Specialty micro-component lenses
An expanded line of specialty micro-component lenses is available in AlSiO coated and uncoated versions for both OEM customers and the research community. These include cone lenses (3-, 5-, and 10-mm diameter) for image processing and 360° applications; rod lenses [3 (diameter) x 10 mm (length), 5 x 15 mm, and 10 x 20 mm]; and 45°-rod lenses in 10- and 12-mm (diameter) AlSiO coated versions for use in fiberscope/borescope applications. All lens types can be manufactured to custom sizes.
Edmund Industrial Optics, Barrington, NJ
CMOS sensor for industrial video cameras
The ProCam1 was designed specifically to display high-definition television (HDTV) images. It has an active imaging area of 1936 x 1088 pixels, 180-mW power consumption, stable black reference, dynamic range of >68 dB, and 12-bit A/D conversion. The CMOS sensor has a fixed noise of <0.025% relative to its saturation voltage of 1.5 V. The imaging system-on-a-chip provides programmable gain from -24 to +48 dB in as small as 0.006-dB increments.
Rockwell Science Center, Thousand Oaks, CA
FT-IR spectrometer system
The new IR300 FT-IR spectrometer system is based on the Thermo Mattson Corner-Cube interferometer and has a compact design to save laboratory space. The clamshell-style sample compartment door opens to a full-size sampling compartment. New EZ OMNIC software for spectrometer control is included.
Thermo Mattson, Madison, WI
635-nm receptacle laser diode
The new 300-0053-00 is a 635-nm laser diode packaged in an FC receptacle, providing 0.8-mW output power when coupled to a 9-µm single-mode fiber. The device has a laser-diode reverse voltage of 2 V, photodiode reverse voltage of 30 V, monitor current of 0.07 mA, operating current of 40 mA, threshold current of 30 mA, operating voltage of 2.2 V, and an operating temperature range from -10°C to +50°C. The laser diode is designed for visible fault-location equipment for fiberoptic cables.
Photonic Products Ltd., Essex, England
LED line lights
LED line lights (CLL range) contain 100 chip-on-board LEDs combined with a single lens to give bright illumination with long lifetime for web-inspection applications. The 98-mm units are designed to enable longitudinal alignment of two or more units while maintaining uniformity along the line.
StockerYale, Salem, NH
20-W light source
The KL200 light source is a 20-W unit designed to be used with fiberoptic bundles, ringlights, and goosenecks for microscopy applications. With three stages of brightness control, service life ranges from 300 (stage 3) to 10,000 h (stage 1). When the bulb compartment is opened, the electricity supply is interrupted. No fan is required in this model, resulting in vibration-free operation.
Schott-Fostec, Auburn, NY
Laser-diode pump modules
The 980-nm BTF14 single-mode pump modules are designed for pumping erbium-doped fiber-amplifier systems, such as those used in metro-area dense wavelength-division multiplexing products and cable TV networks. Operated in CW mode, medium-power pump modules are available from 50 to 70 mW. The modules are available in 14-pin Butterfly and dual inline packages and meet Belcore GR-468 requirements.
Semiconductor Laser International, Binghamton, NY
Miniature plane-mirror interferometers
A series of miniature plane-mirror interferometers has been introduced with measurement ranges up to 5 m and a resolution of 1 nm for precision, noncontacting length measurement. They have compactly designed interferometer heads, operating temperature range of 10°C to 40°C, and translation rates of their moving mirrors up to 0.6 m/s. Applications include incorporation into precision measuring stages, surface profiling, and length measurement in vacuum chambers.
SIOS Mebtechnik, Ilmenau, Germany
Fiber spooler
The FS-230 fiberoptic wire spooler winds fiber from any sized supply spool onto user-specific takeup spools and is designed for production of erbium amplifiers and general photonics use. An automatic clamping and cutting system is integral to the machine, and an operator interface allows setup of feedlength, tension, winding speed, and winding width.
