The company offers automated photonics assembly processes and machines for 3D nano-printing in the field of photonic multi-chip integration and packaging. Our solutions cover the entire range from small-scale prototyping to fully automated industrial production. We build upon an internationally unique technology portfolio and exploit nearly two decades of experience in industrial automation through our partner companies. The core team at Vanguard Automation comprises experts in photonics, material science, high-precision opto-mechanics, and automation engineering.
A powerful solution for photonic packaging and system assembly
Universal hardware with software-defined functionality, designed for scalable manufacturing
3D printing of freeform waveguides and micro-optical elements is about to revolutionize photonic packaging and system assembly. With its SONATA1000 Series, Vanguard Automation offers the first industrial solution for in-situ printing of Photonic Wire Bonds (PWB) and facet-attached micro-optical elements.
The system relies on high-resolution multi-photon lithography and is geared towards single-mode and multi-mode package-level connections. We offer a future-proof machine hardware with software-defined functionality and customized processes. The SONATA1000 is at the heart of a modular system concept, that covers the full range from small-scale prototyping to fully automated high-volume manufacturing.
SONATA1000 – Key features
High-precision additive nanofabrication of single-mode waveguides and freeform micro-optics
Versatility: Low-loss coupling to a wide variety of surface-emitting and edge-emitting devices, e.g., silicon photonics, InP light sources, singlemode fibers, multi-core fibers, passive waveguide platforms …
Designed to perform: Industry-grade machine platform, operated by a powerful application software
Future-proof: Universal hardware concept with software-defined functionality and reconfigurability
Turnkey solution: Tailored processes, comprising fully automated detection of customer-specific coupling interfaces
Scalable cost-efficient production: From stand-alone machine to fully automated manufacturing lines
SONATA1000 Series
Access the full potential of hybrid multi-chip integration
Performance: Individually optimized components on complementary photonic integration platforms
Yield: Assembly of complex systems from known-good components
Cost: Highly scalable fabrication, no need for active alignment
Our customers will take advantage of ficonTEC’s level of global customer service and support and thus makes Vanguard Automation the ideal partner for high density hybrid multi-chip integration.
Software Control
Operated by a powerful application software, our machines can be configured to offer customized functionality for a wide variety of processes
BRIGHTWIRE 3D offers intuitive graphical machine / process control software for automated photonic packaging that includes all machine vision, positioning and system management routines required to reliably and repeatably drive the lithography process. The software enables as much or as little operator intervention as required, even remotely – from fully flexible, to fully automatic, to fully remote.
With our unique approach of software-defined functionality, the SONATA1000 Series can be reconfigured easily to serve multiple applications.
The control software is seamlessly integrated into ficonTEC’s* Process Control Master (PCM)**.
BRIGHTWIRE 3D – Key features
High-precision additive nanofabrication of single-mode waveguides and freeform micro-optics
User-friendly graphical interface
3D waveguide router
Powerful toolbox for automated interface detection using state-of-the-art machine vision
Tailored process modules for coupling to customer-specific optical interfaces
Access the full potential of hybrid multi-chip integration
* ficonTEC is the recognized market leader in the field of automated assembly and testing of micro-optics and opto-electronic components.
** ProcessControlMaster (PCM) is ficonTEC’s user-friendly control interface that is shipped with all machines and multi-machine assembly lines.
