3.1-Gbit/s 850-nm VCSELs Produce Highly Stable Beams

May 26, 2003

The ZL60001/60002 family of oxide-confined 850-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is said to generate a light beam of unmatched high stability, overcoming the effects of current and temperature. Designed for 3.1-Gbit/s data rates, the family's patent-pending optical system minimizes variations in the optical far field when current and temperature change. The output beam closely matches the circular shape of the fiber core for high coupling efficiency and minimum risk of partition noise.

These VCSELs feature 1/0.5 mW minimum of fiber-coupled output optical power, 1.5/0.7 mW minimum of output optical power, and 1 mA of threshold current from 0°C to 70°C. They target Gigabit Ethernet, InfiniBand, Fibre Channel, asynchronous transfer mode, and other communications applications. Additional features include 1.6-V minimum forward voltage, 0.85-nm rms spectral bandwidth, and maximum relative intensity noise of −120 dB/Hz. The ZL6002 includes a photodiode to monitor optical power.

In 100,000-unit lots, the ZL60001 and ZL60002 cost $6 and $8 each, respectively. Both come in three-pin TO-46 cases and are available in volume production.

Zarlink Semiconductor (613) 592-0200 • www.zarlink.com

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About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.