Mitsubishi Electric Announces Sale of 638-Nanometer Laser Diode with World-Leading Output Power for Mobile Color Projectors

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (President and CEO: Setsuhiro Shimomura) (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it has developed a 638-nanometer wavelength laser diode with the world’s highest output power of 110 milliwatts in single lateral-mode operation, for use in palm-size mobile color-projectors and other display systems. This laser diode, the ML520G54, also achieves the world’s highest wall plug efficiency of 28 percent. Sample shipment will begin on February 1, 2009.

Summary of Sale
Model		Main specifications		Price of sample (Including tax)		Sample shipment date
ML520G54		638 nm single lateral-mode LD High output power (110mW CW) Operating temperature: -5~+50 degrees C Standard CAN package with 5.6 mm diameter		US$ 120		February 1, 2009

Aim of Sale

Laser diodes are widely used in optical disc systems, such as recordable DVD players, and optical communication equipment. Recently, the market is seeking to further extend the use of laser diodes to display equipment.

Meanwhile palm-size mobile color projectors, which are used to project applications in personal entertainment players, mobile phones and other mobile equipment, are garnering attention. Among the several methods of projecting these applications, the greatest expectation is being placed on the use of small, high-output and highly efficient laser diodes as a light source, while employing micro mirror devices to scan the laser beams. Such projection technology requires high beam quality and wave-front uniformity; it is also essential for the laser diode to have single lateral-mode lasing characteristics. However, to date, there had been no laser diodes with enough output power and brightness to satisfy mobile color projector manufacturers.

Mitsubishi Electric, a leading supplier of high-power 660-nanometer laser diodes, has utilized its expertise in laser diode production to develop a laser diode for mobile color projectors and other display systems. Of the three colors-- red, green and blue-- used as light sources in mobile color projectors, the ML520G54 offers clear and bright red light, with high output and a lasing wavelength set at 638 nanometers. This development will contribute to the production of brighter mobile color projectors with lower power consumption.

In addition, the model’s compact 5.6-millimeter “TO CAN housing” package makes this laser diode suitable for high-level integration not only in mobile color projectors but also in the laser display apparatus, industrial instrumentation and biomedical fields.

Product Features

1) World’s highest figures: an output power of 110 milliwatts and a wall plug efficiency of 28 percent

Previous red laser diodes with a wavelength of 640 nanometers or lower-- the wavelength most suitable to reproduce optical red color clearly and brightly-- had difficulty maintaining single lateral-mode lasing characteristics at high output power. Mitsubishi Electric’s new model has fully utilized the company’s unique know-how in applying window mirror structures and ridge waveguide structures, which helped achieve a world-leading output power of 110 milliwatts at 638 nanometers in single lateral-mode operation. Its wall plug efficiency is 28 percent at 25 degrees C, which is also the highest in the world. As a result, the new product will contribute to the production of brighter mobile color projectors with lower power consumption.

2) Operating range of up to 50 degrees C

Due to its optimized materials and structure, the ML520G54 operates at an output power of 110 milliwatts even at a high temperature of up to +50 degrees C.

Specifications
		Conditions (@25 degrees C)		Typical value
Output power		CW		110mW
Threshold current		CW		50mA
Operation current		Po = 110 mW, CW		150mA
Operation voltage		Po = 110 mW, CW		2.7V
Lasing wavelength		Po = 110 mW, CW		638nm

Future Developments

Mitsubishi Electric will continue development of higher power laser diodes for display applications.

About Mitsubishi Electric

With over 80 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products to both corporate clients and general consumers all over the world, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. The company recorded consolidated group sales of 4,049.8 billion yen (US$ 40.5 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. For more information visit http://global.mitsubishielectric.com

*At an exchange rate of 100 yen to the US dollar, the rate given by the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2008