What exactly are PICs and what makes them so interesting?

Photonic Integrated Circuits, or PICs, are chips that use light instead of electrical signals to perform optical functions. In many ways, they bring the miniaturization and scalability of the semiconductor industry into the world of optics. The big potential of PICs lies in making advanced sensing, imaging and communication technologies more compact, affordable and scalable and therefore accessible to entirely new markets.

What can PICs do that conventional technologies cannot, or can do significantly better?

Conventional optical systems often consist of many separate components that must be aligned with high precision. PICs can turn such optical systems into compact and scalable products. This can reduce cost, improve reliability and enable applications that would otherwise remain limited to experts or is so expensive that it is rarely used.

Where do you already encounter the underlying technology today?

Most people already benefit from integrated photonics without realizing it. The technology is widely used in data centers and communication networks that power cloud services, video streaming and artificial intelligence. We are now seeing similar opportunities emerge in healthcare, industrial measurement and sensing applications.

Integrated Photonic Solutions

ZEISS Integrated Photonics helps transform complex optical challenges in medical and industrial applications into compact, scalable, and application-specific photonic solutions. Building on our deep expertise in coherent measurement systems, we develop integrated photonic modules for demanding applications ranging from 3D sensing and distance measurement to advanced multifunctional photonic systems.

What we deliver

From application to qualified module

We support customers throughout the entire development process, from application requirements to OEM-ready photonic modules. Building on our expertise in system engineering, photonics and optics design, packaging, and system integration, we develop application-specific photonic modules together with our partner network. The result is a tested, qualified and scalable module.

Co-develop your next photonic module

Not every measurement challenge fits into an existing module category. Whether your application involves OCT, spectroscopy, interferometry or a completely different optical concept, we start with your measurement challenge and translate your requirements into photonic modules.

Application-specific photonic modules

At the core of our solutions are Photonic Integrated Circuits: chips that integrate complex optical functions into a highly compact platform. By combining PICs technology with optical design, packaging expertise, and system engineering, ZEISS Integrated Photonics transforms optical systems into scalable and application-specific photonic solutions. The result is a compact optical system with reduced complexity, improved manufacturability, and enhanced performance, enabling new capabilities across medical and industrial applications.

From optical imaging and precise signal modulation to photonic distribution networks and advanced optics integration, ZEISS Integrated Photonics develops application-specific solutions that unlock the full potential of photonic integrated circuits. Our expertise spans the entire value chain, from chip-level design to system-ready photonic modules.

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an established technology for acquiring depth and 3D information in both medical and industrial applications. Today's OCT systems rely on complex optical assemblies, fiber-based architectures and precision integration. Our multi-channel PIC-based OCT architecture integrates essential optical functions such as beam routing, interference generation, signal distribution and efficient detection onto one photonic chip, and delivers a more compact, cost efficient OCT system with new capabilities such as parallel scanning.

OCT is already used in industrial applications such as laser welding control, material inspection, dimensional metrology and process monitoring. Integrated photonic modules can enable compact, robust and scalable solutions for deployment in industrial environments.

Cutaway ZEISS OCT system routes a red laser beam through integrated optics toward a material surface for industrial inspection.

OCT is widely used in ophthalmology and is increasingly expanding into areas such as cardiovascular imaging, dermatology, and dentistry. Photonic integration can reduce system size and support the development of next-generation diagnostic devices.

A gloved hand holds a cutaway ZEISS OCT probe, directing a red beam at tissue; an inset shows an OCT diagnostic device.

Integrated photonic circuit splits incoming light across four waveguides, including coiled paths that create optical delays.

Integrated optical distribution and delay architectures

Many sensing and metrology systems require controlled distribution of optical signals across multiple channels. PIC technology enables compact splitter networks and delay-line architectures with high reproducibility and reduced system complexity. ZEISS Integrated Photonics translates these architectures into photonic modules for sensing, interferometry and future metrology applications.

Optical components align an amber light beam from a photonic chip through several lenses in a precision instrument.

Dedicated imaging optics interfaces

Sensing and metrology systems often require the integration of PICs in optical imaging systems. This poses a significant challenge to efficient optical coupling. Our optical-photonic system design and the manufacturing of dedicated optical components ensure highest coupling efficiencies especially for applications that require high sensitivity.

Why ZEISS?

Because success is not defined by the chip. It is defined by the system.

Success requires the seamless integration of photonics, optics, packaging, testing and application expertise into a manufacturable solution. We develop photonic modules that solve real measurement challenges.

Optics meets Photonics

Many high-performance applications depend on optical interfaces, precision optics and efficient coupling between the photonic chip and the external world. ZEISS brings a system-level perspective to photonic module development by combining optics, photonics and application expertise.

Designed for Industrialization

A functional prototype is only the beginning. Our approach considers packaging, testing, qualification and manufacturability from the start. Our goal is to deliver a qualified photonic module that integrates into your system and supports repeatable manufacturing at scale.

Ecosystem

ZEISS Integrated Photonics combines internal expertise with a network of foundry, packaging, testing and research partners. This flexible ecosystem provides access to suitable technologies while allowing us to focus on system integration and customer-specific value creation.

Get to know the experts behind

ZEISS Integrated Photonics

Photonic Integrated Circuits, or PICs, are chips that use light instead of electrical signals to perform optical functions. In many ways, they bring the miniaturization and scalability of the semiconductor industry into the world of optics. The big potential of PICs lies in making advanced sensing, imaging and communication technologies more compact, affordable and scalable and therefore accessible to entirely new markets.
Conventional optical systems often consist of many separate components that must be aligned with high precision. PICs can turn such optical systems into compact and scalable products. This can reduce cost, improve reliability and enable applications that would otherwise remain limited to experts or is so expensive that it is rarely used.
Most people already benefit from integrated photonics without realizing it. The technology is widely used in data centers and communication networks that power cloud services, video streaming and artificial intelligence. We are now seeing similar opportunities emerge in healthcare, industrial measurement and sensing applications.

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Contact us

Let’s talk about your photonic application.

Whether you’re exploring OCT, spectroscopy, interferometry, or another optical concept, we’ll work with you to turn your idea into a manufacturable photonic module.

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