Technical Insight
Photodigm Receives $2.5M in Funding (Fiber Optics News)
Photodigm Receives $2.5M in Funding Photodigm (Richardson, TX) has closed an initial round of equity funding totaling $2.5M. Backers included Corning Innovation Ventures and TriQuint. Founded early in 2000, Photodigm is developing a new type of hybrid device based on VCSELs and conventional edge-emitting lasers for use in telecom and datacom systems. "Photodigm is developing a hybrid device that leverages the circular output and on-wafer test advantages of VCSELs, together with the high power and manufacturability of edge-emitting lasers," says Jack Mattis, VP of business development. "Essentially we use a sampled grating to reflect the light out of the surface of a conventional edge-emitting laser. This gives us the ability to test on-wafer and at the same time take advantage of the important telecom 1550 nm wavelength not yet available to VCSELs. It also leverages the high output power of edge-emitters and could lead to reduced manufacturing costs." The company currently has a strategic relationship with Southern Methodist University (SMU) to use the wafer fabrication and grating facilities of the Photonics Laboratory. According to Mattis, Photodigm will initially produce devices at SMU and TriQuint, and may open its own limited fabrication/prototype facility in about a year s time.
