Manufacturability of VCSELs
Within the last three years, Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) have emerged from the laboratory. They are rapidly becoming a workhorse technology for semiconductor optoelectronics, and are increasingly the light source of choice. While fiber optics and other communications applications were among the early adopters, other, larger-volume applications such as optical encoders, reflective/transmissive sensors and optical read/write applications are beginning to emerge. In this paper, we examine several of the properties of VCSELs that enhance their manufacturability, and we describe how those characteristics may be exploited in the manufacturing environment. The ability to test the lasers while still in wafer form, the enhanced reliability, and the ability to package the laser in traditional LED package styles are among the most significant points enabling high-volume VCSEL manufacture.
