24 April 2012

Osram Opto launches high-power blue laser diode for professional projectors

Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Regensburg, Germany has revealed its new PL TB450 high-power blue laser diode, which is based on indium gallium nitride (InGaN). Mounted in a compact TO56 package, the laser has an optical power of 1.4W, and is particularly suitable for high-quality projectors in the professional field. Other applications range from laser systems for stage and decoration illumination to medical applications.

Picture: The new PL TB450 blue laser diode.

Professional projectors with a luminous flux of more than 1000 lumen are the main area of application for the PL TB450. The firm says that, emitting at a wavelength of 450nm (±10nm), it produces exactly the desired blue and - with an output of 1.4 W (at room temperature and a current of 1.2A) - the high optical power that is required. The operating temperature range is 0–70°C.

Due to its efficiency of 27% (ratio of light produced to electric power consumed), the temperature of the laser will rise only slightly. Hence it has a long service life: up to 10,000 hours at 40°C in continuous operation, depending on use. The long lifetime facilitates maintenance-free operation of projectors at low energy consumption, says the firm.

Osram Opto says that there are various approaches for the use of a laser diode in a professional projector: usually red LEDs are combined with blue high power lasers. The green color emerges when blue lasers excite a special phosphor to emit light. Red light can also be generated this way, so that the projector light source can be designed without red LEDs, making it even smaller, if required. 

Image: The PL TB450 produces typically 1.4W of optical power output at 1.2A.

“By starting serial production of a blue high-power laser diode in the 1W power range we further strengthen our leading role in the field of blue lasers,” reckons Dr Thomas Hoefer, head of R&D for infrared products and lasers at Osram Opto. “When developing these diodes we were able to draw on many years of experience with other types of lasers,” he adds. “We could also implement the results of publicly funded research projects,” notes Hoefer. The basic technology for the InGaN laser diodes was developed in the course of the MOLAS Project, which was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Tags: Osram Opto Blue laser diode Projectors InGaN

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