Advanced Micro Foundry and Ascenta Technologies launch MPW runs
Advanced Micro Foundry (AMF) and Ascenta Technologies (Ascenta) have announced a new milestone in their collaboration: The AMF Visible + Infrared (IR) multi-project wafer (MPW) series. AMF is a Silicon Photonics foundry, while Ascenta is a spin-off led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics and the University of Toronto. With this project, the two companies aim to bring a versatile and functional Visible + IR platform to the photonics community.
The visible platform was built using AMF’s expertise in low-loss SiN platform technology, leveraging a multi-layer silicon nitride and silicon stack. AMF says that this platform enables the creation of high-and low-confinement single-mode waveguides, effectively spanning a wavelength spectrum of 400 nm to 1600 nm, as well as active functionalities including photodetectors and highly efficient phase shifters.
AMF partnered with Ascenta to develop a library of Visible and IR photonic components on AMF’s silicon nitride technology platform. The library includes a suite of devices such as low-loss waveguides, fiber-to-chip couplers, photodetectors, thermo-optic phase shifters, MEMS structures, and modulators. This collaborative offering seeks to empower optical designers with the necessary tools to design complex PICs with confidence, paving the way for further innovation.
Both companies are actively aggregating users for MPW runs in 2024. The AMF Visible MPW offering aims to advance visible product development in fields ranging from LiDAR, optical computing, health, and augmented reality.
AMF CTO, Dr. Patrick Lo remarked “I am very excited to see the interest from the community to utilise the wide space of visible applications. AMF is very proud to partner with Prof. Joyce Poon & Ascenta to provide access to this platform via MPW to support the community and grow the market”.
Ascenta CEO, Mr. Ilan Almog added “The Ascenta team is grateful for our partnership with AMF and thrilled to share the VIS+IR silicon photonics platform with MPW participants. The platform is the same fundamental technology Ascenta is using to develop its products, in the 3D sensing space and beyond. We are excited to enable the wide range of applications brought forth by the creativity of the community, leveraging the capabilities in the platform”.
