R&D

Since the establishment of our R&D Center,
we are creating new valuable products in the optical communication industry with expert manpower and highest technology.

R&D manpower (%)

  • Research team Others

    Total 91

    diagram

    Continuously trains and fosters specialists in the field of telecommunication through industry-academic collaborations.

    • Patents
      • International patents: 2x registered / 2x filed
      • Domestic patents: 46x registered / 2x filed
      • Numerous patents registered in Korea, USA, and China
      • Numerous patents on core and source technologies
    • Scope of R&D
      • Development of optical devices / modules for data center
      • Development of 5G optical devices / modules
      • Development of hybrid optical devices
      • Development of quantum cryptography communication devices/system
      • Development of multi-channel / automatic measuring instrument
      • Development of IoT-related optical sensors
    • R&D Achievements
      • Commercialization of optical splitter for the first time in the world
      • Commercialization of 50GHz AWG for the first time in the world
      • Commercialization of AWG for data for the first time in the world
      • Development of ultra-compact low-loss AWG
      • Development of world’s only automatic wavelength meter

R&D Team

PPI built Company-Affiliated Research Institute on May 9, 2000 and works on R&D tasks to grow our technical competence and increase total sales.
Since the establishment of the research institute, PPI was able to create new values in the photonics industry with our expert manpower and accumulated technology and exerting our utmost efforts in core technology development that will lead the 21st century.
Our research institute is divided into groups to focus on specific developments of optical communication parts and systems development.

Technological Competitiveness

  • 1. Design and packaging technique for dispersion of compensating module based on planar light wave circuit (PLC)

    Research assignment Design and packaging technique for dispersion of compensating module based on planar light wave circuit (PLC)
    Research duration Completed in Dec. 2016
    Research result and expectation
    • Manufacturing technology for small-scale optical signal dispersion of compensating module instigated by optical communication device and optical communication line for long-distance communication
    • Multi-channel dispersion compensation technology for realization of next generation high-speed optical communication network
    • Optimize design / process to enhance dispersion performance of PLC
    Potential for commercialization
    • Not yet commercialized as of Jun. 2019
    • A sizeable investment required for commercialization
    • Exploiting the PLC technology, one of element technologies from joint research tasks, enhance the performance of AWG which we’ve sold since 2017 and gain market competitiveness
    • Increase sales of AWG and power meters by utilizing AWG

    2. Development of PLC-based spectrometer module

    Research assignment Development of PLC-based spectrometer module
    Research duration Completed in Dec. 2017
    Research result and expectation
    • Acquired circuit technology that can disperse the wavelengths of visible spectrum
    • Acquired miniaturization technology for visible spectrophotometer
    • Development of technology to reduce cost for dispersion module by adding a visible light sensor
    Potential for commercialization
    • Not yet commercialized as of Jun. 2019
    • As of Jun. 2019, product inquiries are coming in from Europe. Currently making a prototype and preparing for mass production, using the result of technology development

    3. Foster manpower trained in precision film element converged with surface control technology

    Research assignment Foster manpower trained in precision film element converged with surface control technology (Corporation-linked R&D Manpower Training Project)
    Research duration Completed in Feb. 2018
    Research result and expectation
    • Retain basic property to apprehend product materials and structure to manufacture a new product
    • Procure a plan to enhance adhesiveness of heteromaterials
    • Simplify manufacturing process and reduce cost of unit processing through materials convergence
    • Foster corporate-customized professionals through industry-university-research joint tasks
    Potential for commercialization
    • Not yet commercialized as of Jun. 2019
    • R&D is ongoing based on research results. Currently manufacturing a prototype to correspond to the demand for multi-mode splitters.

    4. Improve reliability of athermal 96-channel AWG module with C-band 50GHz channel spacing

    Research assignment Improve reliability of athermal 96-channel AWG module with C-band 50GHz channel spacing
    Research duration Completed in Apr. 2018
    Research result and expectation
    • Gain reliability of 96-channel AWG module with C-band 50GHz channel spacing, one of WDM optical communication parts
    • Acquire product certification through Telecordia testing, as recommended by ITU-T and strengthened product competitiveness
    Potential for commercialization
    • Sales continued as 96-channel AWG module with C-band 50GHz channel spacing

    5. Development of 2x12 multi-mode PLC-based Portable MPO Source

    Research assignment Development of 2x12 multi-mode PLC-based Portable MPO Source
    Research duration Completed in Jan. 2019
    Research result and expectation
    • Lower cost of Portable MPO Source
    • Acquire the technology to enhance product function to be able to accommodate multiple wavelength bands simultaneously
    • Improve productivity through expansion of applicable range of parts developed by PPI
    Potential for commercialization
    • Sales continued as Portable MPO Source

