Optoelectronics

Toshiba has created a pair of highspeed photo relays for pin-switching in semiconductor test equipment. “Improved infrared LEDs and optimised photodiode arrays in these models enable switch-on times to be reduced to 150µs while maintaining signal quality,” according to distributor Rutronik, which is stocking the parts. “In addition, the S-VSON4T package saves space on the circuit board.” – it measures ...

CEA-Leti revealed GaN micro-LED displays incorporating an array of organic photodetectors. “MicroLED’s high radiance allows us to free up space on the display panel to incorporate photodetectors,” said Leti’s project leader Michaël Pelissier. “Demonstrating the integration of microLEDs with photodetectors paves the way for multi-functional displays that combine imaging, gesture recognition and even biometric scanning.” The display-sensor was described in ...

Toshiba has introduced an opto-isolated SiC gate driver, that includes an active Miller clamp to tame self-turn-on behaviour in the driven device. Named TLP5814H, it is a “gate driver photocoupler suitable for driving silicon carbide mosfets in industrial equipment like inverters, uninterruptible power supplies and photovoltaic inverters which experience harsh thermal environments”, according to the company. “The Miller clamp circuit ...

Hamamatsu Photonics has launched a series of avalanche photo diodes that work across 320 to 1,000nm. Sensitivity peaks at 750nm. Called the S17353 series, they share a typical sensitivity of 0.44A/W at 650nm, and the six models vary in photosensitive diameter from 0.2 to 5mm. The smallest has a capacitance of 1pF and can be esxpected to work at 1GHz ...

TDK has demonstrated a fast optical sensor based on a magnetic tunnelling junction – a spin photo detector. The device is extremely fast in turning on – 20ps has been measured when hit by a femtosecond laser pulse. [Ed: an earlier version of this article incorrectly stated ’20ns’] It has a stack of two Co22Fe58B20 magnetic layers separated by a magnesium ...

Leuze has introduced a broad range of stainless steel optical detectors for the food industry. “The devices are designed for reliable operation in wet areas and during intensive cleaning processes and have protection classes such as IP67, IP68 and IP69K, as well as Ecolab, CleanProof+ and Diversey certifications. There are retro-reflective sensors which send out light that is expected to ...

Toshiba Electronics has introduced a 60V 1A single-contact photo-relay in a 2.6 x 7mm 4pad SO4 package. Called TLP3640A, it can switch 60Vdc or 60Vac peak, with a typical on-resistance of 0.14Ω and maximum off-state leakage of 1µA. 100ms pulses of up to 3A can be carried. Operation is over -40 to +110°C, and de-rating starts at 25°C, dropping linearly ...

Vishay has stretched an SO-6 package to accommodate 1kV operation from opto-based mosfet and IGBT gate drivers. The body is ~7mm from end to end and creepage is 8mm. Clearance is 7mm for the ‘option 9’ package which has conventionally bent legs, or 8mm for the ‘option 8’ package which has widely-splayed legs (see image). Peak working voltage is 1.14kV ...

Würth Elektronik has revealed two reflective optical sensors. These are simple devices, with an infra-red emitter and a photo-transistor, both facing upwards, but work at an unusual wavelength. “These contain both emitters and detectors for 940nm wavelength,” said the company. The “sensors filter out visible light up to 800nm, rather than just up to 700nm, so they are less susceptible ...

Extreme data centres are submerging their servers in tanks of liquid coolant, and Molex is working on a way to get optical fibre signals in and out of those tanks – particularly two-phase tanks, where vapour sits over the liquid surface. Branding them VaporConnect optical feed-through modules, the company said that they are a cassette-based design that bolts directly onto ...