OpticalLink

Development of integrated optical technology for short range, ultra-high speed, active optical data cables

The OpticalLink partners envisage the future in active cabling within and between digital electronic appliances to be in fiber optic cabling. Fiber optics will not only handle an extremely high link speed, but they will also provide additional benefits such as saving cabinet space, working at short and long distances and improving security (hard to tap into the optics). In the frame of the project, the partners will develop a new low-cost technology for optoelectronic data cables by merging fast electronics and integrated optical circuitry.

IHP is developing the transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) and the laser drivers for 20Gb/s using the advanced IHP 0.25µm SiGe BiCMOS-technology. The main design challenge is to provide solutions that dissipate very low power while maintaining a high performance at 20Gb/s.

This research is funded by the EUROSTARS program.

TE connectivity, s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.

LioniX bv, Enschede, The Netherlands.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Zuverlässigkeit und Mikrointegration (IZM), Berlin, Germany.

VI Systems GmbH, Berlin, Germany.