Showmark Machines, Berwyn, PA
LED light
The new WL3248 wafer light is an LED light designed for use in character recognition on semiconductor wafers. It incorporates both dark-field and on-axis illumination for reading laser-etched soft marks, hard marks, and 2-D codes on reflective surfaces. It can be used for all imaging and code-identification systems.
Vision Light Tech, Uden, Holland
Multidetector light meter and logger
A new self-contained radiometer system combines the PMA 2100 radiometer/data logger, two radiation detectors (measuring single or dual wavelengths), and a tripod mount to facilitate using the meter while aiming the detectors. The system is designed to monitor optical radiation for UV-laser, infrared, and visible radiation in industrial settings.
Solar Light, Philadelphia, PA
Noncontact video measuring system
The YF10 noncontact 3-D video coordinate-measuring machine (VCMM) is equipped with an IEEE 1394-interface digital CCD camera and advanced metrology software for high-speed vision inspection. Standard equipment includes Sony's 0.0001-mm resolution digital scales. The system has a measuring volume of 400 x 400 x 200 mm.
Sony Precision Technology, Lake Forest, CA
50-W semiconductor laser bars
A new line of 50-W semiconductor laser bars, the Prolite series, is available at solid-state pumping wavelengths designed to provide reliability and long lifetime (>10,000 h at rated power) to volume OEM users. Prolite series lasers are available with output anywhere in the 800- to 830-nm range. Primary applications for this product include pumping of solid-state laser media and hair removal.
Spectra-Physics, Tucson, AZ
Linear positioning stages
A full line of linear positioning stages are available, and feature industrial ruggedness, a wide range of travels, load capacities, and performance for flexibility in selection and installation. Standard accuracies range from 1 to 25 µm, with velocities ranging from 0.1 mm/s to 3 m/s. A range of drives and feedback options are available.
Anorad, Hauppauge, NY
Bath circulators
A new line of temperature-controlled bath circulators, based on the RTE and EX lines, offers 54 models that feature more heating and cooling power and wide temperature ranges. The on/off timer with a real-time clock allows the bath to be at temperature before the user arrives in the lab and shut down after the user leaves. The circulators have seamless stainless-steel tanks, removable front grill, and a built-in drain for fluid changes.
Neslab, Portsmouth, NH
Circular polarizing unit
A new Circular Polarizing Unit (CPU) is intended for alkali-vapor optical pumping in applications ranging from physics and material-science experiments to high-resolution medical imaging. The CPU takes randomly polarized laser light from a fiber output and reformats it into two right-circularly polarized laser beams of equal intensity.
Coherent, Santa Clara, CA
UV-curable optical adhesive
TRA-COAT WCC2B is a medium-viscosity material developed specifically for fiber and glass bonding. The adhesive is a clear, one-part mix that makes a strong bond with hardness of 75 Shore D. WCC2B is designed for use where alignment is critical, especially fiber-to-wafer applications.
Tra-Con, Bedford, MA
Optical-power meter with data logging
The Model 610i optical-power meter with data logging can measure power levels from +3 to -65 dBm, from 850 to 1700 nm. Optical-power measurements, data storage and retrieval, and report printing or PC downloading are simplified by using five keys and pull-down menus similar to those on a cell phone. The 610i has interchangeable fiberoptic adaptors for FC, ST, SC, and 2.5-mm universal single-connector types. It holds up to 1000 separate records. Resolution is 0.01 dB, and seven calibrated wavelengths are standard.
Cercis, Hopewell, NJ
Substrate mapper
The Optium substrate mapper identifies known good areas of filter substrates for maximum yield and minimum downstream processing of out-of-spec parts. It measures CWL, insertion loss, reflected power, and PDL. The system has a wavelength range of 1510 to 1640 nm, with other custom wavelengths available.
Veeco, Tucson, AZ
Air-cooled laser
Repeat-a-Pulse is a 1064-nm, air-cooled, diode-pumped laser capable of delivering nominally 20-ns pulsewidths up to 12 mJ at 1- to 30-Hz operation. The laser has the same pulsewidth and energy every pulse for use in semiconductor manufacturing and repair operations where identical pulses are essential. The units are available in TEM00 and multimode configurations.
