Product category:
Lasers
News Release from: Zarlink Semiconductor | Subject: ZL60401 laser diodes
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 22 December 2003
Customised optical devices cut design
costs
A new range of long-wavelength Fabry-Perot laser diodes offers the industry's highest level of customisation.
A new range of long-wavelength Fabry-Perot laser diodes offers the industry's highest level of customisation Traditionally used in telecommunications applications, Zarlink's ZL60401 family of laser diodes can be easily customised for a broad range of equipment, including surveillance and graphical recognition systems, video projector transmission, and industrial measurement systems
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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With the addition of new in-house capabilities, Zarlink now offers a fully integrated laser manufacturing capability, from device design and wafer manufacturing, to packaging and testing of optical assemblies and laser-based modules.
End-to-end control means Zarlink can cost-effectively adjust the composition and thickness of the individual layers on the laser's crystal structures to meet the exact wavelength, speed, temperature, light sensitivity, output power and pinout requirements specified by manufacturers.
In comparison, most other laser manufacturers purchase crystal substrates from other suppliers, where volume requirements and the complexity of manufacturing combine to limit the degree of customisation they can offer.
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"We offer an unmatched degree of customisation with the ZL60401 laser diode family, which allows manufacturers to significantly cut design costs and simplify their manufacturing process", said Ulf Sundstrom, Director, Optical Products, Zarlink Semiconductor.
"Our vertically integrated capability allows Zarlink to tailor a broad range of optical devices and laser-based modules to meet a customer's exact requirements, saving them costs and design effort".
Fabry-Perot lasers are edge-emitting devices that drive pulsed light along single-mode fibre.
First used in telecommunications equipment, Fabry-Perot lasers are now being deployed in industrial and commercial communications equipment, including remote digital video systems, data surveillance and graphic recognition systems, video projector transmission, and EDM (electronic distance measurement) equipment.
These applications require different performance parameters than those used in telecommunications.
In EDM equipment, where narrow light beams are transmitted through the air to accurately measure distances - for example, in road construction - high output power over a short operating time is more important than speed.
In telecommunications, uninterrupted high-speed operation takes the highest priority.
Zarlink's Fabry-Perot laser diodes are customisable for a variety of operating and performance requirements.
The devices can be customised to support multiple wavelengths at any point within the 1300 or 1500nm bands.
The lasers operate from -40 to +85C, and the pin-out can be exactly matched to customer needs.
Packaging is also flexible, with options including industry-standard SC, ST and FC receptacles, plus different pigtail options.
Zarlink's Fabry-Perot laser diodes include the ZL60401, which offers a 1300nm wavelength operating at 622Mbit/s; the ZL60402, a 1300nm device at 2.5Gbit/s; and the ZL60404, a 1300nm device offering 1.25Gbit/s.
The company also designs customised optical modules and WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) systems, such as duplexers, triplexers, and transceivers, by integrating the Fabry-Perot laser diodes with other Zarlink optical components, including single- and multimode receivers and transmitters.
Duplexers and triplexers enable a single fibre to transmit two or three different wavelengths.
These modules are finding increasing use in applications such as campus security systems, where video cameras situated at different locations transmit data to and receive commands from a centralised computer.
The ZL60401, ZL60402, and ZL60404 are in volume production.
In 1000-off quantities, each laser diode is priced in the US $30.00 range, including assembly and alignment in a precision, standard single-mode receptacle.
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