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Product category: Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Ommic
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 10 December 2003

Alcatel InP HBT process finds new home

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Alcatel is transferring its advanced indium phosphide heterojunction bipolar transistor technology to Ommic's industrial clean rooms at its centre in Limeil-Brevannes, France.

Alcatel is transferring its advanced indium phosphide (InP) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology to Ommic's industrial clean rooms at its centre in Limeil-Brevannes, France This transfer will complete Ommic's commercial portfolio of III-V technologies and will provide Alcatel's system designers with a qualified source to develop 40Gbit/s transmission systems for core networks

InP is already established as the material of choice for long-wavelength (1.3-1.6um) optoelectronic devices, and is receiving an increasing interest for its potential in microelectronic applications, ranging from millimetre-wave space and terrestrial communication systems, to very-high-bitrate fibre transmission systems (up to 10 and 40Gbit/s).

The InP HBT technology was developed by the Alcatel Research and Innovation Department as part of its studies into 40Gbit/s transmission.

In addition to the traditional advantages of bipolar transistors (high current drive capability, very low threshold voltage dispersion), the InP DHBT process (actually a double heterojunction bipolar structure is used) offers an exceptionally high cutoff frequency (greater than 200GHz) with a breakdown voltage higher than 5V.

Using this DHBT technology, Alcatel has already developed prototype chipsets at 40Gbit/s that have shown excellent results including record-breaking performance.

These circuits include full rate D-type flip-flops for reshaping or decision circuits, multiplexer-drivers as well as voltage-controlled oscillators.

Ommic is well known for its novel enhancement-depletion mode and high-frequency power PHEMT and MHEMT technologies, and will be one of the first foundries in the world to be able to offers its customers access to a leading edge InP HBT process.

Marc Rocchi, COO and CTO of Ommic commented: "We are delighted that we are going to be able to offer to our customers this outstanding technology developed by Alcatel.

Ommic has based its business on being able to provide technologies with real advantages compared to our competitors.

This new InP DHBT process fits in exactly with our strategy and technology roadmap and will maintain Ommic's leadership in III-V processes".

Joelle Gauthier, Vice-President of Alcatel Research and Innovation, said: "To prepare the future deployment of 40Gbit/s systems, Alcatel has to secure the industrial availability of all required technologies, and we feel InP DHBT is one of them.

This is why Ommic commitment to develop the InP DHBT process is very good news for us".

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