Chip fabrication techniques allow Siloton to define optical components that are smaller than a human hair. This enables complex optical arrangements containing hundreds of elements, on chips that are the size of a small coin. Devices such as these form the core of our optical coherence tomography (OCT) system.

The chips are small and can be manufactured in very high volumes. As a result, they are inexpensive to produce, particularly in comparison to the traditional optics that they replace.

The fabrication of optical chips involves the same scalable processes as for electronic chips. They use a procedure whereby a stencil-like mask is made of the optical circuit and then used to 'print' many copies of it. This is an incredibly well-developed process and optical chips can leverage much of the work that has been put towards developing electronic chips.

Chips can be controlled by a computer processor, allowing dynamic functionality to be incorporated into the device. For example, it is possible to switch light between different components, meaning a single chip can be reconfigured to perform multiple functions or have multiple settings.

Light on the chip is guided in a similar way to in optical fibre. It travels through, and is manipulated by, components that are fabricated within the solid material of the chip itself. Therefore, the device is very robust against vibrations and other environmental stresses. This improves device functionality and lifetime.