Cutting Edge Optronics, St. Charles, MO
Temperature-control module
A 3.0 Amp TEC temperature-control module has been introduced for the ILX Lightwave LDC-3916 and LDC-3908 multichannel laser diode controllers. The LDC-3916558 module is designed to control TE coolers in high-power pump lasers. The module, with 8 V of compliance voltage, is also suited for case temperature control and driving resistive heaters.
ILX Lightwave, Bozeman, MT
Visual-fault locator
The Visual Fault Locator-300 (VFL) is used to pinpoint faults in fiberoptic cable. By emitting a bright-red beam of light into the fiber, faults can be detected by the glowing or blinking red light. The VFL-300 can be used with either single-mode or multimode cable with distances up to 3 km long. The device is also used to identify crimps, faulty connections, damaged components, bad splices, and fiber breaks. The VFL-300 is lightweight, handheld, and powered by a single AA battery for 24 h of continuous operation.
Corning, Hickory, NC
Linear brushless motor
The LMA linear 3-phase brushless motor includes an encapsulated, moving armature assembly for improved stiffness and thermal conductivity. Specifications include custom motor lengths of 6.0 in. to unlimited (in 1.2-in. increments) and a proprietary magnet bonding process for long-term integrity.
Axsys Technologies, Manchester, CT
Line-scan camera
The PIRANHA 2 is a small-footprint, line-scan camera with a data rate of 160 MHz. The camera offers resolutions of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 k in two- or four-output models. All deliver a choice of 8 or 10 bits of data with CDS and programmable flat-field correction at 40 MHz per tap and cables with the new Camera Link high-speed interface standard. The cameras are designed for uses including PCB inspection and wide web, or multicamera vision, as well as for parcel and postal-sorting applications.
Dalsa, Waterloo, Ont., Canada
Machine-vision system
FiberInspect is a machine-vision system specifically designed to automatically detect and measure scratches, cracks, and spots on fibers that form during the polishing process. The system helps increase fiber-cable yield by detecting defects with greater speed, accuracy, and objectivity than current manual approaches. Using proprietary software algorithms, the system can detect fiber end defects smaller than 1 µm even when there is poor image contrast between defect and background.
Cognex, Natick, MA
Front surface mirrors
A series of 94%-reflective front surface mirrors (FSM94-X), using Glass Troesch's Luxar AR coatings, are available in thicknesses of 3, 5, and 6 mm in a sheet size of 74 x 110 in. The mirrors are manufactured using a vertical magnetron sputtering process for durability with a minimum number of pinholes. Applications include office automation, projection television, and audio/visual equipment.
Abrisa Glass and Coatings, Santa Paula, CA
Laser-power meter
A new laser-power meter has been introduced for the spectral range 0.3 to 3 µm and power range 0.1 to 100 W. Its design uses an integrating sphere with a high-reflectivity-diffusing surface, which reduces the power on the detector element and allows a wide spread in beam size, position, and direction. The laser-power absorption is spread evenly over the whole sphere rather than just a small target. The system is battery-powered with a thin-film thermopile detector giving a response time of 80 ms.
Delta Developments, Hampshire, England
Bench-top system
The Raman PL bench-top system uses a combination of both visible and IR spectroscopy to characterize the electronic and optical properties of semiconductor materials. The system includes two ports for different detectors: a standard Raman CCD detector and an InGaAs Array detector, the latter for the NIR photoluminescence (PL) range. The user can switch between Raman and PL analysis without the need for adjustment, allowing both types of measurements to be made at exactly the same position on the sample.
Jobin Yvon, Middlesex, England
Isolation tables
Precision-Aire isolation tables provide a self-leveling work surface and frequency vibration control (as low as 1.5 Hz) for sensitive lab equipment. The tables are designed to support weight of 400 to 2500 lb (170 to 1100 Kg). Work surfaces include stainless steel, plastic laminate, and breadboards with mounting holes.
