I agree that prompting ChatGPT in the right way is crucial to get more or less sensible answers. I tried that, although in a different direction, and it took me three or four approaches to get a result that did a) not include any big factual errors and b) included the information I wanted. (Extracting more historic details from whatever period is left as an exercise to the reader.)

“Dear ChatGPT, please summarize the history of OPEL International, which later rebranded as POET Technologies, during the years 2007–2013, with a special technical focus on the planar opto-electronics technology invented by Dr. Geoff Taylor. Please add a paragraph on the relevance of this technology from today’s point of view, especially in comparison to the company’s optical interposer platform and photonic technologies offered by competitors. Do this comparison in various regards, including monolithic versus heterogeneous integration, manufacturability, and matureness.”

History of OPEL International (2007-2013)

Founding and Early Years: OPEL International Inc., founded in the early 2000s, primarily focused on solar technology and semiconductor devices. In 2007, the company went public and traded on the TSX Venture Exchange. During these years, OPEL developed high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar panels, which were among the most efficient solar power solutions available at the time.

Planar Opto-Electronic Technology: A significant breakthrough for OPEL came with the development of Planar Opto-Electronic Technology (POET), invented by Dr. Geoff Taylor. This technology aimed to integrate electronic and photonic devices on a single semiconductor wafer. The POET platform enabled high-speed, low-power optoelectronic devices, combining lasers, modulators, and detectors on the same chip using standard semiconductor manufacturing processes. The core innovation lay in using a proprietary gallium arsenide (GaAs) process, which offered superior electron mobility and optoelectronic properties compared to silicon​ (Agoracom)​​ (AgoraCom)​.

Rebranding to POET Technologies (2013): Recognizing the potential of the POET technology, OPEL shifted its strategic focus entirely towards developing and commercializing optoelectronic integration solutions. In 2013, the company rebranded as POET Technologies to reflect this new direction. The rebranding marked a departure from their solar energy roots and an embrace of the burgeoning field of integrated photonics​ (Agoracom)​.

Technical Relevance and Comparison

Planar Opto-Electronic Technology (POET) vs. Optical Interposer Platform:

Monolithic vs. Heterogeneous Integration:

• POET Technology: Utilizes monolithic integration on GaAs substrates, integrating photonic and electronic components on a single chip. This approach promises high performance and low power consumption but is limited by the material properties of GaAs.
• Optical Interposer Platform: Adopts a heterogeneous integration approach, enabling the combination of different materials and components (such as silicon photonics, lasers, and modulators) on a single platform. This provides greater flexibility and can leverage the mature silicon manufacturing ecosystem.

Manufacturability:

• POET Technology: While innovative, the reliance on GaAs poses manufacturing challenges due to less mature fabrication processes compared to silicon. GaAs wafers are also more expensive and less prevalent.
• Optical Interposer Platform: By utilizing silicon-based processes, the optical interposer benefits from well-established manufacturing techniques, scalability, and cost advantages associated with silicon CMOS technology.

Maturity:

• POET Technology: As of the early 2010s, the POET platform was still in the developmental and prototype stages, requiring further refinement and commercialization efforts.
• Optical Interposer Platform: Today, the optical interposer is more mature, having been adopted for various high-speed data transmission applications in data centers and telecommunications. It aligns well with industry standards and requirements, providing a commercially viable solution.

Competitive Landscape:

• POET Technologies' Current Position: The company's current optical interposer platform is competitive due to its ability to integrate multiple photonic and electronic components seamlessly, reducing costs and improving performance.
• Competitors: Other companies in the photonics space, such as Intel, Cisco, and Infinera, also focus on silicon photonics and integrated photonic solutions. These companies leverage heterogeneous integration, combining the best materials and processes for optimal performance.

Conclusion

From today’s perspective, while Dr. Geoff Taylor’s POET technology laid the groundwork for innovative optoelectronic integration, the optical interposer platform represents a more versatile and manufacturable solution. It addresses the limitations of monolithic GaAs integration by leveraging the mature silicon photonics ecosystem. This transition reflects a broader industry trend towards heterogeneous integration, combining the strengths of different materials and processes to meet the growing demands for high-speed, low-power data transmission in modern telecommunications and data center applications.