News

28 January 2009

 

Bookham VCSEL halves power consumption for consumer applications

Optical component, module and subsystem maker Bookham Inc of San Jose, CA, USA has launched a vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode (VCSEL) that features the patented Bookham wide oxide aperture design and boasts less than 5mW power consumption (50% less than previous offerings). The VCSEL is targeted at the optical computer mouse market, as well as other consumer, battery-powered applications where power consumption is a key factor in product design.

Available in a standard TO package interface, the single-mode 850nm VCSEL is polarization stable, and retains the reliability, robustness and resistance to ESD (electro-static discharge) of previous, higher-power consumption devices.

Bookham has now shipped more than 13 million polarization-stable VCSELs. In January 2008, the firm announced the transition of VCSEL manufacturing to its High Power Laser facility in Zurich, Switzerland to meet increasing volume demand from consumer applications.

“Power consumption is a major consideration for designers of any product that is battery powered, including mobile handsets, mobile sensing devices and, of course, optical navigation systems including computer mice, where we are seeing huge demand for high-performance, polarization-stable VCSELs,” says Karlheinz Gulden, director VCSEL business. “Through optimization of the laser design, we have successfully reduced power consumption by over 50% and retained all the reliability and stability performance benefits of our unique, patented wide oxide aperture design that has been shipping for more than eight years,” he adds. “Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility allows us to meet volume demand for VCSELs for optical engines in a wide variety of markets.”

See related items:

VCSEL transceiver market to grow at 24.5% to $1.1bn in 2012

Bookham expands manufacturing in Zurich after shipping 4m polarization-stabilized VCSELs

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Visit: www.bookham.com