Picoprojector engine company Compound Photonics buys Alfalight commercial laser diode assets

Phoenix, AZ--Picoprojector engine (http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/print/volume-48/issue-03/features/lasers-inject-new-life-into-projection-displays.html) company Compound Photonics haspurchased the commercial laser diode product line and operations of Alfalight (Madison, WI), and will continue to support current commercial laser customers. Compound Photonics says the addition of Alfalight’s highly efficient, wavelength-stabilized laser diode components to its technology portfolio enables tiny, bright, and efficient projection light engines and simplifies the supply chain for mobile device manufacturers. Alfalight retains its defense lines of business (http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2011/03/alfalight-and-in-q-tel.html) to focus on developing and manufacturing ruggedized laser component and system-level solutions for defense customers.

Compound Photonics develops complete high-definition and ultra HD 4K projection light engines for smartphones, tablets, and other consumer electronics devices as an integrated system including the display, laser illumination sources, mirrors and optics, drive electronics, software, and housing. This keeps costs low and simplifies the supply chain and integration process so manufacturing can scale to the huge volumes required for rapidly growing global mobile device markets.

"Adding highly efficient, wavelength-stabilized diode and diode pump laser components to our substantial technology portfolio strengthens our position as the most advanced vertically-integrated projection light engine manufacturer," said Jonathan A. Sachs, president and CEO of Compound Photonics.

The acquisition brings together the science and engineering teams and manufacturing capabilities from both companies. The combined team includes experts in imaging technologies, laser diode light sources, thin films, digital and analog ASIC design, image-processing software, optics, and system design.

The companies says that this innovative technology is based on advanced aluminum-free active region (ALFA) laser structures enabling the manufacturing and delivery of laser diodes with exceptionally high reliability and industry-leading efficiency all protected by a strong intellectual property portfolio. Compound Photonics says Alfalight's diodes have high brightness and output power, while delivering excellent beam quality in a variety of package configurations. The lasers are highly-efficient solid state diode lasers with a miniature form factor ideal for embedded projectors for mobile devices.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Compound Photonics says it built the world's smallest, native 1920 x 1080, 2.1 megapixel full 1080p high definition laser projection light engine for smartphones and other mobile devices as well as the smallest 4K resolution (4096 x 2160) 8.85-megapixel displays for high-brightness projectors. Compound Photonics maintains design and business centers in the United States in Phoenix, AZ; Vancouver, WA; and Madison, WI as well as in the United Kingdom in London.

Alfalight designs and manufactures advanced semiconductor and diode-pumped solid state laser and electro-optical systems serving the defense and aerospace markets. Its products and embedded subsystems include short-wave infrared (SWIR), near-infrared (NIR), and visible lasers. Applications include hand-held, weapons-mounted, vehicle-mounted, shipboard, and missile-borne systems. Deliverables range from prototypes to fully MIL-STD-qualified production. Alfalight is ITAR registered with entirely US-based development, prototyping, and manufacturing.

SOURCE: Compound Photonics;http://www.compoundphotonics.com/news/news/compound-photonics-acquires-commercial-laser-technology-assets-alfalight