PERFORMANCE
OF
COMPLETED
PROJECTS
STATUS REPORT
NUMBER 1
NIST SPECIAL
PUB 950-1
Economic
Assessment Office
Advanced Technology Program
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
William
F. Long
Business Performance Research Associates, Inc.
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
March
1999
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Executive Summary
Introduction
CHAPTER 1 - Overview of Completed Projects
Characteristics
of the Projects
Timeline of Expected ATP Project
Activities and Impacts
Gains in Technical Knowledge
Dissemination of New Knowledge
Commercialization of the New Technology
Broad-Based Economic Benefits
CHAPTER 2 - Biotechnology
Aastrom
Biosciences, Inc.
Aphios Corporation
Molecular Simulations, Inc.
Thermo Trilogy Corporation
Tissue Engineering, Inc.
CHAPTER 3 - Chemicals and Chemical Processing
BioTraces,
Inc.
CHAPTER 4 - Discrete Manufacturing
Auto
Body Consortium (Joint Venture)
HelpMate Robotics, Inc.
PreAmp Consortium (Joint Venture)
Saginaw Machine Systems, Inc.
CHAPTER 5 - Electronics
Accuwave Corporation
AstroPower, Inc.
Cree Research, Inc.
Cynosure, Inc.
Diamond Semiconductor Group, LLC
FSI International, Inc.
Galileo Corporation
Hampshire Instruments, Inc. (Joint Venture)
Illinois Superconductor Corporation
Light Age, Inc.
Lucent Technologies, Inc.
Multi-Film Venture (Joint Venture)
Nonvolatile Electronics, Inc.
Spire Corporation
Thomas Electronics, Inc.
CHAPTER 6 - Energy and Environment
American
Superconductor Corporation
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company
Michigan Molecular Institute
CHAPTER 7 - Information, Computers, and Communications
Communication
Intelligence Corporation #1
Communication Intelligence Corporation #2
Engineering Animation, Inc.
ETOM Technologies, Inc.
Mathematical Technologies, Inc.
Torrent Systems, Inc.
CHAPTER 8 - Materials
AlliedSignal,
Inc.
Geltech Incorporated
IBM Corporation
APPENDICES
Appendix
A: Development of New Knowledge and
Early Commercial Products and Processes
Appendix
B: Terminated Projects
END
NOTES
End
Notes
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Accuwave Corporation
Expanding the Number of Light Signals in an Optical Fiber
| Over
the last two decades, the use of optical fiber as an alternative
to metal wire and cable has exploded. Optical fiber is now the
technology of choice for use undersea and for most terrestrial
applications of more than the shortest distances. |
More
Light Signals Per Optical Fiber
This ATP project
with Accuwave Corporation, a small California company specializing
in the development of holographic communications systems, created
a way to substantially increase the number of signals that can be
transmitted in a single strand of fiber-optic cable. The new technology
is designed to enable the transmission of 80 or more channels per
fiber. If adopted, it could eventually reduce the cost per transmission
and save hundreds of millions of dollars over a period of just a
few years.
A
Unique Holography-Based Approach
The new technology
is based on the concept of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM),
which transmits light of more than one wavelength through a single
optical fiber, separating the individual wavelengths at the receiver.
Such systems must discriminate among the different wavelengths and
so are limited by the accuracy of the multiplexing and demultiplexing
optics.
Accuwave had
previously developed a unique approach to WDM using volume holography:
holograms "written" in the interior of thick crystals of photorefractive
(light-bending) materials. In the demultiplexer crystal, for example,
multiwavelength light enters one end of the crystal and encounters
a series of holographic gratings - each tuned to deflect a specific
wavelength of light - that separate the light signals of different
wavelengths. Accuwave had demonstrated the individual elements of
a system that could multiplex wavelengths more than 10 times better
than the current state of the art at visible wavelengths. With its
ATP funding, Accuwave extended its technology to the infrared wavelengths
used for long-distance telecommunications, and designed a prototype
WDM system.
Accuwave officials
report that ATP funding enabled it to develop WDM for signal transmission,
a task it would otherwise have been unable to do. In addition, receiving
the ATP award helped the company form important alliances with research
partners during the ATP project (not identified here for confidentiality
reasons).
