Concave LEDs
The LP378 series LEDs have a P4 (piranha-type) package, concave lens, and a viewing angle of 120°. The unique concave lens allows for an even distribution of light, eliminating hot spots. The LEDs, which utilize AlGaInP and InGaN technology, are suited for backlighting and applications such as Channel Letters. They are available in red, yellow, green, and blue.
Marktech, Menands, NY
Excimer-laser ablation system
The UP193-BT is a benchtop excimer-based laser ablation system for solid sampling introduction to ICP, ICP-MS, noble-gas MS, and stable-isotope MS instruments. It has an energy density of 35 J/cm2 at the sample, a flat beam, and a 193-nm wavelength. It is suited for both opaque and highly transmissive materials.
New Wave Research, Fremont, CA
CCD camera
The Photometrics Cascade digital-imaging system includes the new Cascade 656 CCD camera with signal-boosting "on-chip multiplication gain" technology, developed by Texas Instruments. This technology offers an alternative to traditional image intensifiers for several nongated, low-light applications. The 16-bit system can be operated at 10 MHz for high-speed image visualization and at 5 MHz for photometry.
Roper Scientific, Tucson, AZ
Raman-amplifier pump source
The DRT500C is a fiber-based, dual-wavelength, C-band Raman-amplifier pump source specifically designed for terrestrial telecommunications applications. The fiber laser delivers dual-wavelength output (1427 and 1455 nm) with a combined power totaling 500 mW. The use of a single 915-nm laser diode reduces total system-power dissipation by 30%.
Spectra-Physics, Mountain View, CA
Excimer lasers
A new series of excimer lasers has been designed specifically for writing fiber Bragg gratings. The L1FBG laser has patented SDUR resonator technology for high-throughput writing. The FIBEX includes software to switch between high-coherence and high-power modes. The COMPex FBG offers high-stabilized output energy, and the OPTex FBG is designed for low-power applications.
Lambda Physik, Anaheim, CA
InGaAs camera
A new room-temperature camera uses a 640 x 480 InGaAs focal-plane array. This short-wave infrared (0.9 to 1.7 μm) scientific imaging system has a 14-bit digital output and can be integrated with National Instrument's LabVIEW software. Applications include laser profiling, emission microscopy, and imaging spectroscopy.
Sensors Unlimited, Princeton, NJ
CCD camera
The new Astrocam (FD1510KNI-011, FD1510KNK-011) is a cooled CCD camera with a Kodak KAF 1602 chip offering pixel resolution of 1536 x 1024. The camera has a 16-bit dynamic range for visualization of both faint and strong signals, Peltier cooling, a hermetically sealed sensor, self-calibrating electronics, and ImagePro drivers.
PerkinElmer Optoelectronics, Santa Clara, CA
Polarization controller
An electronically operated polarization controller (EPC) provides continuous polarization control for optical networks, PMD-compensation modules, and polarization scramblers for PDL measurement systems. A ±5-V signal is required to control the unit, unlike designs with piezoelectric transducers, which require higher voltage.
Oz Optics, Carp, Ont., Canada
Laser-diode burn-in stations
New laser-diode burn-in stations provide 5-A current power for life, reliability, and production tests. The system has 16 devices per drawer, 192 channels per system, monitoring of onboard TEC capabilities, and over-temperature and open-circuit protection. The system supports chip-on-submount to package device applications and operates in ACC and APC mode.
Racal Instruments, Irvine, CA
Fiberoptic collimators
New fiberoptic collimators for single-mode and polarization-maintaining fibers have Gaussian beams (no rings) with high wavefront quality. Apertures from 5 to 20 mm are available. Collimators have an FC receptacle and adjustable focus for wavelengths from 400 to 1600 nm. A 1.6-mm collimator for short distances is available.
Micro Laser Systems, Garden Grove, CA
Modular alignment system
The AutoAlign-MDX modular alignment system is a low-cost, modular, expandable system for performing alignment and metrology of fiberoptic components. The system is designed for early process development, prototyping, and lower-volume production. It utilizes the same mechanical and software interfaces as Newport's high-end automated assembly products.
Newport, Irvine, CA
Telecentric gauging lenses
The Invarigon-R family of telecentric gauging and metrology imaging lenses provides telecentric imaging with a range of magnifications. Features include low distortion; a lockable aperture; fine-focus adjustment; rugged, single-piece design; multilayer coatings; and a standard C-mount camera interface.
