Telecom Grade Single-Emitter Devices
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 31 -- JDSU, a provider of high-precision optical products for industrial applications, announced the availability of a laser architecture that offers high-precision solutions for industrial and commercial applications. The industrial diode laser system (IDL) incorporates multiple single-emitter diodes combined into a single output fiber and provides up to 100 W of power. JDSU said, "This breakthrough laser architecture heralds a new standard in power, life expectancy, reliability and beam uniformity." This company exhibited this newest member of its IDL line, the IDL 100, last week at Photonics West.
Single-emitter diodes (available through JDSU’s telecom business) offer the advantage of being pulsed on and off without affecting lifetime, unlike nontelecom-grade bar diodes that have been the industry norm until now, the company said.
"Telecom-grade single emitter diodes show lifetimes in excess of 400,000 hours," JDSU said. "This compares with bar diodes, which typically demonstrate lifetimes on the order of 10,000 hours. While pulsing does not affect telecom-grade diode lifetime, it can dramatically reduce bar diode lifetimes. Using multiple devices allows for redundancy and improves thermal management."
The company said competing 100-W systems rely on as many as 19 output fibers, resulting in a lack of beam uniformity.
"The IDL’s single output fiber offers unprecedented beam quality. Superior lifetime and reliability, coupled with a uniform, 'top hat' beam profile, are advantages in applications such as selective laser soldering and plastic welding," JDSU said.
IDL products are used widely for plastic welding of exhaust manifolds, key bobs, CV joints, lightweight plastic gasoline tanks and plastic parts needed in automobile production. The 100-watt version is expected to enable plastic welding of components with high glass content, parts with low absorption and to allow for greater production throughput.
Phillip Meredith, vice president of JDSU's Commercial Laser Products Group, said, "Historically, pulsing has resulted in a dramatic reduction of lifetime. This has proven not to be the case with telecom grade diodes. The telecom industry presents far harsher environmental requirements than the commercial market. Therefore, leveraging JDSU’s telecom expertise gives us an advantage in developing innovative laser solutions for the industrial and commercial laser market."
For more information, visit: www.jdsu.com; e-mail: [email protected]
JDSU
1768 Automation Parkway
San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 546-5000
Fax: (408) 546-4300