II-VI Marks VCSEL Shipping Milestone

The 200 millionth vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) since 2008 has been shipped by its Zurich-based laser enterprise subsidiary, II-VI Inc. announced Wednesday. It also said the unit will add high-power VCSELs aimed at high-volume consumer electronics markets.

II-VI Laser Enterprise GmbH makes semiconductor lasers for applications such as pumping, medical printing and telecommunications. Consumer electronics applications of the lasers include optical finger navigation, laser enabling of computer mice, and active optical cables. The Switzerland-based company has design centers in Tucson, Ariz., and Paignton, England.

II-VI Laser Enterprise is sampling high-power VCSELs for sensing and illumination applications, the company said. The single-die lasers emit more than 10 mW at 850 nm, and the replication of the same die on a 2-D array enables it to reach up to 2-W optical power at 850 nm for illumination of the larger volumes that may be required in sensing applications such as time of flight.

For more information, visit: www.ii-vi.com