Ricoh announced that it has developed a 808nm range High-Power VCSEL Module. The high-power fiber-coupled semiconductor laser can also be used in applications such as engine ignition. Ricoh says that its new High-Power VCSEL Module incorporates three technological advances, its high output, compact size, and wavelength stability in variable temperatures. The company achieved quasi-continuous wave operation at 200 W.
Ricoh has developed new applications that use Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology, including its use as a light source for its currently available production printers. Ricoh combined the increased luminescence efficiency with the large scale integration of the light emitting channels to boost the output power of the laser array.
Left: High-Power VCSEL Module with fiber and air-cooling device. Right: High-Power VCSEL Module
Ricoh also improved the heat dissipation of the overall module, so it is now capable of providing the high energy output needed by the light source of the laser crystal in a laser ignition plug head. A VCSEL plug head has been attracting attention as a means of igniting gas engines of power generators used in concert with other systems and other equipment.
The newly created standalone VCSEL array achieved an output of 310W, and the fiber module output is 200W. The VCSEL module employs a VCSEL array comprised of a large number of light-emitting channels on its surface. A microlens array (MLA) integrates lenses corresponding to each light-emitting channel on a single chip. This single chip VCSEL array module is more compact and has fewer components compared with modules using conventional edge-emitting lasers.
Due to its structure, the VCSEL provides exceptional wavelength stability in variable temperatures, compared with conventional edge-emitting lasers. This wavelength stability means that a precision temperature control unit is not needed.
Ricoh incorporated the company’s unique optical technologies that it supplies for laser devices and modules for a broad range of applications.
Ricoh says it is also looking to expand into applications including laser processing machines, nonthermal processing and sensing, surface treatment processing, and other applications.