The Israeli company TowerJazz, which is considered the fifth largest semiconductor company in the world, introduced a technology process for the release of solutions using silicon photonics. This is a new sphere of production of chips, when internal connections are not conductive connections, but optical communication channels. Thus, it becomes possible to increase the data transfer rate and reduce stray interference and consumption. For optical channels, silicon waveguides are used inside the chip, which transmit the optical signal in the infrared range well.
The technical process of TowerJazz SiPho (photonic process) has complemented the SiGe BiCMOS process technology based on silicon and germanium. The development allows to produce a wide range of receivers, transmitters and single-mode waveguides, promising affordable integrated solutions using optical data transmission methods.
OptoDesigner 5.1 for developers based on the process technology TowerJazz SiPho was created by PhoeniX Software. The package includes tools for simulating processes in the projected chips and gives the opportunity to debug solutions at the stage of the digital project. We will also add that Intel and IBM are actively developing technologies for the transfer of optical channels into microchips. But they work for themselves and do not intend to provide wide availability of branded technical processes, whereas TowerJazz as a contract manufacturer of chips is ready to cooperate with all comers. For the company's customers, the SiPho process technology will be available in the third quarter of this year.