Laser Diode Identification
Laser diodes are made from semiconductors, and are also called semiconductor lasers. Outside of their package they are chips as small as a millimeter in length, but their beam is so intense that even low-powered ones are able to cause eye damage.
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Features
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Laser diodes are similar to LEDs, but are able to produce light that is very narrow, focused and pure. Their light may be visible or near infrared. Their power ranges from milliwatts of power to hundreds of watts.
Construction
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Laser diodes are usually very small, around five to ten millimeters. They are classified according to the way they are made. Edge emitters emit light from an edge of the chip, while vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, VCSELs for short, emit light vertically from the chip's surface.
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Identification
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Many are packaged in TO-can types. They have three leads, and are called metal cans because of the shape of their top. The top also has a window for the light to lase through, and they may include heat sinks and photodiodes. Photodiodes are used to detect light.
Other Types
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Other laser diodes are placed in various packaging such as dual inline packages (DIPs); arrays; or heavy-duty cases or modules for use in solid state lasers. They may also be placed inside fiber optics. Their casing depends on the application for which they are being used, as well as their structure.
Function
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Laser diodes are used in many devices such as remotes, laser printers, CD players and laser pointers. They are useful as drills and surgical instruments. Additionally, they are essential in fiber optic communication systems and in supermarkets as part of checkout systems.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit dvd drive laser closeup image by .shock from Fotolia.com
