Planar Optical Integration Technology (POINTek), a global provider of high-performance athermal arrayed-waveguide gratings (AWGs) and optical module packaging services, has announced that its temperature hardened AWGs can be used for DWDM applications in extreme temperature operating environments.

POINTek’s low-drift high-performing athermal AWG (AAWG) makes use of an IP-pending optical packaging technology that allows only 20pm or less wavelength-drift for developing an AAWG that can withstand the industrial temperature operational range of -40°C to 85°C.

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On the other hand, conventional athermal AWGs have been developed to support a total of 60pm or larger wavelength drift, which is equivalent to a compensation of 0.5pm/°C shift within in the operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.

POINTek CEO Dr TH Rhee said: “The conventional 60pm wavelength-drift over the range of -40°C to 85°C versus only 20pm drift accounts for the increase in about 70% temperature-induced wavelength drift control under any operational temperature.

“We have been sharpening our packaging technique for manufacturing Temperature-hardened and low-drift athermal AWGs as the DWDM user community is getting ready for using a greater DWDM channel support.”

“POINTek’s temperature-hardened AAWG is the result of continuous improvement of POINTek’s athermalisation technology and packaging process.

“We have been sharpening our packaging technique for manufacturing Temperature-hardened and low-drift Athermal AWGs as the DWDM user community is getting ready for using a greater DWDM channel support beyond 50GHz at the rate of 100G up to 400G.”

Since 2004, POINTek has been producing its own athermalisation IP-based AAWG products.

Currently, POINTek manufactures and markets globally all custom-type AAWGs in multiple channels, spectrum, channel spacing, band, connectors, optional features, package configuration, and unique or customised requirements.

Rhee further added: “Our temperature-hardened AAWGs can support 25Ghz C-band DWDM. No commercial AAWG with 0.15pm/°C shift performance over the range of -40°C ~ 85°C with only the total 20pm shift is available from any AWG vendor on the optical Mux/DeMux markets today. Our AWG is effectively a new class of AAWG called Super AWG.”