SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, January 24, 2005 – JDSU, a leading provider of high precision optical solutions for industrial applications, today announced the availability of a laser architecture that offers high precision solutions for industrial and commercial applications. The Industrial Diode Laser System (IDL) incorporates multiple single-emitter diodes combined into a single output fiber, and provides up to 100 watts of power. This breakthrough laser architecture heralds a new standard in power, life expectancy, reliability and beam uniformity. JDSU is showing the latest and most powerful member of its IDL family, the IDL 100, this week at Photonics West in Booth number 1621 at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California.
Single-emitter diodes (available through JDSU’s telecom business) offer the advantage of being pulsed on and off without affecting lifetime, unlike non-telecom grade bar diodes which have been the industry norm until now. Telecom grade single-emitter diodes show lifetimes in excess of 400,000 hours. This compares with bar diodes which typically demonstrate lifetimes on the order of ten thousand hours. While pulsing does not affect telecom-grade diode lifetime, it can dramatically reduce bar diode lifetimes. Using multiple devices allows for redundancy and improves thermal management.
Competing 100 watt systems rely on as many as 19 output fibers, resulting in a lack of beam uniformity. The IDL’s single output fiber offers unprecedented beam quality. Superior lifetime and reliability, coupled with a uniform, “top hat” beam profile, are advantages in applications such as selective laser soldering and plastic welding. JDSU’s IDL products are used widely for plastic welding of exhaust manifolds, key bobs, CV joints, light weight plastic gasoline tanks, and many other plastic parts needed in automobile production. The 100 watt version is expected to enable plastic welding of components with high glass content, parts with low absorption, and/or allow for greater production throughput.
“Historically, pulsing has resulted in a dramatic reduction of lifetime. This has proven not to be the case with telecom grade diodes,” said Phillip Meredith, vice president of JDSU’s Commercial Laser Products Group. “The telecom industry presents far harsher environmental requirements than the commercial market. Therefore, leveraging JDSU’s telecom expertise gives us an advantage in developing innovative laser solutions for the industrial and commercial laser market.”
“The market for plastics welding is small but growing by a CAGR of around 25 percent,” said Tom Hausken, an analyst with Strategies Unlimited. “Moreover, JDSU would do well to focus on additional opportunities in consumer electronics and medical devices that these lasers could prove ideal for, such as plastic welding of cell phone covers and pacemaker components, and in PCB manufacturing where this new class of laser solution could be used for selective soldering of electronics components. JDSU clearly has an advantage in this market due to its diversity as a company. They are basically able to source the necessary components in house from other business units.”
About JDSU
JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU; and TSX: JDU) is committed to enabling broadband & optical innovation in the communications, commercial and consumer markets. JDSU is the leading provider of communications test and measurement solutions and optical products for telecommunications service providers, cable operators, and network equipment manufacturers. Furthermore, JDSU is the leading provider of innovative optical solutions for medical/environmental instrumentation, semiconductor processing, display, brand authentication, aerospace and defense, and decorative applications. More information is available at http://www.jdsu.com/.
The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statement or implication that the products described in this press release (i) will be successfully introduced or marketed, (ii) will be qualified and purchased by our customers, or (iii) will perform to any particular specifications or performance or reliability standards. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that, if realized, could materially impair the Company's results of operations, business, and financial condition. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (a) the failure of the products (i) to perform as expected without material defects, (ii) to be manufactured at acceptable volumes, yields, and cost, (iii) to be qualified and accepted by our customers, and (iv) to successfully compete with products offered by our competitors, and (b) factors discussed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or qualify any of the statements made herein. Source: JDS Uniphase Corporation.
Media: Jayme Curtis, JDSU Public Relations, 408-546-7082 or jayme.curtis@jdsu.com
Investors: Jacquie Ross, Investor Relations, 408-546-4445, or investor.relations@jdsu.com
Customers: Allan Ashmead, Sales, 408-546-4803 or allan.ashmead@jdsu.com
JDSU and the JDSU logo are trademarks of JDS Uniphase Corporation.