SBIR-STTR Award

The primary goal of the proposed Phase I SBIR effort is to develop high channel-density interconnect modules for use in air platforms. This will be accomplished using a unique, monolithic, WDM, optoelectronic module that has a high interconnect density, small form-factor, and is rugged enough to withstand harsh operating environments. OptiComp Corporation occupies a 7,000 square foot facility, which includes a full service, backend semiconductor fabrication cleanroom and optoelectronic device integration laboratory, a optoelectronic testing area, and a MBE-based growth facility. OCC's design center includes optoelectronic device modeling and design, growth, fabrication, integration, and testing capabilities. The proposed program will offer a dual use commercialization opportunity for providing dense interconnects in a harsh operating environment, such as in commercial and military aircraft. The ruggedized, small form-factor modules will reduce fiber-count and electromagnetic interference through the use of coarse WDM. This interconnect scheme has significant market potential as the demand for data-capacity increases

Optoelectronic technologies make it possible to construct systems that are tolerant to the unique threats of aerospace environments. The goal of this proposed Phase II effort is to develop, fabricate, and demonstrate OptiComp Corporation’s (OCC) WDM optoelectronic transmitter and receiver technologies for connection sensors with the vehicle and mission management computer systems. Working with Boeing Phantom Works, OCC will develop system level specifications, as well as a multistage technology transition plan. This transition plan is aimed at the integration of OptiComp Corporation’s WDM VCSEL and detector technology in the near term. At later stages, OCC’s powerful WDM optoelectronic modules and distributed switching architecture technologies will be incorporated into fieldable systems providing customers with real benefits such as low power consumption, EMI cross-section, size, weight and cost.

Benefits:
OptiComp Corporation’s monolithically integrated WDM technologies offer numerous advantages over both traditional electrical interconnects and those implemented with discrete optoelectronic components. These advantages include small size and weight, low power consumption, scalability, and low electromagnetic cross-sections. In addition, these WDM technologies can be transitioned to OCC’s integrated optoelectronic modules to enable OCC’s distributed switching architectures. These novel architectures make it possible to realize highly fault tolerant, protocol independent, networks that are ideally suited to the demanding needs of military aircraft. Opticomp’s unique combination of hardware and architecture technologies make it particularly will postured to integrate the vehicle and mission management computer systems and realize the compelling advantages that this would provide.

Keywords:
Vehicle/mission management systems, WDM, VCSEL, detector, Fly-By-Light