A portable PIC evaluation setup for fast and convenient prototype development

Fraunhofer HHI has developed a new PIC evaluation setup, named PIConnect , with 4 integrated laser drivers, 1 TEC, 8 current and 8 voltage sources. The PIC is assembled on the PIConnect PIC Assembly. The system enables parallel operation of the building blocks and, thus convenient evaluation of PICs.

Applications: optical sensing, coherent beam combining, etc.

We present a 2-dimensional optical phased array (OPA) on a PolyBoard chip. Beam steering was demonstrated with an initial 2x4 array. Without any front lens, the maximum steering angle is about 10°. The OPA module is coupled to a standard single mode fiber and a ribbon cable for beam control.

Modulators with more than 64 GBd based on HHI’s mature InP technology are available in either Phase,  single MZM or I/Q-Channel MZM configuration. Monolithically integrated DFB laser, are possible upon customer request.

Adding Fraunhofer HHI’s expertise in high-frequency electronics, Fraunhofer HHI provides customized high-speed modules with integrated SiGe ICs. SiGe driver for MZM is customized using co-design methodology for ultra-low power consumption. Fraunhofer HHI is now working toward above 100 GBd MZM driver IC.

To cope with the continuously growing demand for bandwidth in telecom and datacom applications, Fraunhofer HHI researchers developed a Coherent Receiver Frontend (CRF) , offering 200 GHz optical bandwidth detection with polarization- and phase-diversity over C+L-band.

Its unique feature are customizable optical extender heads with robust 1mm RF ruggedized connectors for high signal integrity, robust testing & measurement performance and convenient handling & operation for our customers.

The latest Test & Measurement Equipment launched by Fraunhofer HHI and ID Photonics is the DP-IQ Reference Transmitter . It comprises a high-bandwidth dual-polarization IQ Mach Zehnder modulator and electrical modulator driver amplifiers to convert differential electrical RF signals with an e/o bandwidth up to 60 GHz into various optical modulation formats (e.g. QPSK and m-QAM).

Its unique features are a high fidelity tuneable C-band laser source and a fully automated bias control for the modulator, enabling symbol rates beyond 100 GBaud/s in the Terabit/s single carrier regime.

Privacy-Preserving AI-as-a-Service (PP-AIaaS)

We demonstrate the benefits of a Federated Learning framework for collaborative training of ML-assisted Quality of Transmission (QoT) estimators for multi-domain multi-vendor ecosystems. The demonstration is carried out on a managed Kubernetes cluster using Fraunhofer HHI’s Distributed Learning Framework (DLFi ) software solution.

Components for 1Tb/s Transmission and Microwave Photonics

Fraunhofer HHI provides single and balanced photodetector modules with a bandwidth up to 145 GHz operating from the O- to the L-band. The intended application for the modules is test and measurement. For the application of microwave photonics dedicated high-power photodetector modules are presented.

Make your light smarter

Fraunhofer HHI presents a further enhanced, modular LiFi system . For the first time, a selective diversity receiver is introduced.  In this way, multiple access points allow a stable connection, e.g., to mobile robots. Plastic optical fiber connections ensure robustness even in strong EMI environments.

Compact solutions for high data rates - Fraunhofer HHI provides customized optical InP transmitters for up to 100 Gbaud in uncooled operation. Single EML chips and array solutions are available for O-, C- and L-Band.