Onix Microsystems

About Onix Microsystems

Onix Microsystems, Inc. operates within the telecommunications equipment sector, specializing in the design, development, and supply of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based all-optical switching engines.

Established in October 1998 and headquartered in Richmond, California, the company was founded by individuals including Behrang Behin, Kam Yin Lau, and Richard Muller. From its inception, Onix aimed to address the growing need for advanced optical switching solutions in communications networks. Over the years, the company has had several leaders, including Steve Panyko and later Curtis Crawford, a semiconductor industry veteran who previously led Zilog Inc. and served as chairman of ON Semiconductor Corp.

The core of Onix's business is the development of MEMS-based, optically transparent switching engines for telecommunications equipment suppliers. Its technology utilizes movable micro-mirrors fabricated on silicon chips to direct light beams between optical fibers, enabling a range of optical switching applications. These applications include network protection and provisioning, optical add-drop multiplexing (OADM), and optical cross-connects for both long-haul and metropolitan markets. The company's product portfolio has featured switching engines with varying port counts, such as the 8x8 "Passport" engine for network protection and the high port count (256 to 4000) "Transport" family for next-generation optical switches. In addition to its products, Onix Microsystems provides MEMS design and photonic packaging services.

The company successfully secured significant funding during its early years. It completed a $95 million Series C round on August 6, 2001, with investments from firms like Azure Capital Partners, Advanced Technology Ventures, and JK&B Capital. In the same period, it also secured a $20 million capital equipment facility to purchase equipment and construct a cleanroom facility. A strategic partnership was also formed with Analog Devices Inc. to co-develop and prepare Onix's switching engines for pre-production.