Nov 22 2007
Research and Markets has announced the addition of The Challenge for Indium Phosphide Photonic Development and the Optical Foundry to their offering.
Examines the current state of the InP device market and its future direction. Addresses challenges for a pure foundry play and the role for InP devices. Seeks to find the best ways to address the needs for InP device development in the U.S.
Indium Phosphide, InP , is a semiconductor material with properties that make it particularly suitable for optoelectronic devices. Optical communications requirements drove its initial development. Recently, the applications for InP semiconductor devices have broadened to include high-speed electronics and optical sensors.
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) considers InP devices important for military systems and defense initiatives. Currently, DARPA funds the Photonics Technology Access Program (PTAP), and OIDA administers the program. PTAP provides universities with pre-commercial photonic devices for research and teaching. New applications resulting from this program may lead to new commercial and defense markets. On multiple occasions, PTAP participants have requested InP foundry support for their research efforts.
A number of companies are operating with a horizontal business model for manufacturing of InP semiconductor devices. Such a business model requires the existence of foundries that can fabricate devices to users¡¦ design specifications. Commercial businesses engaged in fabricating InP devices, however, are fighting to survive. Thus, it is appropriate to review the requirements, risks, and benefits of an industry based on an InP foundry model. The questions are:
- Do InP foundries make commercial sense in the current market conditions of electronics and optics; and,
- Should the government support advances in InP photonic device development and if so, how.
This document reviews the presentation materials and recommendations of the workshop held in Arlington, Virginia, on November 3, 2005.