Infineon Technologies AG (Germany) announced that it is sampling a 1,310nm VCSEL diode that allows transmission distances of up to 10km. Unlike commonly used DFB and FP laser diodes that emit light from the edge, VCSELs emit light from the surface to simplify packaging, thereby lowering costs. The new VCSELs are suitable for short-reach datacom applications, offering transmission distances of up to 300m.
Packaged in a TSSOP casing, the VCSEL diode is claimed to feature a high-quality optical beam that provides easy and cost-effective assembly and single-mode coupling, which is further supported by the nature of vertical emission, and allows performance tests and selection to be made at an early stage of production. The spectral line width and side-mode suppression performance of the 1,310nm, single-mode VCSEL are equivalent to or better than a DFB laser. The diode exhibits low threshold and operating currents, which enable it for low-power applications. Heat dissipation is claimed to be lower than conventional edge-emitting lasers.
