VerLASE promises new approach to laser diodes and LEDs

16 Jan 2013

Venture from Versatilis is developing a technology to yield direct-emission green sources and other advances.

Versatilis, a Vermont-based technology development company, has announced the launch of a new spin-out named VerLASE Technologies, focused on new technology for lasers and LEDs.

VerLASE is "a new venture in lasers and solid-state lighting that will further develop and commercialize an advanced technology that Versatilis had been stealthily developing over several years," said the company in its launch publicity. "Using novel materials and processes, surface-emitting laser diodes and novel LEDs are an early product focus."

One initial focus for the new company looks set to be the development of direct-emission green sources.

"We have a different materials approach to laser diodes, for example, that can enable devices emitting directly in green and other colors; an industry first," said George Powch, Versatilis CEO, who will lead the new Company alongside CTO Ajay Jain, the inventor of the technology.

Powch and Jain founded Versatilis in 2004, since when it has won a number of Small Business Innovation Research awards from US Government agencies including the Department of Energy and DARPA, and has licensed out several of its technologies.

New bridges for the green gap
Direct-emission green sources are a crucial element in the prospective market for advanced pico-projectors and other display devices, and their development would overcome a longstanding gap in the armory of semiconductor laser manufacturers.

Many LED and semiconductor developers have been working to overcome the technical barriers involved in bridging this gap, and their efforts are now yielding results. MicroVision VP of research and development Dale Zimmerman told optics.org in September 2012 that "We believe direct-diode green lasers are finally here for real."

VerLASE indicated that it is working with key partners to show working devices using its technology, and plans to selectively sample first products by the end of the year. Early discussions are ongoing with prospective manufacturing partners.

No details of VerLASE technology were made publicly available.

The company has a trio of international patent applications currently filed, the most recent of which was published in November 2012 concerning resonator-enhanced optical devices.

This patent concerns the design of "Optical resonators that are enhanced with photoluminescent phosphors and are designed and configured to output light at one or more wavelengths based on input/pump light," and specifically describes the potential for such devices to function as direct-emission green sources.