Cairo, Egypt (PRWEB) January 24, 2012
Si-Ware Systems (SWS) today announced an innovative and proprietary platform that enables the creation of single-chip optical systems Silicon integrated Micro Optical System (SiMOST).
SiMOST is a complete platform that enables the creation of monolithic optical systems using validated MEMS components. Multiple optical MEMS structures can be patterned and etched on SOI wafers using Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE). The structures are then wafer level packaged and diced to create a one-chip optical system.
SiMOST allows for alignment free optics. Discrete optical systems have to go through precision alignment causing high assembly and packaging costs. SiMOST optical components are lithographically aligned on-chip, eliminating the need for time consuming and costly alignment.
The monolithic optical solution offered by SiMOST has advantages in size, cost, and reliability. Batch processing and mass production on semiconductor wafers greatly increases the volume of devices that can be manufactured simultaneously and reduces costs. Having all the components on-chip creates a more reliable optical system that is robust against shock and vibration. Finally, the dramatic size reduction creates the opportunity for new applications that were not before achievable with larger, discrete optical systems.
For the first time an optical designer has the freedom to design very complex systems with as many components as necessary with no impact on cost of assembly and bill of materials, said Bassam Saadany, Division Manager for MEMS at SWS. With SiMOST, optical systems can achieve economies of scale that are similar to the micro-electronics industry in terms of size and cost, which opens up a range of applications and market opportunities.
SWS has created a library of building blocks for its SiMOST platform that designers can use in creating their optical systems. Optical components include flat, cylindrical and spherical collimating mirrors; wide bandwidth beamsplitters; optical filters; and moving corner cube reflectors. MEMS components include long travel range micro-actuators and micro-motors.
The SiMOST solution has been adopted by SWS and its partners for the development of new, highly differentiated products. This includes a fully monolithic FT-IR spectrometer and a swept laser source.
The SiMOST solution is complemented by SWSs ASIC solutions division which provides interfacing and control circuits. These interface and control ASICs handle the MEMS control, current, voltage and capacitive sensing, data conversion via ADC/DAC, and data processing.
SWS has the capability to offer a complete solution with our SiMOST platform, said Hisham Haddara, Ph.D, CEO at SWS. Capitalizing on our expertise in MEMS design and fabrication and our experience in ASIC interface, we are able to develop optical systems with new features.
The SiMOST solution is available today. Contact SWS to find out how you can utilize SiMOST for your optical system.
SWS at Photonics West
SWS will be presenting more details on its SiMOST set of solutions at Photonics West 2012 in San Francisco being held this week January 24th through 26th. SWS will have booth in the North Hall of the Moscone Center (Booth #4004). Additionally, SWS will have a presentation on its SiMOST technology on Wednesday January 25th at 12:30PM in the North Hall.
SWS in Brief
Si-Ware Systems (SWS) is an independent fabless semiconductor company providing a wide spectrum of product design and development solutions, custom ASIC development and supply as well as standard products.
SWS leverages its highly talented teams in MEMS design and development as well as Analog/Mixed-Signal and Radio Frequency (RF) Integrated Circuits (ICs) to provide highly innovative solutions and products in different areas ranging from PLL based timing circuits, sensor interfaces, frequency synthesis, data converters, RF front-ends, and MEMS based sensor systems. For more information, please visit http://www.si-ware.com.
Contacts:
Scott Smyser, EVP, W/W Marketing & Business Development
Tel. +1 818 259 2785
Bassam Saadany, Division Manager, MEMS
Tel. +20 2 2268 4704
E-mails: firstname(dot)lastname(at)si-ware(dot)com
###
Related Electronic Circuits Press Releases
