1 February 2019

Rockley launches highly integrated DBR laser for high-volume sensing and imaging markets

Rockley Photonics of Pasadena, CA, USA (formed in 2013 to develop a silicon photonics platform for optical I/O in next-generation sensor systems and communications networks) has announced the availability of its high-performance and highly integrated distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser solution for sensing, 3D imaging and other applications that demand high-volume manufacturing.

Picture: Rockley’s packaged multi-channel DBR laser.

The laser was developed as part of the firm’s silicon photonics platform and designed for integration alongside other specifically developed native components such as modulators, semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), multiplexors, detectors, variable optical amplifiers (VOAs) and low-loss fiber and free-space interfaces among others for highly integrated solutions. Adding to the laser’s versatility is its multi-channel capability delivering numerous individually engineered and controllable beams (1, 4, 8…) from a single device. It can be specified in various wavelength grids, including the 15XX band, and with higher channel count, as required.

Its optical bandwidth in the ‘eye-safe’ region makes it suitable for free-space sensing applications. A narrow linewidth supports ranges over a kilometer and extremely high-resolution imaging. The laser is tunable, supporting applications with high density and broadband requirements, and it has been designed for non-hermetic packaging. As a discreet component, it is available in die or packaged formats.

http://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2019/feb/rockley_010219.shtml

“Numerous applications – from consumer electronics to vehicle sensing – are driving increasing volume demands for high-performance lasers,” says CEO & chairman Andrew Rickman. “Current products on the market limit production scalability because they have to be redesigned for each sensing application and suffer from poor manufacturing tolerance. We have addressed those key scalability issues with a unified and comprehensive laser product,” he adds.

Rockley says that, while its DBR laser is designed for high-volume manufacture, it does not compromise form factor or performance – characteristics that are traditionally highly dependent on the light source and means of integration.

“Our technology simplifies the manufacturing, assembly and test process while maximizing the power efficiency of the optical system,” concludes Rickman.