Photonics West 2011: Day 2 Report
By Jim Pomager and Ron Grunsby
Here is a rundown of some of the happenings on Wednesday at Photonics West 2011.
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DSI
Deposition Sciences, Inc. (DSI) brought attendees up to speed on its wide range of high-performance, durable optical thin-film coatings. DSI develops and builds all of its proprietary coating platforms in house, which enables the company to deliver solutions based on each specific customer’s needs, rather than trying to force them into an existing process solution. One example is DSI’s MicroDyn short-throw reactive sputtering process, which is capable of depositing difficult, durable coatings, including complex filters (see related article). The company’s IsoDyn low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process can deposit multi-layers of silicon dioxide, tantalum oxide, and titanium dioxide on optical glasses, crystalline materials, ceramics, and metals. DSI told Photonics Online that its mid- and long-wave infrared capabilities, in particular, drew significant interest from booth visitors at Photonics West.
Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu launched three new products at Photonics West. The FL-280 is a new scientific CMOS (sCMOS) board-level camera that features: an sCMOS image sensor with 2.8-megapixel resolution (3.63 x 3.63 µm pixel size), wavelength sensitivity ranges from UV to NIR (with peak sensitivity at approximately 450 to 500 nm), readout noise of 3 electrons r.m.s (typical), and readout speed ranges from 45 to 1,273 fps. The new LC-L5, a UV-LED light source for UV curing, irradiates a linear area with monochromatic UV light at 365 nm or 385 nm (±5 nm). Finally, Hamamatsu introduced the S11500-1007, a back-thinned CCD for Raman spectroscopy with a spectral response range from 200 to 1,100 nm and 40% quantum efficiency at 1,000 nm.
Photron
High-speed camera system provider Photron showcased numerous new technologies at its booth. Of note, the IDP-Express R2000 combines a high-speed video camera with a dedicated capture card-equipped PCI-Express 8x bus, allowing users to transfer high-speed video data to PC memory directly from the camera head without an intermediate frame buffer. (Photron is currently seeking partners to help identify and develop applications for this new system.) Another interesting product on display was the Fastcam SA5, which achieves speeds of 7,500 fps at megapixel resolution (1,024 x 1,000). Photron also previewed its soon-to-be-launched Fastcam SA-X, which boasts 1,024 x 1,024 pixel resolution at a staggering 10,000 fps; dual Gig-E RJ45 connectors also enable the camera to record and download images simultaneously and quickly.
Sensors Unlimited – Goodrich ISR Systems
Sensors Unlimited demonstrated its newest shortwave infrared (SWIR) line-scan camera, the SU1024LDH2. The small (3" x 3" x 2.4"), easy-to-integrate indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) SWIR camera features a high-speed line rate increase to 92 KHz, making it especially useful for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging applications. The company also premiered its new, large-format InGaAs SU640KTS camera, which features the CE certification mark for the European Union (EU). The new camera was used in the booth to demonstrate photovoltaic inspection capabilities, including the ability to image through a large silicon block to detect cracks or defects, and to inspect silicon ingots and solar cells/panels. For more information on NIR and SWIR InGaAs cameras, please visit www.sensorsinc.com.
Ocean Optics
Superheroes (literally) circled the Ocean Optics booth. Employees in full costume handed out comic books, a superhero mannequin “flew” around the top of the booth, and giant superhero images were visible from across the exhibition hall, all in support of the company’s “League of Light” theme. On the new product side, Ocean Optics introduced the STS line of compact (40 x 42 x 24 mm), low-cost spectrometers that provide full-spectrum performance for OEM and high-volume applications. Another miniature spectrometer making its debut was the Torus, an aberration-corrected concave diffraction grating device intended for research and OEM applications from 360 to 825 nm. The Jaz modular spectroscopy platform also welcomed a new member — the Jaz Indy, a multifunction module that branches the Jaz system into industrial applications.
Qioptiq
Qioptiq had, by far, the hottest booth giveaway at Photonics West: a bright green and white kite seen slung across the shoulders of hundreds of attendees. Trade show swag aside, Qioptiq also demoed a number of interesting new products at its booth. Among them was the iFLEX2000 375-nm 10-mW fiber coupled laser, a compact laser diode system with a modular single-mode fiber delivery system for applications including calcium and protein analysis. Also launched was a high-power version (HPV) of Qioptiq’s iFLEX-Viper compact multi-line laser source, intended for laboratory and OEM applications. Most impressive, though, was a new cell phone camera module featuring a programmable liquid lens — the B617, developed by Varioptic — that integrates optical image stabilization and autofocus in the same element.
GT Solar
GT Solar, a leading global supplier of polysilicon production equipment, crystalline ingot growth systems, and related PV manufacturing equipment for the solar industry, was at the show discussing its entry into the fast-growing sapphire market. In July, GT Solar acquired Crystal Systems, a crystalline growth technology company that manufactures high-quality, large-area sapphire substrates used in the LED, defense, medical, and aerospace industries. “We wanted to enter the LED marketplace,” GT Solar Director of Marketing Communications Jeff Nestel-Patt told Photonics Online. “It's a big opportunity for us, while at the same time we want to send a reassuring message that we are going to continue to support our existing customers in the specialty market segments we have traditionally served.”
Boston Micromachines
Boston Micromachines was showing a wavefront sensorless adaptive optics demonstrator. It can be used for any microscopy modality — anything that has an aberration that needs to be cleaned up. It uses a hillclimbing algorithm to optimize an image. “The response has been great,” Director of Product Marketing Michael Feinberg told Photonics Online. “People have been impressed and intrigued. It should be commercially available in the next few months.”
imec
imec announced the launch of a new industrial affiliation program on high-bandwidth optical input/output (I/O). The primary objective of the new program, which is part of imec’s research platform on deep-submicron CMOS scaling, is to explore the use of optical solutions for realizing high-bandwidth I/O between CMOS chips. imec performs research in nanoelectronics. It leverages its scientific knowledge with global partnerships in ICT, healthcare, and energy, and delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. “We are able to build things other companies can’t, because we are able to change the technology itself,” Francesco Pessolano, manager, NVision program, told Photonics Online. “We look at the application, change the technology a bit, develop a prototype, and go into production.”
ROHM Semiconductor
ROHM Semiconductor released a new series of high-performance infrared LEDs ideally suited for proximity sensor applications. The SIM-030/031ST and SIM-040/041ST surface-mount IR LEDs feature IR wavelength technology that provides peak output of 850/870 nm, compared to 950 nm for comparable devices. The 850/870 nm level is much closer to the peak wave sensitivity of phototransistors (sensors), thus achieving higher efficiency proximity sensing and energy savings of up to 66%. In addition, the small package footprint and low profile further enhance their application in cell phones and other portable devices. ROHM Semiconductor Field Application Engineer Avi Elmaleh said: “The combination of ROHM’s advanced process technology and packaging has resulted in a superior product for space-constrained proximity sensing. The SIM-030/031ST is the perfect choice for power saving in cell phones, turning off the display when the device is closer to the ear.”
Sticklers
Sticklers introduced the first complete line of fiber optic cleaning products specifically designed as a system to clean any connection, in any configuration, in any installation, anywhere, anytime. “One kit can make you ready for anything with fiber optic end-faces,” said Jay Tourigny, VP of operations at MicroCare Corporation, which manufactures Sticklers cleaners. Tourigny demonstrated the cleaning of fiber optic end-faces for Photonics Online. When they are already in alignment sleeves or installed, Sticklers offers CleanStixx, a high-purity, lint-free “cleaning stick” that comes in five different sizes to ensure the right cleaning tool is available for any size or configuration of connector.