Marketing
Disappointment Spurs Alternative Commercialization
Near the end
of the ATP funding period, while Accuwave was trying to raise additional
private capital to complete the technical work on its WDM system
and sign commercialization agreements with potential customers,
another company beat it to market with a competing system operating
in the same infrared wavelengths. Nonetheless, Accuwave continued
to work toward completion of its WDM multiplexer, which it believes
provides multiplexing capabilities of higher signal accuracy, with
more channels per fiber and in a smaller package than the products
offered by competitors.
Though Accuwave
did not succeed in its original commercialization plans for sale
of a WDM system in the bulk-signal-transmission market, it launched
several component products based on the ATP-funded technology. These
include wavelength controllers, wavelength lockers and fiber-optic
collimators, all of which are being sold to producers of WDM systems.
The company developed contacts with potential telecommunications
clients in Europe, Japan and Brazil, as well as the United States,
and it planned to introduce its own wavelength multiplexers in the
near future.
Potential
Big Savings in Telecommunications
With its potential
to increase the number of signals that a single optical fiber can
carry, the Accuwave technology could significantly affect the cost
of communications via fiber-optic cables, particularly if used for
undersea applications. Because of the volume of messages transmitted
via this medium, cost savings would be great, even if the number
of signals per fiber were doubled. The Accuwave technology has the
potential to double and redouble the number of signals per fiber
many times over, with the count possibly reaching as many as 80
signals per fiber.
In addition
to applications in the bulk-signal-transmission market, the ATP-funded
technology has the potential of providing greater cable bandwidth
to homes and offices for use with high-definition TV and to the
closed-circuit TV market, particularly for security uses. The company
was interested in pursuing these potential applications, but instead
used its resources to develop the WDM system for telecommunications
applications. The technology also has potential applications in
ultranarrow band filters, spectrometers and optical disk memories.
As this report
was going to press in late 1998, it was learned that the company
had ceased operations and was in the process of declaring bankruptcy.
It is possible that the technology will be picked up by other companies
and carried forward in the future.
PROJECT:
To develop holographic-optics technology that will increase
(by more than 10 times) the number of signals that can be transmitted
through a single optical fiber.
Duration: 3/1/1993 - 3/14/1995
ATP number:92-01-0055
FUNDING
(in thousands)::
| ATP |
$1,987 |
69% |
| Company |
898 |
31% |
| Total
|
$2,885 |
|
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Accuwave developed a process for producing photorefractive
materials suitable for fiber optics telecommunications applications.
The company also:
- received
two patents for technologies related to the ATP project:
"Photorefractive
Systems and Methods (Divisional)"
(No. 5,684,611: filed 6/6/1995,
granted 11/4/1997) and
"Wavelength
Stabilized Laser Sources Using Feedback From Volume Holograms"
(No. 5,691,989: filed 9/14/1993,
granted 11/25/1997);
- applied
for two additional patents for technologies related to the
ATP project;
- completed
pilot production of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)
components designed for incorporation into equipment manufactured
by other companies, and introduced the components in 1996;
- signed
a purchase agreement with a major telecommunications equipment
manufacturer;
- raised
$4 million from venture capitalists and other investors
since 1990; and
- built
a plant and ramped up volume production in 1998.
COMMERCIALIZATION
STATUS:
In 1996 and 1997, Accuwave introduced three WDM system components:
wavelength controllers, wavelength lockers and fiber-optic
collimators. The company continued to pursue its original
goal of selling WDM products for fiber optics telecommunications
applications.
OUTLOOK:
Despite the heretofore promising prospects for growing applications
of this technology in the telecommunications sectors, the
commercialization outlook at this time is bleak. As this report
was going to press in late 1998, it was learned that the company
had ceased operations and was in the process of declaring
bankruptcy. While it is possible that the technology will
be picked up by other companies and carried forward in the
future, at this point there is insufficient information about
the likelihood of this to comment further on the outlook.
COMPANY:
Accuwave Corporation
1651 19th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Contact:
Neven Karlovac
Phone: (310) 449-5540
Number
of employees:
5 at project start, 16 at the end of 1997
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Date created:
March 1999
Last updated:
April 12, 2005
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