News: Optoelectronics
12 October 2022
TRUMPF adds multi-junction option to VCSEL array portfolio
TRUMPF Photonic Components GmbH of Ulm, Germany (part of the TRUMPF Group) – which manufactures vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and photodiodes for the consumer electronics, datacoms, industrial sensing, heating and automotive markets – says that it is supporting the demand for miniaturization in consumer electronics and automotive applications by expanding its VCSEL array portfolio with a multi-junction option.
The tunnel function technology is said to offer a highly efficient solution for the demanding trend towards miniaturization. With tunnel functions, the performance of a single VCSEL is increased, as multiple active zones are put into series in the same VCSEL component. Up to three times the output can be generated from the same VCSEL device. Most illumination applications benefit from higher efficiency and increase in output power with the same VCSEL light source. “Our customers also benefit from an increase in flexibility,” says Alexander Weigl, head of product management. “Based on their application needs, they can configure their VCSEL components with a single, double or triple junction.”
Picture: Multi-junction VCSELs support LiDAR applications, which require high output power within limited space.
The multi-junction technology supports applications such as light detection & ranging (LiDAR), as this application in the automotive sector requires high output power within limited space for the short- and long-range identification of objects. “We even combine the multi-junction technology with our ViBO technology platform,” says Weigl. “Due to our integration approach to make our VCSELs smarter, this unique VCSEL comes with integrated backside optics and is already up to 5-10 times smaller compared to other VCSELs,” he adds. “This is a big step towards miniaturization, while increasing output power and reliability of the VCSEL components.”
VCSELs will remain a major light source for applications in smartphones, consumer electronics and automotive applications, reckons TRUMPF, as they are highly efficient and boast a long service life. Based on the application requirements, the firm offers options with highly integrated optical structures for the best fit. Therefore, along with the multi-junction option and monolithically integrated optics, VCSELs can offer polarization control for improved illumination quality, or integrated photodiodes to enable the further processing of light signals.
To offer robust VCSEL devices with high performance, TRUMPF covers the whole process chain, from the developing and designing right to its manufacturing of its VCSELs solutions.
