BinOptics Introduces 1310nm Horizontal-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser

ITHACA, NY – April 29, 2004 – BinOptics Corporation, a leader in the development of integrated microphotonic devices, announced today the availability of a new class of surface-emitting lasers manufactured using its proprietary etched facet technology platform. The new Horizontal Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (HCSEL) combines the power and high reliability of an edge-emitting laser with the low cost and ease of packaging of a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). The BinOptics device integrates a horizontal laser cavity with a 45 degree etched reflecting mirror to direct the output beam vertically. The first product is a 1310nm Fabry-Perot (FP) laser designed for uncooled operation at data rates of 2.5 Gbps with an optical output power of 20 mW and a slope efficiency of up to 0.3 W/A. This product is available with or without an integrated monitoring photodetector (MPD). The BinOptics surface-emitting laser offers unparalleled value while filling the existing gap between long-wavelength VCSELs and conventional FP lasers.

The advantages of VCSELs operating at 850 nm were so compelling that VCSELs replaced all standard transmitters in local area networks within two years of first commercial availability. These benefits include on-wafer testing, the ability to fabricate one and two dimensional arrays on the same chip for easy coupling with fiber arrays or electronics, and side-by-side integration with detectors enabling low cost integrated transceivers. These advantages have not been realized for VCSELs at 1310 nm because of materials issues that lead to low power and poor yield, negating most of the cost benefits. The BinOptics 1310 nm HCSEL delivers all the above advantages and more. It uses proven edge-emitting materials and BinOptics’ unique etched facet technology to achieve a new level of cost-effectiveness and performance. In addition, it allows monolithic integration of the MPD to further reduce cost. The BinOptics HCSEL is designed to be the technology of choice for applications where cost and compact size are critical, such as Ethernet, Access, and PON.

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About BinOptics Corporation

BinOptics manufactures monolithically integrated laser chips based on its proprietary Etched Facet Technology. This unique platform allows the company to meet commercial requirements with higher reproducibility, more flexibility for product design and integration, significantly lower cost, and higher performance than alternative processes. The company's products address high growth datacom applications, such as 10G Ethernet, parallel optical interconnects, PON and CWDM, as well as advanced non-telecom applications. Founded in November 2000, BinOptics is privately held and funded by renowned Silicon Valley venture firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson, the Cayuga Venture Fund II and Stanford University. The company is located in the Cornell Business & Technology Park in Ithaca, New York.

For product information, visit BinOptics' Web site at www.binoptics.com or contact Harvey Spreckman at sales@binoptics.com or 607-257-3200 x238.