Designed for 400G/600G/800G applications, special IP block shrinks design cycle and reduces the need for costly prototype iterations

Singapore, 13 July 2020 – Strengthening its position as a leading global foundry services provider in emerging silicon photonics (SiPh) solutions, CompoundTek’s 106Gbps PAM4 MZI Si modulator enhanced PDK in its intellectual property (IP) design offers customers capabilities in 400G/600G/800G applications for an industry where more than two iterations to meet specifications are a norm. The newly introduced modulator enables extraordinary levels of productivity, further minimising manufacturing risk with fewer respins so customers can expect improved yield results in a better return on investment and accelerated time-to-market.

“This innovation is line with CompoundTek’s services expansion goals, ensuring we bring to customers, solutions that save both time and significant investment dollars while meeting performance metrics throughout their prototype-to-market journey. With this transceiver-focused IP design, customers looking to strengthen their 400G to 800G capabilities and reduce the number of iterations can be assured that critical pain points are addressed,” explains K.S.Ang, chief operating officer of CompoundTek.

Design flows continue to mature to meet the cost and scalability demands of manufacturing necessary for broad commercial markets. Today, SiPh integrated circuits are more widespread particularly in applications related to datacom, radio frequency (RF), and sensing. In 2019, shipments of SiPh transceivers for datacenters reached almost 3.5 million units with revenues approximately US$364 million attributed largely to the development of silicon photonics transceivers for telecom/datacom applications (Yole’s Silicon Photonics Market and Technology 2020).

The modulator is a critical integral component in the transceiver design and the availability of the leading edge 106Gbps PAM4 MZI Si modulator will accelerate the development of CompoundTek customers’ next-generation SiPh products, specifically in the transceiver market.

The performance specification for the leading-edge high-speed MZI Si modulator has been verified both on simulation and on-chip fabricated through CompoundTek’s proprietary process flow, with measurements undertaken by a third-party independent company. Showing above typical industry standards test results, the 2.5mm length modulator’s typical reach is 3dB OE bandwidth of 40GHz @ 4V, 3.25 dB loss, 4dB Extinction Ratio (ER) with modulator efficiency of 17 V.mm. Recognising its potential, a leading commercial customer has recently licenced this special IP block, leveraging CompoundTek’s post-fab Cu pillars/bump integration with suspended edge coupler, and Si deep trench for electronics circuits integration.

Read the full press release below: