19 December 2002 -- Advanced optical components developer TeraXion, Quebec City, Canada, has acquired the intellectual property of Phaethon Communications, Fremont, CA, US. TeraXion will receive Phaethon's patents and trademarks as well as technological know-how.
Phaethon is a privately-held company, which Teraxion says is recognised worldwide for its expertise in optical dispersion compensation. Phaeton has developed a range of fixed and tunable chromatic dispersion compensators.
"This acquisition will allow us to broaden our product line and to continue our tradition of offering innovative solutions for systems level manufacturers and carriers," said Alain Chandonnet, CEO of TeraXion. "Phaethon's breakthrough in the fabrication of complex filters using a simple and elegant approach is in line with TeraXion's strategic direction".
Chromatic dispersion compensators are used in optical networks to reduce the accumulated dispersion in optical pulses carrying digital information. TeraXion's fibre Bragg grating-based dispersion compensators, with their small dimensions and low insertion loss, provide a compelling alternative to current solutions using dispersion compensating fibre.
Phaethon's technology will complement TeraXion's manufacturing approach using holographic phase masks to offer high performance dispersion compensators at a competitive price.
"Our technology has found the perfect home" said Josh Rothenberg, Ph.D., Chief Scientist at Phaethon Communications. "TeraXion is best positioned to continue the development and commercialisation of Phaethon's work."