Blue laser for mini projectors
An optimized TO38 package makes the blue laser diode from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors the smallest in its class. This takes the world one step closer to a vision of tiny projectors that can be integrated into mobile devices such as cell phones and digital cameras. Lasers are the first choice as light sources for these applications.
With the development of the blue laser OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is another step closer to the vision of a projector integrated in a cell phone.
The blue laser has a wavelength of 450 nm and an output of 50 mW. The low forward voltage of 5.5 V, the slope efficiency of 0.9 W/A and the low threshold current of 30mA contribute to its excellent wall plug efficiency. Its optimized TO38 package that’s just 3.2 mm high, makes it the smallest blue laser available today. With its superior beam quality it is suitable for applications in the consumer as well as in the industrial area.
The laser combines all the important properties for mini projectors such as small size, high efficiency and good visibility of the blue light. As a ridge laser with an excellent beam quality it needs only relatively simple and small optics to shape the beam. According to Dr. Thomas Höfer, Head of Laser Projection at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, “Our newly developed blue laser is a further step in our quest to miniaturize projectors to such an extent that they can be fully integrated in mobile devices.”
Lasers represent the next milestone in the development of mobile devices and have a promising future in terms of integrating projection modules. They will be appreciated by end customers for their extremely low power requirements and compact dimensions. They also offer exceptionally vibrant colors and high contrast, and they always produce sharp images irrespective of the distance over which the images are projected.
Additionally the blue laser is suitable for a wide range of industrial as well as medical and bioanalytical applications. They range from line lasers and industrial projection system that are used for aligning and positioning to particle measurement and applications that take advantage of the fluorescent behavior of certain materials to coherent blue light.
Financial support for the fundamental R&D was provided by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) under contract No. 13N9373 and is kindly acknowledged.
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