Optical outlook is strong

A new report asserts that suppliers of MEMS for optical networking have strong long-term business prospects despite the ongoing downturn in sales of telecommunications components. In-Stat of Scottsdale, AZ, says MEMS producers began shipping in volume in 2002. The main reason for the positive commercial outlook is that the systems now meet the Telcordia Technologies standards, the market research firm says. The set of international benchmarks are rigorous reliability and performance standards for optical components.

Revenues for optical networking MEMS will grow at a compound annual rate of 41.8% through 2007, according to In-Stat. Marlene Bourne, a senior analyst, notes that at least half of the MEMS firms in optical networking have gone out of business in the last few years. Despite this bleak fact, the remaining firms have raised more than $55 million in venture capital in 2002, she points out.

The types of devices in volume production have changed, the analyst says. Manufacturers are offering variable optical attenuators and tunable filters. In addition, the industry has shifted more production to small and 3-D switches. Sold at high prices, the switches generate significant revenues.

The report, MEMS and Optical Network: Down But Not Out, is available at www.instat.com.

German firm buys defect tool

A German MEMS manufacturer has purchased an Electroglas automated wafer inspection tool for its plant in Dortmund. HL Planartechnik will use the QuickSilver IIe for making its line of devices for infrared, mass-flow and temperature sensing, according to the San Jose–based equipment company. The inspection system operates at production throughputs to identify, measure, and classify defects, Electroglas says. HL Planartechnik already uses several pieces of the vendor's equipment, including wafer probers and SORTnet test process management software.

CD tool installed for research

A Canadian university has installed a CD measurement system from Micro-Metric for research into MEMS and related devices. The University of Alberta at Edmonton will use the MicroLine 300 tool in the Nanosystems and MEMS Research Consortium at the department of mechanical engineering. The system measures features of 0.5 to 40 µm using a 100X objective lens. With a 5X lens, the tool measures up to 800 µm. Over the past two years, the University of Alberta has received more than $300 million in research funds.

Manufacturer buys litho tools

A Swedish MEMS manufacturer has purchased a line of fully automated lithography equipment from EV Group of Austria for an undisclosed sum. Silex Microsystems makes MEMS for biotechnology, life sciences, and telecommunications uses. The company purchased an EVG 520 production wafer bonder, an EVG 150 resist processing system, an EVG 620 precision alignment system, and an EVG 301 mask cleaner. The equipment is modular and can be configured to suit production needs, the toolmaker says. Silex is building a 150-mm wafer processing line at its site in Kista.