Technical Insight
MCE forms optoelectronic subsidiary (Fiber News)
MCE Technologies has launched a start-up company to develop InP-based optoelectronic devices as well as broadband microwave and millimeter-wave components for optical networking applications. The new company, MCE OptoElectronics, will focus initially on integrated photoreceivers used in high-speed transceivers. Manufacturing will leverage a 4 inch InP wafer processing line currently being set up at MCE Metelics, another company within the MCE Technologies group. MCE Metelics has 12 000 sq. ft of clean-room space at its facility in Sunnyvale, California, which includes silicon, GaAs and InP lines for the front-end processing of epiwafers obtained from external suppliers. Back-end procedures, such as packaging, will be carried out at MCE OptoElectronics site in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the company will spend the year developing products for introduction in 2002. MCE Technologies is made up of six operating companies that offer an extensive range of devices, components, and subsystems used in mobile and fixed wireless infrastructure equipment, and wireless broadband access, as well as fiber-optic networking, satellite applications and related test equipment. MCE OptoElectronics plans to employ various broadband RF and microwave technologies already available within these MCE companies. "MCE OptoElectronics will initially concentrate on manufacturing components for the front-end of the fiber-optic transceivers, including integrated photoreceivers containing PIN diodes and HBT-based transimpedance amplifiers," said CEO Craig Linberg. "In common with many manufacturers, we will also be looking to take advantage of InP technology to integrate more components, such as driver or limiting amplifiers, on chip. We also have millimeter-wave expertise through our company network that we can bring to broadband amplifiers."
