix is expanding its low power parallel PMD portfolio to address the challenges of higher data rates, lower power, lower emissions and longer reach within the consumer space. GigOptix is developing new products that will enable chip to chip, board to board, and system to system optical interconnects, removing the constraints of copper cabling and allowing standards like HDMI, DisplayPort and USB to realize their full potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

RF Solutions

GigOptix’s RF Systems & MMICs Product Line is a leading technology supplier of high performance MMIC amplifiers and millimeter wave transceivers. Our team uniquely combines over 20 years of experience from two microwave veterans: iTerra Communications, a leader in high performance MMICs and Endwave, a leader in millimeter wave communication systems.

GigOptix’s broad portfolio of MMIC amplifiers includes broadband amplifier designs covering DC to 50GHz as well as high frequency 70GHz and 80GHz amplifier designs for E-band communication systems. iTerra Communications designed their first 40GHz broadband amplifiers in 2001 using patented technology that has led the market for ultra-broadband power amplifier applications. Moreover, GigOptix's high-performance amplifier solutions enable transmission systems that couple high power output with extremely flat gain across the band.

As a fables semiconductor supplier, GigOptix leverages the following high-frequency, high-power process technologies to implement its RF solutions:

• Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)
• Indium Phosphide (InP)
• Indium Gallium Phosphide (InGaP)
• Silicon Germaniuum (SiGe)

GigOptix utilizes these processes for individual applications such as:

• Millimeter Wave Communication Systems
• Radar
• Electronic Warfare
• Automated Test Equipment

ASIC

GigOptix’s ChipX brand of ASICs have been in production since 1989 and over 2000 ASIC designs have been completed for many Tier 1 customers. GigOptix offers a wide range of Structured ASICs and Standard Cells and has partnered with leading companies in Fab, Packaging & CAD technologies.

In addition, GigOptix offers a large portfolio of IP developed in house and licensed from third party IP companies. our IP library enables us to offer customers with low volumes a Structured ASICs solution and customers with larger volumes, a Standard Cell solution. Many of our Structured ASICs have prebuilt and proven IPs like PCIe & USB 2.0 Phy. With the Standard Cell technology, GigOptix can offer more complex SoC solutions by integrating several IP’s including mixed signal IP blocks.

GigOptix Advantage - The Structured ASIC

The Structured ASIC with X-cell was developed because of the rising cost of standard cell NRE. GigOptix Structured ASIC eliminates the need for base layers as well as a majority of the metal layers photomask by leveraging our proprietary metal programmable X-cells. The ability to reduce the number of masks needed, results in an ASIC that has minimal NRE, faster time to market, and cost efficient re-spins compared to the traditional Standard Cell ASIC, while retaining the speed, power, and unit cost advantage of the traditional ASIC.