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Mems-based zerO-power Reconfigurable PHotonic ICs

Objective

In MORPHIC, we will enhance an established Silicon Photonics platform with MEMS actuators so photonic circuits can be programmed, and reprogrammed, for a variety of optical functions with built-in redundancy and resilience. The ambition is to create a technology platform for generic Field-Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits (FP-PIC), that can scale up to volume manufacturing while at the same time supply a variety of specialized applications, similar to field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) in electronics.
To enable programming and reconfigurability at the circuit level, MORPHIC introduces low-power photonic MEMS actuators into silicon photonics, with mechanical latching for non-volatile operation. Basic photonic MEMS building blocks, such as optical 1x2 and 2x2 switches, as well as continuously tuneable phase shifters and 2x2 couplers, are combined with monitor photodiodes and electronic feedback loops into self-configuring circuits to optimize their performance and scale circuit complexity. Programmable connectivity is implemented in a large-scale circuit matrix of waveguides coupled with photonic MEMS subcircuits. MORPHIC combines high-speed silicon photonics, non-volatile MEMS, and a reconfigurable connectivity matrix with control electronics, high-level design methodologies, and a programming interface to create a complete FP-PIC platform.
MORPHIC will validate both the silicon photonic MEMS technology and the FP-PIC platform on three applications that benefit from low-power reconfigurability: an optical switch matrix, an optical beam forming network and a programmable microwave photonics filter. The demonstrators are implemented in two ways: as a dedicated photonic circuit, and as a programming scheme in a generic FP-PIC.
With a complete technology portfolio, the MORPHIC consortium will establish a supply chain for field-programmable silicon photonics that leverages volume manufacturing and at the same time enables rapid access to complex photonic ICs

Call for proposal

H2020-ICT-2016-2017

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Sub call

H2020-ICT-2017-1

Coordinator

INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM
Net EU contribution
€ 1 245 896,25
Address
Kapeldreef 75
3001 Leuven
Belgium

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (5)

ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
Switzerland
Net EU contribution
€ 605 625,00
Address
Batiment Ce 3316 Station 1
1015 Lausanne

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Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN
Sweden
Net EU contribution
€ 707 000,00
Address
Brinellvagen 8
100 44 Stockholm

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Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK
Ireland
Net EU contribution
€ 900 000,00
Address
Western Road
T12 YN60 Cork

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Region
Ireland Southern South-East
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM
Belgium
Net EU contribution
€ 211 950,00
Address
Diestsesteenweg 692
3010 Kessel Lo

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
VLC PHOTONICS SL
Spain
Net EU contribution
€ 311 862,50
Address
Camino De Vera Sn Edificio 9b D5 Universidad Politecnica De Valencia
46022 Valencia

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Este Comunitat Valenciana Valencia/València
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00