Fabreeka, West Yorkshire, England
OEM solid-state diode-pumped laser-marking systems
The new LaserGold Violino line of solid-state diode-pumped OEM laser-marking systems is available in 5-, 10-, and 20-W low-mode lasers, specially developed for marking applications. Systems are air-cooled with maintenance-free operation for over 10,000 working h.
Gold International Machinery, Pawtucket, RI
Lens-profile measurement system
Measurement of aspheric and spherical profiles of lenses is being made using noncontact "Conoprobe" gauge technology. With measurement speeds of up to 500 points per second, the entire measurement process for a lens can be completed in seconds (depending on the lens diameter and data point spacing.)
Spectrum Metrology, Leicester, England
Infrared camera
The Phoenix infrared camera family is designed for industrial and military environments for imaging and data acquisition. Camera sensors are available in three (IR) spectral bandsnear, mid, and longwave, with InSb, InGaAs, or QWIP snapshot focal-plane arrays. Medium-resolution format of 320 x 256 pixels or high-resolution 640 x 512 sensors are available.
Indigo Systems, Santa Barbara, CA
10-Gbit/s oxide VCSEL
A new 850-nm, 10-Gbit/s oxide vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) has a 3-dB bandwidth of over 10 GHz, allowing transceiver vendors to develop devices that meet 10-Gbit/s short-haul multimode standards. The VCSEL has a typical optical-output-power range of 1 mW, with a NA of <.25, current threshold of 1 mA, nominal slope efficiency of .4 W/A, and 75 W differential resistance.
Emcore, Somerset, NJ
Compact fs/ps fiber laser
The Wattlite is a compact (28 x 25 x 12 cm), turnkey, air-cooled, maintenance-free laser system that provides either 100 fs/150 to 450 nW or 3 ps/0.4 W (both with 50 MHz) at 1040 nm with optional 520-nm output. A special "seeder" version for ultrafast amplifiers provides 8 ps/300 mW/50 MHz with tunable center wavelength in the 1040-nm region.
IMRA America, Ann Arbor, MI
Cooled digital CCD camera
The new SensiCamQE is a cooled digital CCD camera operating in the visible and NIR regions for low-light-level quantitative imaging. It offers pixel resolution of 1376 x 1040, system noise of 4e, quantum efficiency of 65%, 12-bit dynamic range, and fast frame rates. The camera connects to an optical microscope or lens via an adjustable C-mount and may be customized for OEM configurations.
The Cooke Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI
Green-laser modules
Green-laser modules with high stable output power (<2% per 8 h) with internal optical-feedback control are available. Laser head dimensions are approximately 15 (diameter) x 85 mm and LD driver dimensions are 15 x 15 x 30 mm. Operating power is 3.3 to 5 V dc/1.2 A.
Intelite, Minden, NV
Birefringent materials for fiberoptics
High-volume processing of birefringent materials, including YVO4, TeO2, LiNbO3, and PbMoO4, is available from Isomet. Processing of calcite and TiO2 is expected to be added this year. Finished parts include polished coated wafers and diced parts for fiberoptic applications.
Isomet, Springfield, VA
Pulsed laser-diode test system
The Model 2520 pulsed laser-diode test system is designed for electrical characterization of laser diodes in either the chip/bar state or in finished modules. This single-instrument system tests laser diodes in pulse mode up to 5-A peaks and allows pulsewidths as short as 500 nS, with rise and fall times less than 60 nS while protecting the laser diode with output short and voltage compliance functions.
Keithley Instruments, Cleveland, OH
Infrared lenses for thermal imaging
Infrared lenses for commercial thermal imaging have applications including vision systems for firefighting, electronic circuit inspection and analysis, security, night vision, and automotive inspection. Silicon and germanium are used to produce lenses with 1- to 14-µm wavelengths and lens diameters of 10 to 180 mm. Lens assemblies with fixed or variable focus are available as well as zoom and single elements.
Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp., Vancouver, WA
Laser-power measurement systems
Two precision optical-power meters are designed to measure the total output power of lasers and laser diodes. The LPMS-400 is designed for applications over the 300- to 1100-nm region. The LPMS-400N is designed for NIR applications from 800 to 1800 nm. Each system consists of a laser-power measurement sphere, a detector assembly, and an SC-5500 Integrating Sphere System Control.
Labsphere, North Sutton, NH
Vacuum coating systems for precision optics
The new SYRUS pro is designed for complex, multilayer coatings in precision optics. The system includes a modularly expandable Windows NT-based control concept for flexibility in configuring, upgrading, and operating the coating system. A new electron-beam gun with a new electron-beam deflection system is fully integrated into the process controller. A new photometer for optical film-thickness monitoring covers a spectral range from 250 to 2200 nm.
Leybold Optics, Hanau, Germany
Adhesive to match the refractive index of glass
A new single-component, high-viscosity, optically clear UV-curable adhesive, the UV15-7LRI has been developed to match the refractive index of glass (1.46). This rapid-curing system has a service temperature range of -60°F to +250°F, and the bond may be exposed to adverse conditions, including heat and moisture. The adhesive is available in .5-pint, pint, quart, gallon, and 5-gallon containers.
Master Bond, Hackensack, NJ
Single-longitudinal-mode lasers
A new line of diode-pumped, solid-state, single-longitudinal-mode (SLM), high-repetition rate, high-power Q-switched harmonic laser systems are available in 1064-, 532-, 355- and 266-nm output formats. The DS10E-1064 SLM, DS10E-532 SLM, DS10E-355 SLM, and DS10E-266 SLM lasers are designed for lidar, fiber-grating manufacturing, and other applications requiring narrow bandwidth or single-longitudinal mode.
Photonics Industries International, Bohemia, NY
Auto-focusing normal incidence monochromator
The patented auto-focusing Normal Incidence Monochromator (NIM) provides spectral resolution and imaging properties in the extreme and vacuum ultraviolet. The NIM spectrometer is available in focal lengths from 1 to 6.65 m. The instrument is designed for use with CCD or MCP focal-plane array detectors.
McPherson, Chelmsford, MA
Polarizer
The new VersaLight polarizer is constructed of a thin layer of aluminum MicroWires on a glass substrate allowing operation from VIS through IR, including telecom wavelengths. VersaLight can be custom shaped and stacked to create a high-extinction polarizer that compares to calcite designs. It can be used in sheet format or sandwiched between other components at normal incidence or at 45°.
Meadowlark Optics, Frederick, CO
Miniaturized Pockels cells
The MPC 4 IM is a highly compact Pockels cell with a 4-mm aperture available in a variety of different versions for wavelengths from 248 to 1064 nm. The cell's compact housing allows use in Q-switches in highly miniaturized laser systems. The MPC 4 IM has a transmission rate of 98% at 1064 nm, and its extinction ratio is 1:3000 (at 1064 nm and 1/2 voltage applied). Maximum power for the cell is 500 MW/cm2.
LINOS Photonics, Göttingen, Germany
Laser energy heads
A new line of laser energy heads uses a patented technology for repeatable measurements at up to 5-kHz pulse frequency, 3-ms pulsewidth and a wide range of wavelengths. The various models can measure from microJoules to 40 J per pulse with high-damage thresholds.
Ophir Optronics, Danvers, MA
Monochrome digital board-level camera
A monochrome version of the FireFly fully digital board-level camera includes a 2 x 2 in. camera, Plug-and-Play 6-pin IEEE-1394 PCI interface card, 4.5-m IEEE-1394 cable, FireFly driver software, and an image-acquisition software library. Three lenses of 4-, 6-, and 8-mm focal lengths and a tripod mounting bracket are standard. The camera is designed around the Sony 1/3-in. HAD 640 x 480 progressive-scan CCD.
Point Grey Research, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada