Santur Corporation

Santur Corporation was a Fremont, California photonics company established in November 2000 to develop and commercialize tunable laser technology for metropolitan and long-haul dense wavelength-division multiplexing networks. Its products addressed a central problem in optical-network deployment: conventional fixed-wavelength transmitters required operators and equipment manufacturers to stock numerous laser variants for different channels, whereas a tunable source could be configured across multiple wavelengths and used more flexibly in network equipment. The company's principal technical approach was based on a distributed-feedback-laser array. Rather than relying on a single optical cavity whose wavelength was continuously adjusted, Santur fabricated an array of approximately 12 or 14 lasers on one chip, with each element producing a different wavelength. Coarse wavelength selection was achieved by switching among the array elements. A thermoelectric cooler supported temperature stabilization and fine wavelength adjustment, while a microelectromechanical mirror moved in two axes to couple the selected laser output into the fiber. This architecture was intended to simplify optical alignment and packaging while retaining the performance and reliability expected from fixed distributed-feedback lasers. Santur positioned its technology around a combination of high optical power, broad tunability, wavelength stability, telecommunications-grade reliability, and lower operational complexity. Its timing coincided with growing adoption of wavelength-division multiplexing, which increased the capacity of existing fiber by carrying multiple optical channels at different wavelengths. The company competed in a crowded early-2000s tunable-laser field that included Iolon, Agility Communications, and Bandwidth9. The broader market also attracted substantial investment and strategic acquisition activity, including Nortel's acquisition of CoreTek in the early 2000s. As the optical market improved in 2006, Santur reportedly increased its market share. The company stated that approximately 200,000 units had shipped by 2008 and that its products carried a substantial amount of Internet traffic. Its portfolio expanded beyond its original tunable-laser focus toward parallel array devices and photonic integrated circuits, including products associated with 40 and 100 Gbit/s telecommunications applications. NeoPhotonics, a California optoelectronics company, acquired Santur in 2011 for $39.2 million. The transaction gave NeoPhotonics access to Santur's 40 and 100 Gbit/s product offerings and related technology. After the acquisition, the market increasingly shifted toward coherent optical modulation, in which laser linewidth and other narrow-linewidth characteristics became especially important. Santur's distributed-feedback array combined with a MEMS mirror was eventually discontinued in favor of an external-cavity tunable-laser design developed through technology associated with New Focus, Intel, and Emcore and acquired by NeoPhotonics in 2014. Santur therefore survives primarily as an acquired technology and product lineage rather than as an independent operating brand.

Santur Corporation was founded in November 2000 in Fremont, California, during a period when optical networking companies were pursuing technologies capable of increasing fiber capacity and simplifying wavelength management. Its initial business centered on tunable lasers for metropolitan and long-haul dense wavelength-division multiplexing networks. WDM systems transmit multiple optical channels through a single fiber by assigning each channel a different wavelength. Tunable transmitters can be configured for different channels, potentially reducing the need to manufacture, purchase, and maintain a separate fixed-wavelength component for every network position. Santur's distinguishing architecture used an array of distributed-feedback lasers fabricated on one chip. The array contained approximately 12 or 14 laser elements, each associated with a different wavelength. Switching among the elements supplied coarse tuning, while thermal control supplied finer wavelength adjustment. A microelectromechanical mirror moved along two axes to direct the selected optical output into the fiber. This arrangement differed from single-cavity tunable lasers and was designed to make optical packaging and alignment more tolerant while preserving the power, stability, and reliability associated with fixed DFB sources. The company entered a competitive market that included Iolon, Agility Communications, and Bandwidth9. During the optical-market improvement reported in 2006, Santur gained substantial market share. Its commercial scope later included parallel array devices and photonic integrated circuits, and its products addressed increasingly high-speed network applications. Santur reported that approximately 200,000 units had shipped by 2008, with the company claiming that its products were carrying significant Internet traffic. The technology environment changed as coherent modulation became more prominent in long-distance optical communications. Coherent systems placed greater emphasis on laser linewidth and related optical characteristics, favoring alternative external-cavity tunable-laser designs. In 2011, NeoPhotonics acquired Santur for $39.2 million. The deal expanded NeoPhotonics' access to Santur's 40 and 100 Gbit/s products and associated intellectual property. NeoPhotonics later acquired an external-cavity tunable-laser technology lineage associated with New Focus, Intel, and Emcore in 2014. The Santur DFB-array and MEMS-mirror approach was subsequently discontinued, leaving Santur as an acquired and no longer independent brand and technology operation.

