Project description
Photonics
Being constantly inquired by its customers, CommScope decided to find a non-volatile and low-cost solution for automatic and remote fiber-management. CommScope partners with European experts to investigate and develop for the very first time the concept of a non-volatile Optical Switch Fabric. With the integration of two innovative technologies - silicon photonics and electrowetting (EWOD) - the consortium will realise the solution that is needed by telecom operators to enable future, flexible and manageable networks, from datacenters to core and access networks.We will investigate the integration of the innovative, non-volatile, electrowetting technology developed by Bartels for e-paper displays with the CMOS-compatible integrated silicon photonics technology to realise the compact, non-volatile, multi-port optical switch. Integration of both technologies, combines the best of both worlds: silicon photonics is known to be low cost, has a small footprint and is made by a proven, reliable CMOS technology, while Bartels' EWOD technology as developed for outdoor e-paper consumer applications has a zero operational power consumption, is low cost and meets demanding outdoor specs. The main challenge for the silicon photonics technology is to realise the required low losses, the main challenge for the EWOD technology is to find the right liquids and downscale pixel dimensions. A field trial by an end-user (TDC) will validate the concept.The consortium partners together cover the supply chain. With CommScope, Tyndall-UCC, Bartels and imec, SwIFT partners European leaders in respectively optical telecommunication interconnect products, non-volatile EWOD displays and silicon photonics. SwIFT will help to secure their leadership by developing a new application that re-uses and progresses beyond their existing backgrounds. The partners in the consortium all have manufacturing in Europe. The process developed will fit in these production lines, setting the scene for a European manufacturing chain.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
FP7-ICT-2013-11
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
CP - Collaborative project (generic)Coordinator
3010 Kessel Lo
Belgium