Oclaro eye-safe diodes at LASER 2009

12 Jun 2009

SAN JOSE, CA, 11 June 2009 – Oclaro, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR), a provider of optical components for industrial applications, has entered the eye-safe wavelength market with laser diode single emitter and bar products emitting at around 1.5 micrometer (um). The new long-wavelength devices target eye-safe applications in defense, material processing and medical markets.

Eye-safe standards are important in environments where there is risk of exposure to laser light. Eye-safe lasers emit light at wavelengths above 14xx nm, as light in this range is largely absorbed by the cornea before reaching the more sensitive retina. The retina can be seriously damaged by just micro-seconds of exposure to high power light at shorter wavelengths.

15xx and 14xx nm laser diode bar products deliver up to 30W continuous wave (CW) output power and are offered with a micro-channel or a passive Cu cooler configuration. The bars come with a fill factor of 30 percent and an emitter pitch of 500um, making them ideally suited for fiber coupled and pump laser applications.

The single emitter laser diodes emit 2W output power at 1470nm from a 90um stripe and are available on a C Mount or in a 105um fiber coupled configuration. The fiber coupled version is built on the proven Oclaro platform for single emitter fiber laser pump modules, enabling high volume, scalable, and cost-effective manufacturing.

"The extension of our high performance laser diode bar and single emitter laser diodes into the long-wavelength range is an important step for Oclaro, addressing increased demand for eye-safe lasers, particularly in defense and medical markets," said Oclaro product marketing director, Karlheinz Gulden. "We have been able to deliver the high power and high reliability qualities with which Oclaro is associated at wavelengths that enhance eye safety, broadening the market appeal of our high power laser diode portfolio."

Oclaro was formerly Bookham, Inc. prior to its merger with Avanex Corporation last April. The company also recently announced entering into a definitive agreement with Newport Corporation which, if the deal closes, will, among other things, provide Oclaro with a portion of the Newport Spectra Physics high power laser diode business. Oclaro will continue to leverage its cutting edge, high reliability laser diode manufacturing facilities to service industrial, defense and medical markets with high power lasers and VCSELs.