BluGlass to showcase upgraded GaN laser products at Munich industry event

ASX-listed semiconductor business BluGlass will unveil its upgraded gallium nitride (GaN) laser products at the Laser World of Photonics industry event in Munich, Germany this week.

According to a statement from BluGlass on Monday (Australian time), the new version of their blue 450-nanometre wavelength single-mode and multi-mode devices demonstrate power conversion efficiencies up 55 per cent and 42 per cent respectively versus those launched in January at the Photonics West event in San Francisco.

Besides the 450-nanometre devices, there would be upgraded versions of 405-nanometre and 420-nanometre products on show, as well as the launch of a new 397-nanometre ultra-violet single-mode alpha product. This grows the company’s portfolio to six commercial and three prototype products, BluGlass said.

The company said UV lasers were being increasingly sought out for applications including in quantum sensing, advanced disinfection technologies, water and surface purification applications, and medical devices.

“Our enhanced GaN laser products are shifting our market position from an  emerging alternative supplier to an agile player that is focused on providing high quality and competitive GaN lasers,” said CEO Jim Haden 

“As a dedicated GaN laser supplier, we are focused on launching innovative products that address gaps in the  market whilst also improving the baseline performance of our existing lasers as we strive to meet or exceed  competitor benchmarks.”

BluGlass also said in the statement that – together with its collaboration partner the University of Santa Barbara California (UCSB) – it had made  significant improvements to its GaN Distributed Feedback Laser (DFB) demonstrations using its proprietary RPCVD technology for longer-wavelength devices, and that it was nearing completion of vertical integration completion at its Silicon Valley fab.

“Performance improvements are a direct result of greater operational control, and we are  nearing completion of vertical integration of our front-end contract manufacturers,” added BluGlass CEO Jim Haden. 

“Given our aggressive  improvement curve, we remain confident in our ability to gain market share in a rapidly growing category with very  few players and high barriers to entry.”

Picture: credit BluGlass

Further reading

BluGlass launches laser diode range at US industry event

BluGlass joins Californian electronics R&D consortium

Bluglass raises $10.2 million, seeks another $2.7 million as it grows laser production, product range