Photonics Chip Manufacturing enabled by Higher Throughput

Products - PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.

New investment initiative at PI pays off.

The F-712.HA2 double sided photonics alignment system integrated in an AIM Photonics large, automated wafer prober. The prober enables programmable optical, DC, and RF examination of wafer substrates with diameters up to 300mm, while also providing added flexibility for die-level wafer testing (Source: AIM Photonics)

By increasing personnel resources, improving processes, and investing in automation, PI has reduced the lead time for the fast multi-channel photonics alignment systems (FMPA) F-712.HA1 and F-712.HA2 by more than 50% in the fourth quarter of 2023. In comparison to conventional fiber alignment methods, the FMPA systems reduce alignment time of optical fibers and fiber arrays in SiPh quality assurance and packaging automation by up to 100X. This performance boost helps to increase the throughput in silicon photonic (SiPh) chips manufacturing considerably.

The F-712.HAx fiber alignment systems from PI enable simultaneous multi-channel couplings of optical fibers, arrays or waveguides and the inputs and outputs of SiPh chips in six degrees of freedom. Efficient algorithms for area scan, gradient search and tracking are currently setting the global benchmark for increasing throughput and thus lowering the production costs of SiPh components. The F-712.HAx alignment systems are available for both single-sided and double-sided alignment and based on PI’s proven motion hardware and the sophisticated E 712 high-performance motion controller. Several hundred of these systems are already in use at OEM and direct customers around the world.

PI is currently expanding its production capacities as part of the largest investment program in the history of the company, investing more than $70 million. Through a targeted expansion of resources, investments in automation, and continuous process improvements, the company has already more than halved the lead time of the aforementioned fiber alignment systems in the fourth quarter of 2023 and announces further improvements.

More on Automated Optics and Photonics Alignment

Background Information on Optics and Photonics Alignment

Industries Served

Photonics, Optics, Silicon Photonics, Semiconductors, Quantum Photonics

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