    6. Development of analogue ASIC chip and DSP circuit technology for ultra-compact OTDR

    Research assignment Development of analogue ASIC chip and DSP circuit technology for ultra-compact OTDR
    Research duration Completed in May 2018
    Research result and expectation
    • Optimize electrical parts and circuits for portable OTDR
    • Develop of technology to localize the overseas product
    • Develop of OTDR event detection algorithm
    • Development of OTDR Operational Software
    Potential for commercialization
    • Not yet commercialized as of Jun. 2019
    • Development of commercialization technology is underway to enter the market through portability and price competitiveness

    7. Development of LD/PLC integration technology for 12-channel polarity detection source

    Research assignment Development of LD/PLC integration technology for 12-channel polarity detection source
    Research duration Completed in Apr. 2018
    Research result and expectation
    • Secured technology to minimize LD and PLC interface
    • Planning to lighten and miniaturize product by minimizing the area occupied by essential optical parts within the product
    Potential for commercialization
    • Not yet commercialized as of Jun. 2019
    • A small-scale investment is required for commercialization
    • Need to improve profitability by reconsidering market demand and investment cost

    8. Development of manufacturing and packaging processes for xWDM-measuring 96-channel PLC wafer label for wired / wireless big data optical communication service

    Research assignment Development of manufacturing and packaging processes for xWDM-measuring 96-channel PLC wafer label for wired / wireless big data optical communication service
    Research duration Feb. 2019 (completed in year 3)
    Research result and expectation
    • Simplify back-end process for commercialization of WDM power meter using PLC
    • Simplify product analysis procedure
    • Improve product yield
    • Miniaturize PPI’s portable wavelength power meter
    Potential for commercialization
    • As one of the outcomes of the research task, a portion of optical parts in PPI’s portable wavelength power meter are manufactured in-house and applied in the product

    9. Development of 100G ultra-compact optical module commercialization technology

    Research assignment Development of 100G ultra-compact optical module commercialization technology
    Research duration Completed in Aug. 2018
    Research result and expectation
    • Develop ultra-compact AWG Demux, a part for ultra-compact optical module for data center
    • Secure technology to enhance product yield through product miniaturization and performance optimization
    • Miniaturize PPI’s portable wavelength power meter
    Potential for commercialization
    • Sales continued

    10. Development of appearance inspection automated system for deep-learning PLC device

    Research assignment Development of appearance inspection automated system for deep-learning PLC device
    Research duration Jun. 2018 ~ May. 2019
    Research result and expectation
    • Develop ultra-compact optics detector using PLC device
    • Strengthen product competitiveness through minimalized packaging and improved mass production capacity
    • Technology to replace power meter for existing communication lines
    • Able to employ in PPI’s portable powermeter and system labels

  • 1. Development of 5G 12-channel planar optical monitoring device

    Research assignment Development of 5G 12-channel planar optical monitoring device
    Research duration May. 2019 ~ Dec. 2019
    Research result and expectation
    • Develop ultra-compact optics detector using PLC device
    • Strengthen product competitiveness through minimalized packaging and improved mass production capacity
    • Technology to replace power meter for existing communication lines
    • Able to employ in PPI’s portable powermeter and system labels

    2. Development of manufacturing and packaging processes for xWDM-measuring 96-channel PLC wafer label for wired / wireless big data optical communication service

    Research assignment Development of manufacturing and packaging processes for xWDM-measuring 96-channel PLC wafer label for wired / wireless big data optical communication service
    Research duration Mar. 2019 ~ Dec. 2019
    Research result and expectation
    • Improve packaging efficiency and reduce manufacturing time/cost for xWDM powermeters
    • Reduce packaging size for xWDM powermeters
    • Enhance technological competence through securement of new process technology

    3. Development of appearance inspection automated system for deep-learning PLC device

    Research assignment Development of appearance inspection automated system for deep-learning PLC device
    Research duration Jun. 2019–May 2020 (expected)
    Research result and expectation
    • Enhance productivity through production automation
    • Prevent product damage by operator error
    • Consistent quality management with standardized appearance inspection procedure

    4. Compact visible spectrophotometer using PLC

    Research assignment Compact visible spectrophotometer using PLC
    Research duration May 2019–Apr. 2020 (expected)
    Research result and expectation
    • Secure manufacturing technology for compact visible spectrophotometer
    • Able to replace bulk optical system from sensor parts
    • Enhance technological competence with our own research results
    • Fundamental technology for manufacturing visible light sensor module through collaboration with Optical System Division

    5. Development of optical splitter module manufacturing technology

    In-house Research Development of optical splitter module manufacturing technology
    Research duration Jan. 2019–Dec. 2019 (expected)
    Research result and expectation
    • Enhance manufacturing competence for optical splitter modules
    • Improve operating temperature to enter the outdoor optical splitter market
    • Miniaturize optical splitter module
    • Strengthened product competitiveness expected after coupling with wavelength power meters