BLUE SKY RESEARCH INTRODUCES FIBERTEC LINE OF FIBER-COUPLED LASER MODULES

FiberTEC 635 red laser and FiberTEC 405 violet laser versions produced in volume; custom modules including wavelengths of 440nm, 473nm, 658nm, 690nm and 785nm available in sample quantities

MILPITAS, Calif. - September 15, 2003 - Blue Sky Research, a volume manufacturer of semiconductor lasers, laser systems and OEM components, today announced the introduction of a new product family: the FiberTEC line of fiber-coupled lasers. The FiberTEC line combines Blue Sky Research's high performance laser modules, which include integrated control, monitor and drive electronics and the Company's award-winning, patented microlens optics technology, with a single mode fiber pigtail. The first high volume products available are the FiberTEC 405, a 405nm violet laser with up to 15mW output power, and the FiberTEC 635, a 635nm red laser with 25mW output power. Additional wavelengths and configurations of 440nm, 473nm, 658nm, 690nm and 785nm are available in sample volumes. The complete FiberTEC product line will consist of UV, violet, blue, green, red and near infrared versions, and includes polarization maintaining fiber and beam collimating optics options.

FiberTEC fiber-coupled modules offer considerable advantages for many applications. By separating the beam delivery system from the diode laser itself, beam quality and stability considerations are greatly simplified. The fiber can be positioned anywhere in the optical delivery system and the laser can be located at any convenient point, giving instrumentation designers more flexibility. Blue Sky Research's microlens technology optimizes the beam profile for optimum coupling efficiency, generating maximum output power from the fiber. The output from the fiber is an almost perfect circular Gaussian beam with low aberrations. Optional collimation or filtering optics can be installed at the fiber tip, allowing for a variety of different output beam profiles and spectra.

“We receive many requests for fiber-coupled configurations of our lasers, so we decided to release a complete line of integrated fiber-coupled modules,” said Chris Gladding, President and CEO of Blue Sky Research. “Stable and accurate coupling for maximum efficiency can be a tricky business, but with our microlens optics and fiber coupling methods, we’re able to mass-produce high stability, low-cost laser modules that deliver optimized beam profiles with maximum output power.”

Each FiberTEC laser includes a high power laser diode coupled with a one meter single mode fiber, thermoelectric cooler and integrated drive and protection electronics in a compact (71mm x 24mm x 15mm) package. Power outputs of 5mW, 10mW and 25mW are available for the FiberTEC 635 and 5mW, Standard features include Automatic Power Control and Automatic Current Control electronics, and a 1- m single mode fiber pigtail. Control interface options include either a manual interface of jumpers and trimpots, or remote control through circuit board pins. Performance meets or exceeds the best available laser sources, with very stable output power, beam pointing stability over temperature, high electrical efficiency and proven reliability.

In addition to the FiberTEC 405 and 635, the complete FiberTEC line will include wavelengths from 375nm to 785nm, available in a variety of standard as well as custom configurations. Blue Sky Research offers laser modules for virtually any application, including spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, printing, optical data storage, and more. The FiberTEC 635 and FiberTEC 405 are available in volume production now. New members of the FiberTEC family will be announced soon.

About Blue Sky Research

Blue Sky Research is a vertically integrated volume manufacturer of fiber-coupled and free space, red, blue, violet, and IR laser systems, semiconductor lasers, 635nm laser diodes, and OEM laser components. With expertise in semiconductor and laser diode manufacturing and sophisticated optical engineering disciplines, the company is uniquely qualified to craft state of the art laser systems characterized by cutting edge performance and innovative mechanical and electronic designs. Custom and application-specific solutions for high reliability and coupling of laser power to single mode fibers are enabled via award-winning, patented microlens technology, and telecommunications grade packaging technology. Founded in 1989, Blue Sky Research is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, with production capabilities that include an in-house semiconductor foundry and offshore high volume manufacturing partnerships. More information about Blue Sky Research can be found on the Internet at www.blueskyresearch.com..

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