Melles Griot, Rochester, NY
Miniature lenses
The DSL800 series of low-cost miniature digital-imaging lenses are optimized for 1.0- to 1.3-megapixel CCD/CMOS imagers available from Sony, Motorola, OmniVision, IC-media, Conexant, and Zoran. The relative aperture is from F/3.0 to F/3.2, providing a long depth of field for fixed-focus applications. An IR cutoff coating is included.
Sunex, Carlsbad, CA
Ceramic heat sinks
Aluminum nitride heat sinks offer over seven times greater thermal efficiency (at 25 W/mK) than aluminum oxide components for passively cooled, high-powered laser-diode modules. Aluminum nitride has a thermal conductivity of 180 W/mK, and has a coefficient of linear expansion of 5.6 x 10-6/°C from 25°C to 1000°C.
Morgan Advanced Ceramics, New Bedford, MA
Power meter
The new high-dynamic-range power meter has been designed specifically for use with the Model 6528 swept-wavelength laser and its 100-nm/s sweep speed. The power meter has sensitivity over the 1240- to 1640-nm wavelength range and an optical-power range of almost 70 dB.
New Focus, San Jose, CA
Spectrophotometer
A new modular recording spectrophotometer measures spectrophotometric transmission, absorbance, reflectance, and fixed-wavelength fluorescence in the VIS-NIR (375 to 1700 nm). Both the monochromator and detector can be changed to optimize the system for a particular application.
Optometrics LLC, Ayer, MA
High-dispersion ICP
The Prodigy high-dispersion ICP is designed for inductively coupled plasma optical-emission spectrometry. The ICP incorporates a new programmable array detector (L-PAD) and a high-dispersion Echelle spectrometer. Offering cw coverage, the L-PAD allows for full-spectrum acquisition in a single integration.
Leeman Labs, Hudson, NH
Precision mounts
A new line of precision mounts provides a stable platform for off-axis, spherical, or flat mirrors up to 250 mm in diameter. The mounts are built to accommodate 100-, 150-, 200-, and 250-mm diameter mirrors. They are made from anodized aluminum casings and come with a base plate to facilitate mounting to an optical table.
Optical Surfaces, Surrey, England
Laser-profile scanners
Cobra laser-profile scanners for noncontact, high-resolution surface profiles of manufactured parts are driven by the new ScanX Profiling Software. Cobra 3-D can scan areas of 50 to 100 mm, with z-axis resolution to 0.125 μm, over measurement ranges to 8 mm.
Optical Gaging Products, Rochester, NY
Fiber-alignment photodiode meter
The Model 2502 fiber-alignment photodiode meter combines the steps of laser-diode fiber alignment and light-current voltage characterization. Designed for LDM manufacturers, researchers, OEMs, and system integrators, the instrument has a built-in picoammeter to resolve currents as low as 10 fA.
Keithley Instruments, Cleveland, OH
Linear light source
The Opsis LightRanger light source is based on high-pressure sodium-vapor lamp technology and provides 100,000 lux at 4 ft with a uniform 2-in. illumination line across an entire web. This makes hard-to-detect flaws visible to machine-vision systems. The relatively wide light band produced neutralizes the effect of web bounce.
Wintriss Engineering, San Diego, CA
Dispersion-compensation grating
The BragNet DCG (dispersion-compensation grating) can compensate for chromatic dispersion in up to four optical-network channels simultaneously and individually. It measures 180 x 6.5 mm in packaged format. Compensation values range from 200 to 2000 ps/nm, insertion loss is <1.5 dB, and it can operate over the C- and L-bands.
Southampton Photonics, Southampton, England
Laser-rangefinder receiver
The Model 759 hybrid eyesafe laser-rangefinder receiver is designed for low-cost, high-volume military applications. Incorporating a state-of-the-art preamplifier design, the unit has a sensitivity of 40 nW at 1550 nm with 20-ns pulses, 50% probability of detection (Pd), and 0.1% false-alarm rate.
Analog Modules, Longwood, FL
Vibration-isolation workstations
The LabMate 9211 series personal vibration-isolation workstations are designed for use in small labs and other tight spaces where external vibrations adversely affect the operation of sensitive equipment. Tabletops measure 24 in. deep with three widths from 24 to 35 in., and can accommodate loads up to 440 lb. The workstations are class 100 cleanroom-compatible, with class 10 available as an option.
Kinetic Systems, Boston, MA