PTB >> New Products - February 2010

Compact 1 kW CO2 Laser
The DIAMOND™ E-1000 from Coherent (Santa Clara, CA) is a sealed 1 kW CO2 laser that measures less than 1497mm × 471mm × 384mm, including its integrated power supply. It is suitable for use in small machines or space-sensitive applications involving cutting, perforating, and drilling of paper, plastic films, plastics, glass, carbon composites, and thin metals.

The laser requires no external gas supply and is easy to mount on a moving robot arm. It reaches cutting speeds equivalent to traditional 2 kW CO2 lasers, and achieves spatial mode quality (M2<1.2) and a square wave pulse shape that delivers up to 2.5 kW of peak power. It cuts mild steel sheets up to 6 mm thick, and stainless steel sheets up to 3mm thick.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-205

Solar Cell Processing Disk
Jenoptik (Jena, Germany) has developed the JenLas® disk IR50 for MWT and EWT (Metal Wrap Through and Emitter Wrap Through).

The laser beam fits the infrared wavelength range at 1030nm with a flexible tunable pulse length. The 45-watt system is suitable for laser drilling of silicon wafers, which then allow for the efficient production of back-contact solar cells.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-206

Solarization-Resistant Fibers
Fiberguide Industries (Stirling, NJ) has introduced a full line of standard solarization-resistant fibers for deep UV applications. The fibers are suitable for spectroscopy, lithography, and excimer laser delivery applications where fibers are exposed to deuterium lamp transmission (190nm to 230nm) or an ArF-Excimer (193nm) laser.

Prolonged UV transmission below 260nm causes solarization in optical fibers, reducing their UV transmittance significantly. Fiberguide’s fibers use a modified core preform that protects fiber from UV damage. They exhibit long-term stability at 30-40% transmission (for 215nm). Fiber core sizes can be produced from 50μm to greater than 1,000μm.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-208

Quantum Cascade Laser Mounts
ILX Lightwave Corporation (Bozeman, MT) has released the LDM- 4872 Quantum Cascade Laser Mount with case temperature control. Designed for quantum cascade lasers, the LDM-4872 offers a wide temperature control range, the ability to operate the QCL under vacuum, and an optional XYZ stage with multiple mid-IR lens options. The LDM- 4872 supports C-Block, Alpes ST and NS chip on carrier packages, as well as customer proprietary QCL packages.

An integral thermoelectric module and a high-performance water-cooled cold plate provide an active temperature control range of -30°C to 30°C with heat loads up to 10W. The optional XYZ stage provides precise adjustment even when the LDM-4872 is under vacuum. Precision differential adjustment screws for the X and Y axes provide 25μm/rev fine adjustment. The knurled lens cartridge has 64 threads per inch for precise Z adjustment.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-210

Technical Paper on Pixel Sub-Stepping
PI (Auburn, MA) has published a paper on image resolution enhancement and image stabilization for electronic imaging sensors based on fast piezo actuation. The paper explains different piezoelectric motion principles such as flexure mechanisms and ultrasonic motors.

Traditionally, increasing the resolution of common imaging detectors has required an increase of chip size or reduction of pixel size, both of which are undesirable options. With pixel sub-stepping, the recording area is moved on predefined paths with a defined frequency. The”dithering,” where the travel is less than the size of a pixel, causes the pixel to be exposed several times on the recording area, producing a virtual “pixel multiplier” that can significantly improve the resolution without negative side effects.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-212

Optical Coatings for Plastics
Deposition Sciences (Santa Rosa, CA) has developed optical thin film coatings to be deposited on materials such as Ultem®, Zeonex®, and a variety of polycarbonate plastics.

These rugged coatings operate from the visible through the infrared spectral wavelengths and are suitable for diverse applications where lightweight and low cost optics are specified, such as LED lighting and medical devices. Other applications include UAV optics and photovoltaic solar systems.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-218

High-Speed Megapixel Camera
Photron (San Diego, CA) has developed a new imaging system, the Fastcam SA5, which delivers 7,500 fps at 1024 × 1000 megapixel resolution. The camera features a 12-bit monochrome (36-bit RGB color) sensor with twenty micron square pixels, delivering color fidelity and dynamic range. This standalone, one-piece system has an ISO/ASA of 6400 as tested against ISO 12232.

The Fastcam SA5 with 1-microsecond global shuttering features a 5-inch LCD screen and is available in three memory configurations: 8 GB (up to .75 sec record time at 7,500 fps and full resolution); 16 GB (up to 1.49 sec at 7,500 fps and full resolution); 32 GB (up to 2.98 sec at 7,500 fps, 1K × 1K). Applications include PIV, inkjet, combustion, fluid dynamics, cavitation, materials research, and aerospace.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-219

Silica Fiber Bundles for Spectrometer Systems
CeramOptec (East Longmeadow, MA) has increased the temperature spec on its drop-in replacement silica fiber bundles for spectrometer systems.

Applications with unusually high or low temperatures can use these fibers to work at a temperature range of -190°C to 600°C.

CeramOptec uses a patented PCVD process to create high-grade specialty fibers with a wide range of profiles and dopants, numerical apertures from 0.06 to 0.66, and high radiation resistance levels.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-211

Low-Fluorescence Optics
Optimax (Ontario, NY) has the manufacturing expertise, optics cleaning and coating technology to produce low-fluorescence optical components.

These lenses are useful for deep ultraviolet (DUV) and low signal to noise applications in the medical and semiconductor markets.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-209

Near-Infrared Bandpass Filters
A new series of bandpass filters from Semrock (Rochester, NY) can be applied to the near-infrared wavelength range. These hard-coated filters are keyed to popular laser lines in the 1500-1600nm region.

Applications include use as laser source clean-up filters and detection filters that pass particular laser wavelengths and virtually eliminate background over the full InGaAs detector range (850-1750nm).

They are optimized for “retinasafe” lasers in the 1.5μm wavelength range.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-214

Q-Switched 800-Watt DPSS YAG Laser
Lee Laser (Orlando, FL) has developed a new, 800-Watt CW Nd:YAG laser that is capable of Q-switched performance in excess of 600 watts average output power at a 10-kHz pulse rate.

The short pulse width capability is less than 70ns at 10 kHz without risk of damage to the internal optical elements.

Pulse instability less than 8 percent peak-peak has been demonstrated. The laser’s electrical power consumption is 10 kW. Applications include deep marking and engraving, cutting of hard materials, flat-panel display (FPD) manufacture, and laser patterning for LCD manufacture.

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-221

Auto Focus Modules for CCD/CMOS Cameras
3-Watt RGB LEDs Lumex (Palatine, IL) has introduced the 3-Watt TitanBrite™ RGB, a square-shaped LED with dimensions of 10mm x 10mm. It can result in 30% cost savings as well as a 70% real estate savings compared to the use of individual red, green, and blue packages.

Applications include electronic signage, industrial controls, safety/security lighting, and graphic backlighting. They are RoHS-compliant and contain three individual 1-Watt dies in red (636nm), green (525nm), and blue (470nm).

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/28050-226