Pangolin Unveils New "LASORB" Series, Designed for High Power Red Laser Diodes

July 26, 2011 - PRLog -- ORLANDO, Fla., July 22, 2011 – Pangolin Laser Systems, the world’s largest producer of laser display software and control hardware, announced the expansion of its LASORB product line with a series of components which protect high power red laser diodes such as those made by Opnext. This LASORB component was designed specifically to protect high power 635nm laser diodes, from damage by direct and indirect electrostatic discharge, including single, multiple, and repeated ESD events of positive or negative polarity. LASORB, a class of component invented by Pangolin, is described as an “ESD absorber” created specifically to protect laser diodes, photodiodes, and LEDs.  

“We continue to expand the LASORB line to meet specialized market needs,” said William Benner, president and chief technology officer of Pangolin.

“Until recently, most high power laser diode development has been on 640nm lasers,” said Benner.  “The new 635nm wavelength diodes are becoming popular for display applications because of their higher visibility, brighter output and longer life expectancy”. Since the operating voltage of these laser diodes is higher, we developed a special LASORB part tailored to their needs.

Pangolin first introduced LASORB two years ago and has continued to expand the product series to accommodate a broader range of laser diode products.  According the Benner, the product has proven its effectiveness and value in a variety of research and commercial applications, including those using red, infrared, blue and BLU-ray diodes.  

“Prior to LASORB, electrostatic discharge was a persistent, unsolved problem for laser diodes, especially BLU-ray and low-power single-mode red laser diodes,” he said.  “Without LASORB, a single modest ESD event can cause permanent damage, resulting in partial or complete diode failure well ahead of the manufacturers’ rated life expectancy for the diode.”

Benner said LASORB also protects against reverse bias conditions.  While Schottky diodes are typically used for this purpose, Benner said using LASORB in their place offered protection against both ESD and reverse biasing.

In addition to the newly announced series, Pangolin produces three other series of LASORB, one optimized for low power red and infrared diodes, one for the new 445nm blue laser diodes and a third optimized for 405nm BLU-ray diodes. The component package is compact and mounts in a 2-pin, through-hole configuration; Pangolin can also design custom packages, and an SMT version will be offered as well.

“LASORB is a game-changer with respect protecting lasers from ESD,” stated Benner.  “There is nothing in the world like it.  Previous so-called solutions for ESD all fail in some respect: they are either too slow to respond, ineffective in the required voltage range, or incapable of absorbing the energy of a voltage surge.”  

Benner said LASORB customers currently include government, universities, and commercial companies in several countries and that it is being applied in fields of electronics, medicine, security, entertainment, and scientific research.

Web Videos Demonstrate Component’s Performance

Pangolin has set up a specific website for LASORB (www.lasorb.com) offering detailed product information and datasheets, background on laser diodes and ESD, a review of the limitations of previous ESD solutions in laser diodes applications, and links to other resources.  The company has produced two videos demonstrating the effects of ESD on laser diodes, including Blu-ray diodes, and the effectiveness of LASORB in protecting them.  The videos can be seen on the LASORB website (http://www.lasorb.com/11_videos.htm).

About Pangolin Laser Systems and Co-Founder William Benner

With over 16,000 clients in 63 countries, Pangolin is the world’s leading developer and producer software and related control hardware for laser display applications in entertainment, business, and industry.   The company, founded in 1986, has received more than 20 awards for technical achievement, including an award for LASORB from the International Laser Display Association. Pangolin is based in Orlando and has offices in Slovenia and China.

William Benner, Pangolin’s president, co-founder, and chief technology officer, has represented the United States in the International Skill Olympics and placed sixth in the world in the field of electronics. He holds numerous patents in the field of laser technology and electronics.  

More information about LASORB is available at http://www.LASORB.com.
More information about Pangolin is available at http://www.Pangolin.com.

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Pangolin is a global corporation, that specializes in creating software and hardware solutions for the laser display and text messaging industries. Products allow users to create award winning laser light shows, and run text message marketing solutions.