OEpic Introduces Highly Integrated Front-End Solution for Optical Communications Modules.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

OFC Conference

Booth #6094

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2002

Low Cost, High Speed 10 Gb/s VSR Chipset for Small Form-Factor

Transceivers Is First Product from New OEIC Company

A highly integrated front-end optoelectronic receiver and transmitter chipset for Very Short Range (VSR) applications that breaks the $100 price point was introduced today by OEpic, Inc. The newly announced company designs, manufactures and sells Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits for next generation, high-speed optical communications systems. (See the accompanying release: Start-Up OEpic to Offer Complete Optoelectronic Front-End ICS for High-Speed Communications.)

The 10 Gb/s chipset, designed for datacom applications such as 10 G Ethernet, Storage Area Networks (SAN) and Fiber Channel, will be presented at the OFC Conference in Anaheim, Calif., March 17-22 at OEpic's Booth #6094.

(Product photos are available at www.oepic.com.)

The 850nm VSR chipset consists of an integrated PIN/TIA receiver, operating at 10Gb/s, that converts 850 nm wavelength optical signals to electrical data, and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) transmitter. A limiting amplifier and a laser driver amplifier complete the four-device chipset, designed for small form-factor transceivers.

"Our corporate mission is to deliver complete optoelectronic front-end integrated solutions to the high-speed communications market with greater performance and cost effectiveness," said Dr. Yi-Ching Pao, founder, president and CEO of OEpic. "This first product of ours will provide optical module manufacturers with highly integrated optical-to-electrical conversion, enabling lower-cost transceiver manufacturing and faster time to market."

"This first integrated product is for short range applications operating at 10Gb/s, and will be followed soon by our longer reach products fabricated in our own state-of-the-art InP manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, California," said Dr. George Bechtel, director of marketing at the company. "And we will put more emphasis on our 40 Gb/s speeds when that market is ready."

According to Robert Steele, director of optoelectronic research at Strategies Unlimited, "The 10 Gb/s VSR datacom transceiver market is expected to reach $4 billion by 2006. OEpic's highly integrated chip set could enable the company to become a major participant in this market."

Technical details of the four devices in the chipset:

1) The PT1001 Receiver is a GaAs PIN photo detector, integrated

with an InGaP-HBT transimpedance amplifier (TIA). The device

has a low power consumption of only 60 mW. It is available as

a bare die (PT1001-A) and in internally matched 10 Gb/s TO-46

packages (PT1001-TO).

2) The L1001 Limiting Amplifier provides wideband, high gain, low

noise amplification of signals up to 10 Gb/s. It features

differential inputs and outputs and interfaces with typical

SERDES chips. The device is fabricated using advanced

InGaP-HBT process, and is supplied in bare die (L1001-A) and

in 3 mm QFN surface mount packages (L1001-QF).

3) The LV1001 VCSEL Transmitter is a high radiance 850 nm

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser. The device provides a

typical optical output power of 2.5 mW at 8 mA with a high

differential efficiency of 60 percent. It is available as a

bare die (LV1001-A) and in internally matched 10G TO-46

packages (LV1001-TO) which include a monitor photodiode.

4) The DV1001 VCSEL Driver Amplifier is an InGaP-HBT amplifier,

designed to provide bias and modulation currents to the LV1001

VCSEL. The device features differential inputs and outputs and

consumes less than 100 mW. It includes pulse width,

depth-of-modulation and feedback control. It is available as a

bare die (DV1001-A) and in 3 mm QFN surface mount package

(DV1001-QF).

Price and Availability

The chipset is available for immediate sampling with volume available in Q3 of 2002, at $99 for the bare die in high volume or for $199 as packaged parts (TO and QFN) for inserting in sub-assemblies.

About OEpic

OEpic (pronounced "epic") designs, manufactures and sells advanced Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits (OEICs) which integrate optical components with high-speed electronics. These are used by OEMs to create fast, highly integrated front-end solutions that allow the development of innovative, next-generation optical communications systems. The company has developed world-class OEIC design and InP (Indium Phosphide) device technologies at its own manufacturing facility, permitting the integration of optical and electronic devices for speeds up to 40 Gb/s. For more information, visit www.oepic.com.

OEpic was founded in July 2000 in Sunnyvale, Calif., by a very experienced team with background in optoelectronic and microwave technologies at leading firms. OEpic has received $30+ million from top tier venture capitalists and corporations.