Pictured, right: VCSELs in TO packages can come with integrated temperature control and offer easy handling and precise control for industrial environments.

Ulm, Germany – TRUMPF Photonic Components, a global leader in VCSEL and photodiode solutions for industrial and consumer sensing is showcasing two live demonstrations to show the performance of the single-mode VCSEL solutions at Sensor+Test 2023, 09-11 May, 2023, Nürnberg Messe (Booth 1-156), in Nuremberg, Germany. The sensing components based on VCSEL technology are compact and robust laser sources, supporting industrial optical sensing systems.

“Many industrial applications benefit from the continuous innovations in VCSEL technology,” says Ralph Gudde, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at TRUMPF Photonic Components. “Our approach is to make our VCSEL solutions more rugged and smarter by integrating additional functionalities and in so doing to address the high demands of our customers and to enable new applications.”

One live demonstration will highlight the capabilities for gas sensing in the 760 nm to 766 nm wavelength range. The second will show the precise measurement of particulate matter concentration in the air. The solutions are based on innovative VCSEL technology, such as VCSELs with integrated photodiodes (ViP).

These VCSELs not only emit light, but also detect back-scattered light and therefore allow the self-mixing interference measurement method (SMI). Applications such as optical encoders for speed and distance measurements or particle sensors benefit from this technology. TRUMPF provides customers the option to assess the technical capabilities of the SMI and ViP technology for industrial sensing applications by offering an evaluation board.

Application variety: from gas to speed to particle sensing

Whether oxygen sensing in laboratory and industrial environments, speed and distance measurements in industrial process lines or particulate matter measurements in IoT and indoor applications, all kinds of optical sensor systems rely on VCSEL as laser sources, as they are highly efficient and insensitive to dirt and sunlight.

Additionally, the contactless measurement solution is maintenance-free which supports applications in harsh industrial environments. Easy and safe handling is supported by TRUMPF not only in the offering of components or VCSEL in TO cans, but also in the further customization with the integrating of driver electronics or special optics. This is enabled by in-house, state-of-the-art assembly processes.

New VCSEL for higher illumination quality

Single-mode VCSEL light sources offer excellent and reliable performance and are available with wavelengths ranging from 760 nm to 940 nm. For even higher illumination quality, TRUMPF offers solutions with polarization control. Later in 2023, TRUMPF will expand its portfolio of polarized VCSELs and release a large polarization-controlled, single-emitter, single-mode VCSEL component with 2 mW output power. This will serve applications like industrial optical encoders and spectroscopy. Evaluation samples will be available from June onwards and mass production is scheduled for the end of 2023.