Ushio starts mass production of new 405nm, 175mW single mode laser diode with industry’s widest operation temperature

Ushio Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan; Koji Naito, President & CEO; hereinafter “Ushio”) announces Ushio has developed the HL40163MG series, a 405nm wavelength, 175mW optical output single mode laser diode (LD) that achieves stable beam quality over the widest operating temperature range in the industry, and will begin mass production in 1Q 2023.

Background

Four hundred and five nm single-mode LDs are widely used as a pick-up light source for Blu-ray discs, but in recent years their applications have expanded to industrial sensors, medical equipment and measuring instruments. In particular, for applications such like sensors for particle detection in semiconductor processes and 3D scanners for inspecting electronic components and substrates, there has been an increasing need for finer particle detection and higher resolution inspection requiring illumination with high light flux density and uniformity. For these applications, shorter wavelength that reduces the focused spot diameter and high-power lasers with stable beam quality over a wider range of temperature conditions are required.

Ushio has achieved the industry’s widest operating temperature range, -5℃ to +85℃ for 405nm, 175mW single-mode LDs by using advanced crystal growth technology and a unique optical confinement control structure. The LDs also have a high light flux density over the entire temperature range, and have succeeded in achieving stable, uniform beam characteristics and a low aspect ratio.

This LD is expected to be adopted in a wide range of fields, including industrial sensors, medical equipment, measuring and analysis equipment, 3D scanners and 3D printers, where stable performance is required in a variety of environments. The HL40161MG, a model with a built-in monitor photo diode is also being developed, with mass production scheduled to commence in Q2 2023.

Ushio will further expand its blue-violet LD line-up and contribute to the spread and performance improvement of blue-violet LD-equipped devices in an even wider range of fields.

Mass production timing

HL40163MG：　1Q 2023

HL40161MG：　2Q 2023

Product features

・Optical output power and wavelength　：　175mW 405nm (Tc=25℃)

・High temperature operation ： Max. operation temperature +85℃

・Superior beam quality　：　Adopting unique optical confinement control structure

Product specification（Operation temperature　Tc＝25℃）

^※Conversion efficiency of optical output to input power.

Applications

Industrial sensors, medical equipment, measuring and analysis equipment, 3D scanners, and 3D printers