Grating Phase Mask Technology for Cost Reduction of Optoelectronics Manufacturing

SDL, Inc. proposes to develop a volume manufacturing technology for reducing the cost of grating-based optoelectronic devices. This technology will substantially decrease the cost of making submicro-pitch gratings, one of the most difficult and costly processing stepas in optoelectronics fabrication. As a demonstration of the technology, SDL proposed to demonstrate the new manufacturing technique. Implementation of this technology at SDL, the largest manufacturer and technology leader in commercial laser diodes, will have the largest impact on the market through cost reductions realized by the proposed program. Anticipated Benefits: Reduction of the cost of manufacturing existing optoelectronic components, providing a fabrication technology for a new generation of optoelectroni components previously not economically manufacturable, such as WDM arrays and phase-shifted DFBs.