The new generation of 760 nm and 763 nm wavelength TO packaged VCSELs also improves performance and reliability, thanks to TRUMPF's new state-of-the-art production and processing platform. The new VCSEL sensing solutions take advantage of the 760 nm and 763 nm wavelengths and are not affected by background gases. Because other than oxygen, no other gas exhibits high absorption at these emission wavelengths.
"We provide integrated smart VCSEL solutions that allow our customers to easily integrate components into demanding production systems. TRUMPF not only provides laser light source know-how, but also combines application, optics and assembly-related know-how." Ralph Gudde, vice president of marketing and sales for TRUMPF Optoelectronics, said.
The new 760 nm and 763 nm VCSELs can be used in various industrial applications that detect oxygen concentration. Gudde explained: “Oxygen sensing solutions are not only used in demanding industrial environments, but also in automotive or medical environments. To this end, our VCSEL solutions provide active temperature and polarization control to provide high-resolution Wide detection range and almost 100% accuracy."
In power plants or the oil industry, for example, this VCSEL solution can support exhaust gas analysis. On the other hand, for the packaging industry, this VCSEL solution also supports the determination of oxygen in sealed packaging such as water bottles. In addition, the application field will also expand to the medical field, where oxygen sensors can be used in medical equipment such as respirators, ventilators or incubators.
A well-established technique for these applications has been the so-called "Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS)". TDLAS and single-mode VCSEL are perfectly matched. VCSELs offer high precision and controllability due to their absolutely symmetrical beam shape, narrow linewidth, and pronounced polarization properties. As a result, the new VCSEL solution makes TDLAS a high-performance sensing technology that provides unparalleled field measurements in less than a second. Non-contact laser measurement covers a wide temperature range and can simultaneously determine process pressure and temperature.
These advantages benefit from the low thermal wavelength coefficient and integrated thermoelectric cooler (TEC) of the VCSEL material. The small size of VCSELs and their ever-increasing capabilities make them the perfect solution for hardware miniaturization needs.
Suitable for any environmental conditions, VCSELs in TO packages not only reduce the complexity of gas sensing systems, but also enable cost-effective high-end sensing solutions. Hermetically sealed, rugged housing minimizes the risk of damage from external factors in harsh environmental conditions.
Furthermore, this VCSEL solution has virtually no thermal sensitivity due to its package with integrated temperature control with TEC and thermistor. Users can precisely tune the laser temperature to control the wavelength, thus supporting applications that require a larger temperature window.
