Princeton Optronics Provides VCSELs for Google Project

Princeton Optronics Inc. said it is working with Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group on compact 3-D imaging systems for mobile devices.

The initiative, called Project Tango, will use vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) from Princeton Optronics as illumination sources for motion and depth sensing.

VCSELs provide high power conversion efficiency and low speckle, the company said, and can be manufactured in high volume using conventional semiconductor processing techniques. Arrays of VCSELs can be packaged in a variety of configurations for high-volume applications, similar to LEDs.

Chip sizes range from 0.1 to 25 mm², with output powers in the red and IR range from several milliwatts to hundreds of watts.

Princeton Optronics recently patented (U.S. Patent Nos. 8,675,706B2 and 8,783,893B1) two surface-mounted VCSEL designs for illumination applications.

For more information visit www.princetonoptronics.com.