Production Testing Improves Laser Economics

Paul Meyer

The increasing demand to send more information through existing optical fibers is accelerating the growth of dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) telecommunications systems. In these systems, many solid-state lasers operate at slightly different wavelengths, with each wavelength adding another channel to the system -- the communications equivalent of adding a lane of traffic to a highway without any new road construction.

The growth has caused sales of laser diode modules to rocket. And as production volume and module complexity increase, manufacturers need faster, more accurate and cost-effective production testing. Because module production adds so much value to the basic pieces of technology, it is prudent to test modules after each major production step: wafer processing, laser diode chip, chip-on-carrier, mounting on thermoelectric cooler, fiber coupling, completed module and burn-in...