Single-Emitter Device suits industrial applications.
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Press Release Summary:
Providing up to 100 W of power, Industrial Diode Laser System 100 incorporates multiple single-emitter diodes combined into single output fiber. Single-emitter diodes exhibit lifetimes in excess of 400,000 hr and can be pulsed on and off without affecting lifetime. With uniform, top hat beam profile, product is suited for welding of plastic parts needed in automobile production, such as exhaust manifolds, key bobs, CV joints, and lightweight gasoline tanks.
Original Press Release:
JDSU Announces Breakthrough Laser Architecture; Telecom Grade Single-Emitter Devices Enhance Reliability and Lifetime for Industrial Applications
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 24 -- JDSU (Nasdaq: JDSU; TSX: JDU), a leading provider of high precision optical solutions for industrial applications, today announced the availability of a laser architecture that offers high precision solutions for industrial and commercial applications. The Industrial Diode Laser System (IDL) incorporates multiple single-emitter diodes combined into a single output fiber, and provides up to 100 watts of power. This breakthrough laser architecture heralds a new standard in power, life expectancy, reliability and beam uniformity. JDSU is showing the latest and most powerful member of its IDL family, the IDL 100, this week at Photonics West in Booth number 1621 at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California.
Single-emitter diodes (available through JDSU's telecom business) offer the advantage of being pulsed on and off without affecting lifetime, unlike non-telecom grade bar diodes which have been the industry norm until now. Telecom grade single-emitter diodes show lifetimes in excess of 400,000 hours. This compares with bar diodes, which typically demonstrate lifetimes on the order of ten thousand hours. While pulsing does not affect telecom-grade diode lifetime, it can dramatically reduce bar diode lifetimes. Using multiple devices allows for redundancy and improves thermal management.
Competing 100-watt systems rely on as many as 19 output fibers, resulting in a lack of beam uniformity. The IDL's single output fiber offers unprecedented beam quality. Superior lifetime and reliability, coupled with a uniform, "top hat" beam profile, are advantages in applications such as selective laser soldering and plastic welding. JDSU's IDL products are used widely for plastic welding of exhaust manifolds, key bobs, CV joints, lightweight plastic gasoline tanks, and many other plastic parts needed in automobile production. The 100-watt version is expected to enable plastic welding of components with high glass content, parts with low absorption, and/or allow for greater production throughput.
"Historically, pulsing has resulted in a dramatic reduction of lifetime. This has proven not to be the case with telecom grade diodes," said Phillip Meredith, vice president of JDSU's Commercial Laser Products Group. "The telecom industry presents far harsher environmental requirements than the commercial market. Therefore, leveraging JDSU's telecom expertise gives us an advantage in developing innovative laser solutions for the industrial and commercial laser market."
"The market for plastics welding is small but growing by a CAGR of around 25 percent," said Tom Hausken, an analyst with Strategies Unlimited. "Moreover, JDSU would do well to focus on additional opportunities in consumer electronics and medical devices that these lasers could prove ideal for, such as plastic welding of cell phone covers and pacemaker components, and in PCB manufacturing where this new class of laser solution could be used for selective soldering of electronics components. JDSU clearly has an advantage in this market due to its diversity as a company. They are basically able to source the necessary components in house from other business units."
About JDSU
JDSU is committed to enabling broadband & optical innovation in the communications, commercial and consumer markets. JDSU is the leading provider of communications test and measurement solutions and optical products for telecommunications service providers, cable operators, and network equipment manufacturers. Furthermore, JDSU is the leading provider of innovative optical solutions for medical/environmental instrumentation, semiconductor processing, display, brand authentication, aerospace and defense, and decorative applications. More information is available at www.jdsu.com.
NOTE: JDSU and the JDSU logo are trademarks of JDS Uniphase Corporation.
CONTACT: Allan Ashmead, +1-408-546-4803, or allan.ashmead@jdsu.com, of JDSU
Web site: www.jdsu.com/
