Tongkuai realizes the industrial production of 1300nm mass production application SWIR VCSELs

On January 31, Trumpf Photonic Components, the developer of data communication VCSEL and photodiode solutions, announced that the company would promote the industrial production of SWIR VCSELs products above 1300 nm, which support mass manufacturing applications, such as OLED off-screen applications in smart phones.

Recently, the Tongkuai subsidiary has demonstrated the efficiency of long-wave infrared laser modules with more than 1300 nm at the industrial level. This makes Tongkuai take another key step towards the large-scale production of InP-based VCSELs in the range of 1300 nm to 2000 nm.

In addition to GaAs VCSELs products from 760 nm to 1300 nm, Tongkuai is also developing and manufacturing indium phosphide SWIR VCSELs above 1300 nm. (Image source: TRUMPF)

Bertold Schmidt, CEO of Trumpf Photonic Components, said: "At Tongkuai, we are trying to mature and standardize this revolutionary production process. This will further develop this technology into a cost-effective solution. Our goal is to promote the first batch of products to the mass manufacturing market by 2025."

Through the development of new industrial production platforms, Tongkuai is expanding its current product portfolio of GaAs - VCSELs in the range of 760 nm to 1300 nm, which are mainly used for near-infrared applications.

The new platform is more flexible than GaAs in the longer wavelength spectrum, but it still maintains the same advantages of compact, stable and low-cost light sources. "The foundation for the successful realization of high capacity and long wavelength VCSELs has been laid. But we also know that there is still a way to go. Before large-scale production, we must invest in major production equipment."

VCSELs conquer new application fields
The industrialization of long-wavelength VCSELs can completely change a wide range of application fields, because SWIR VCSELs can be used for applications with higher output power compared with shorter wavelength VCSELs, and at the same time, it is safe for human eyes.

Long-wavelength solutions are not susceptible to interference light (such as sunlight in a wider wavelength range). A popular example of the mass market for smart phones and consumer electronics is OLED applications. VCSELs based on InP can be easily placed under these OLED displays without affecting other functions, and have higher eye safety standards.

OLED display is a huge application field of long-wavelength sensor solutions. "In the future, we expect to carry out large-scale projects not only in the field of consumer sensing, but also in the fields of medical applications such as automotive laser radar, data communication applications, spectral applications, as well as in the fields of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and quantum photonic integrated circuits (QPICs). Relevant requirements will enable SWIR VCSEL technology to make breakthroughs in mass production."

Test results can be easily reproduced
The results show that the 1390 nm VCSEL laser can operate at temperatures up to 140 ℃. The technology used for manufacturing can realize large-scale production, and the emission wavelength can be tuned between 1300 nm and 2000 nm, so it has a wide range of applications. The results show that the experimental results have good reproducibility and temperature performance.

1390 nm wavelength multimode VCSELs exhibit excellent temperature performance in photocurrent measurement (photo source: TRUMPF)

Schmidt said: "I am proud of my team, because it is their achievements that enable us to show outstanding results in the performance and robustness of these devices." Schmidt added: "We are confident that we can produce efficient, long-wavelength VCSELs with high output to support cost-effective solutions."

Source: OFweek