Do you have a customized project? - We also have green lasers on submount, for that very purpose. Feel free to contact us!
Laser diodes for your applications
At Chips 4 Light, quality, innovation and customer satisfaction are at the focus of whatever we do. Good reasons why you should choose us as your supplier for laser diodes and laser sources:
- Quality: our laser diodes are of the highest quality and reliability as efficient laser sources to meet your requirements.
- Customer service: Our experienced team is on hand to provide you with comprehensive expertise and first-class service.
- Innovation: We keep up to date with the latest developments in laser diode technology to provide innovative laser sources.
- Customer satisfaction: Customer satisfaction is our top priority. We work closely with you to find the best solutions for your project.
Contact us today to learn more about our laser diodes and innovative laser technology. We look forward to discussing your requirements and helping you with your projects. At Chips 4 Light, we are the key to your efficient laser sources!
Optoelectronics is our expertise
- Offer of miniaturized light sources
Special requirements, for example in sensor technology or medicine, often require particularly small light sources such as point light sources. We have an idea. - Specification for your project
In our range of extensive optoelectronic components we will find the right solution for you together. - Sorting according to customer specifications
At Chips 4 Light, we have the equipment to precisely sort the required quantity in the required specification on film, gel or waffle pack with our LED chip sorters. - Long-term storage
In our dry storage cabinet we store LED chips professionally in gel- or waffle-pack for a longer period of time to support the project runtimes of our customers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a laser diode?
The common abbreviation for laser diode is LD, usually referred to as EELs. EEL stands for "Edge Emitting Laser". Another type of semiconductor laser is the VCSEL. This stands for "Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser". With this type of diode, the light is emitted perpendicular to the plane of the semiconductor chip. In contrast to the edge-emitting laser diode, where the light is emitted at one edge of the chip.
A laser diode driver may be required to operate laser diodes efficiently. This device supplies the required voltage for the diode at a defined current and also ensures a stable temperature. It is required for both continuous wave (CW) and pulsed operation. Although we do not offer drivers, such devices are equipped with integrated circuits and transistors that operate in TTL (transistor-transistor logic) mode. These circuits enable precise control of the laser diodes, ensuring accurate switching on and off.
Laser diodes can operate at many different wavelengths and power output levels and are useful in many applications, including laser technology, optical storage, optical communication and laser medicine. We offer solutions from 380 nm to 1000 nm, from UV, blue, green and red to infrared diodes.
What are the advantages of different housing forms?
TO stands for "through-hole", which means that the components are installed in a carrier material using holes or bores. TO housings are available in various sizes, designs and shapes. TO can is the most common form of laser diode. A nitrogen atmosphere prevails inside the TO. A sealed TO can is hermetically sealed, i.e. protected against the exchange of air or water.
Chips are the smallest design. They are usually mounted on a submount in a housing such as a TO and are available in a wide range of variants. They are small, light and take up little space, but they are more difficult to handle.
Bars are one of the most powerful types of enclosure. In principle, it is a series of chips. Even during processing, no individual chips are sawn out of the epi, but a corresponding number are left next to each other. Much higher outputs can be achieved with bars. Processing is demanding and must be carried out in a clean room atmosphere. Laser bars can be separated into individual laser chips.
SMD housings are larger than chips and can accommodate several components. SMD housings are normally mounted on a carrier material using solder paste. SMD packages are easy to assemble, robust and compact, but they require a special tool for soldering.
Plastic housings are often used for components that need to be housed in a small space. They are lighter than metal housings and offer more flexibility in the choice of shape. Plastic enclosures are a cost-effective choice and they are easy to assemble, but they are not as robust as metal enclosures.
What is single-mode or multimode?
Single mode or multimode refer to the way a laser diode emits light. Single mode diodes only have one mode in the emitting beam, multi mode diodes have multiple modes in the emitting beam.
Single-mode laser diodes are very efficient and emit only a single light including a small band of modal disturbances called sidebands. The emission is much narrower than a multimode laser diode, which means they can direct more energy into a smaller spectrum. Therefore, they are typically used in applications where high power is needed but a narrow beam is required, such as laser pointers, laser printers and other applications.
Multimode laser diodes are a little less efficient than single mode, but they produce a wider spectrum of light emission, which offers some advantages. Because of this, more energy can be sent into a larger spectrum, which means the output can be lower but the coverage is greater. This makes them ideal for applications where a wide beam and low power are required, such as optical data transmission systems.
What is a monitor diode?
A monitor diode is a component that is integrated into an SMD or TO laser. It is connected to the laser and monitors the output power of the laser. The diode can send a signal that measures the output power of the laser. This allows the user to monitor the power of the laser to ensure that it is set correctly and that it meets the correct design target.
A monitor diode can measure the output power of a laser over a wide power range. This can be particularly important if the laser is connected to a mains supply that has a different voltage to that of the laser. In this case, the monitor diode can be used to monitor the output power of the laser to ensure that it remains constant.
A monitor diode can also be used to ensure that the output power of the laser remains at the same wavelength. If the wavelength of the laser is not constant, the monitor diode can send a signal to monitor and correct the output power.
The monitor diode can also be used to monitor and verify the design of the laser to ensure that it meets the design requirements. With the monitor diode, designers can analyze the design of the laser to ensure that it meets the correct parameters. In this way, they can quickly take corrective action if the design does not meet the requirements.
Which applications for laser diodes?
Laser diodes are electronic components that generate laser radiation. They have a short wavelength, from 380 nm (UV) to >1000 nm (infrared). Laser diodes are used in many optical applications. The diverse applications of laser technology in various industries, for example, illustrate the importance of laser diodes as a light source:
- Medical applications: Laser diodes serve as important light sources in medicine in medical equipment, be it for skin treatments, hair removal, dentistry or surgical procedures.
- Communication: In telecommunications, laser diodes are indispensable for transmitting data via fiber optic cables.
- Material processing: In industry, laser diodes are used as laser sources for cutting, engraving and marking applications.
- Consumer electronics: Laser diodes can be found as laser sources in DVD and Blu-ray players, laser projectors and laser show systems.
- Research and development: In science, laser diodes play a crucial role in experiments and investigations in physics, chemistry and biology.