Blue Sky Research announces laser diode sources for free space optical communications
Blue Sky Research, a privately held developer and manufacturer of high-performance, cost-effective optical network components, announced the availability of its Free-Space Telecom Laser Sources for "fiberless" optical communications. Free-Space Telecom Laser Sources use the Company's proprietary microlens technology to produce more reliable line-of-sight, free-space optical data transmission, especially through atmospheric interferences.
Free-space optical communications is only practical if it can be done reliably through atmospheric interferences such as fog. Blue Sky Research's laser sources enable delivery of collimated uniform laser beam power over greater distances and with greater penetrating power to overcome weather effects.
Blue Sky Research's laser sources use the Company's proprietary microlens technology in combination with a variety of laser diodes. The microlens concentrates the diodes' power into a circular, aberration-free, ideal beam, which translates into more transmitted power arriving at the detector. A recent test showed that four times the laser power arrived at the detector through fog using a Blue Sky Research laser source compared to other laser transmitters. Also, the microlens converts essentially 100 percent of the diode's beam power into a useful communications signal. This added efficiency allows either running the diodes at reduced operating conditions, which extends the diodes' lifetime and reliability, or using lower cost, lower-power diodes.
Free-Space laser sources are available now, as TO-can laser diodes, modules or fiber pigtailed packages. They are offered with wavelengths from 780 to 1550nm and power ratings from 5mW to 150mW.
About Blue Sky Research:
Blue Sky Research, headquartered in San Jose, California, is an innovative optical network components company that develops and manufactures key products essential for the deployment of optical communications networks. For more information, visit www.blueskyresearch.com.