Projectors are commonly used in meetings and seminars, and their primary light source is still ultra-high-pressure mercury lamps. As the name implies, ultra-high-pressure mercury lamps contain mercury and generate concerns regarding environmental pollution. For that reason, they are expected to be replaced by solid-state light sources which do not contain mercury such as LDs (Laser Diodes) and LEDs. However, due to cost and other reasons, this replacement is taking time, and in the RoHS Directive, ultra-high-pressure mercury lamps for projectors with an output of ≥2,000 lm ...

Ushio announced the initiation of its new laser diodes mass production. The new products HL67191MG and HL67192MG offer operation at the 670 nm wavelength. Providing an optical output power of 15 mW (CW) and 30 mW (pulsed), these single-mode LDs deliver high-temperature performance (up to 70°C) within a φ5.6 mm package. Both LDs achieve a low operating current of 30 mA at 25°C (15 mW in CW operation) and feature built-in monitoring photodiodes. (Image: Ushio) According to Ushio, these new red laser diodes offer a number of improvements over some...

Nichia, the leading LED Company based in Japan, held a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan and shared its state-of-the-art lighting technologies in automotive, medical, and horticultural applications. 

Augmented Reality (AR) is thought by many, including many of the leading CEOs in Silicon Valley, to be the “next big thing,” ultimately displacing our smartphones with stylish, interactive glasses that communicate with the digital world, in part by superimposing virtual images on the wearer’s field of view. Huge investment is pursuing this vision, much of it focused on micro-displays and sophisticated optics for overlaying images onto a wearer’s view. But just as promising is the idea of scanning such images directly into the human eye. Needed are very low power lasers or laser arrays in RGB or more colors that can be packaged in very small, discreet form factors suitable for integration into attractive, fashionable eyewear. Such lasers do not yet exist, but a technology that meets the challenge is in development, which can also lever the existing manufacturing infrastructure for LEDs. It can also address many other applications in emerging bio-tech and even in SSL markets for highly directional lighting.    

According to Japanese media Nikkei, major LED manufacturer Nichia Corporation plans to invest around 22 billion Japanese yen (about US$197 million) by the end of 2020 to build a new laser diode (LD) factory at its current production base. LD can be used as a light source for projectors, endoscopy and headlights. The Japanese LED maker’s goal is to increase current LD production capacity by at least three-fold by 2020. 

New laser bar series of Osram Opto Semiconductors with 200 Watt continuous power An extremely high efficiency of up to 65 percent at 200 Watt optical output power – these are the outstanding features of Osram Opto Semiconductors’ new laser bars. They can simplify the design of laser systems and reduce their cost. Laserline, one of the leading manufacturers of diode lasers for industrial material processing, now also makes full use of these advantages. Laser bars from Osram Opto Semiconductors are the core of the latest and most powerful fiber-coupled diode l...