By - VI Systems

a provider of ultrahigh-speed optical components for data communications, will participate in the Eurostars “Optical Link” project. The projects aims to develop a new generation of ultrahigh-bandwidth data communication interconnects for advanced applications including computer links such as USB 4.0 and related interfaces, PCI Express upgrades, and other vital solutions for short-reach data transfer such as future HDMI cables for audio and video signals.

VI Systems will contribute primarily by developing ultrahigh-speed singlemode vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and photodetector technologies and by performing integration services wherein the company’s optoelectronic devices will be combined with photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and SiGe-based BiCMOS ICs and assembled into fully packaged active optical cable.

The Optical Link partners will develop low-cost technology for optical cables by merging fast microlasers and detectors with electronic ICs and PICs.

The project is funded and managed by the Eurostars Program, a joint initiative of Eureka and the European Community, with a duration of 24 months starting July 1, 2009. Partners include Tyco Electronics Nederland BV (’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands), LioniX BV (Enschede, the Netherlands), the Fraunhofer IZM (Berlin, Germany), and IHP GmbH - Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics (Frankfurt/Oder, Germany).