• 2014

  External-cavity technology becomes the successor approach

  [1]Santur Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The Santur DFB-array and MEMS-mirror design was discontinued as coherent communications increased demand for alternative tunable-laser architectures.

• 2011

  Acquired by NeoPhotonics

  [1]Santur Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  NeoPhotonics acquired Santur for $39.2 million to obtain its products and technology, including offerings for 40 and 100 Gbit/s networks.

• 2008

  Reported shipment milestone

  [1]Santur Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company reported that approximately 200,000 tunable-laser products had shipped.

• 2006

  Market position expands

  [1]Santur Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Santur gained substantial market share as the optical communications market improved.

• 2000

  Company established in Fremont

  [1]Santur Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Santur Corporation was established in November 2000 to develop tunable lasers for metro and long-haul WDM telecommunications systems.

Santur positioned its products as flexible, telecommunications-grade tunable optical sources for metro and long-haul WDM systems, emphasizing broad wavelength coverage, high power, stability, reliability, and reduced inventory and deployment complexity compared with large families of fixed-wavelength lasers.

• Optical telecommunications lasers

  DFB-array tunable lasers

  Santur's core product architecture combined multiple distributed-feedback lasers on a single chip. Each laser corresponded to a different wavelength, enabling coarse wavelength selection by switching between array elements. Thermal control provided fine adjustment, allowing one package to serve applications that otherwise might require multiple fixed-wavelength transmitters.

• Optical packaging and coupling

  MEMS-mirror tunable laser packages

  A two-axis microelectromechanical mirror directed the output of the selected laser element into the output fiber. The mirror-based coupling method was intended to reduce alignment sensitivity during assembly and support electronically controlled optical alignment within the package.

• High-speed telecommunications components

  40 and 100 Gbit/s optical products

  Santur developed products for high-speed optical-network applications at 40 and 100 Gbit/s. These offerings were among the technologies that NeoPhotonics obtained through the 2011 acquisition.

• Photonics components

  Parallel array devices and photonic integrated circuits

  Beyond tunable laser packages, Santur developed parallel array devices and photonic integrated circuits for telecommunications equipment. The available reference material does not identify individual commercial model names or detailed specifications for these product lines.

• 2014

  Shift from DFB-array lasers to external-cavity tunable lasersGeneration change

  Background

  The adoption of coherent optical modulation made laser linewidth increasingly important in long-distance fiber-optic systems.

  Action taken

  The Santur DFB-array and MEMS-mirror design was discontinued in favor of an external-cavity tunable-laser technology associated with New Focus, Intel, and Emcore and acquired by NeoPhotonics.

  Aftermath

  Santur's original product architecture was superseded within the acquiring company's technology portfolio.

  Source

• 2011

  NeoPhotonics acquisitionM&A

  Background

  NeoPhotonics sought access to Santur's tunable-laser technology and its products for 40 and 100 Gbit/s optical networks.

  Action taken

  NeoPhotonics acquired Santur Corporation for $39.2 million.

  Aftermath

  Santur ceased operating as an independent company, while its technology and product portfolio became part of NeoPhotonics' broader optoelectronics business.

  Acquisition price. $39.2 million (2011 acquisition)

  Source

1. 1Santur Corporationen.wikipedia.org