GlobalFoundries launches optical module solution to help CPO increase production capacity
GlobalFoundries (GF) has launched an optical module solution for co packaged optical devices (CPO). The solution is called "Silicon Photon Co Encapsulation Advanced Optical Engine (SCALE)" and is the industry's first platform to support Optical Computing Interconnection Multi Source Protocol (OCI MSA). GF stated that the SCALE solution surpasses the modern AI extension architecture optical interconnect specifications developed by OCI MSA, providing higher performance and compatibility for optical interconnect technology.
The SCALE CPO solution uses both coarse and dense wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM and DWDM) for bi-directional data transmission over each optical fiber, delivering significant improvements in bandwidth density and system scalability versus traditional copper interconnects. GF has already demonstrated 8λ and 16λ bi-directional DWDM natively on its platform.
The SCALE CPO solution, combined with GF’s silicon photonics technology, entails an advanced portfolio of fully qualified photonic devices, including 50-Gbps and 100-Gbps micro-ring modulators, coupled ring resonators and integrated photodiodes. Additional features include through silicon vias (TSVs) for high-speed signaling and power delivery and copper pad pitches ranging from 110 μm down to sub-45 μm for 2.5D/3D stacking from organic substrates to silicon interposers, enabling GF’s customers to move quickly from design to volume production.
The platform integrates electrical ICs on single-digit advanced nodes, enabling optimization between best-in-class compute and state-of-the-art optics without compromising performance. While GF offers multiple fiber-attach approaches, the SCALE solution leverages broadband detachable fibers with flat insertion loss over the CWDM spectrum to future-proof scaling from 4λ in each direction to 8λ and beyond, while still enabling serviceability and known-good-die testability for next-generation AI interconnects, GF said.
Source: photonics
