Coherent has announced its shipping of over 200 billion vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser (VCSEL) emitters to date for sensing.
VCSELs are semiconductor-based laser diodes that emit a highly efficient optical beam vertically from their top surface. Used in everything from 3D sensing, facial recognition and lidar to enhancing 2D imaging under a range of lighting conditions, the technology brings together the advantages of low cost and optical efficiency within a small footprint.
“In 2013, we began working on two-dimensional VCSEL arrays for 3D sensing in smart phones,” said Dr Giovanni Barbarossa, Coherent Chief Strategy Officer and President, Materials Segment. “We scaled our production capabilities from 3-inch to 6-inch wafers in 2017, just in time to help enable the market launch of the first smartphones with facial biometrics. We believe sensing applications based on semiconductor lasers will continue to expand into new and exciting applications such as in smart watches for health monitoring and in smart glasses for extended reality. VCSELs will also continue to enable a growing market for in-cabin sensing and lidar in automotive.”
Coherent continues to progress the field of sensing through vertical integration of differentiated technologies. For example, the firm recently announced a new VCSEL module that enables ultracompact pattern projectors, flood illuminators, and tightly integrated sensing subsystems. The module relies on an innovative flip-chip assembly of backside-emitting VCSEL arrays on application-specific integrated circuits and supports the integration of photodetector arrays.
Having merged with II-VI last year, Coherent is able offer a broad portfolio of components for sensing, including: semiconductor laser diodes in the near-, shortwave-, and mid-infrared wavelength ranges; photodiodes; diffractive meta-optics; and laser driver ICs, as well as optoelectronic assemblies and illumination modules.
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