Whats All the Fuss About?
!!!NEWS FLASH!!! (January 12, 1999) Nichia Chemical announces sample shipments of VIOLET laserdiodes! Preliminary specifications (Source: EE Times, January 18, 1999): • Wavelength: 400 nm (Border of violet-UV). • Recommended Output Power: 5 mW. • Maximum Output power: 30 mW/facet. • Lifetime: 10,000 hours at 5 mW. • Package: Industry standard 5.6 mm diameter can. • Construction: GaN on Sapphire substrate, cleaved facets. • Voltage: 5 volt operation (??). • Threshold current 3.9 kA/cm2 (No indication of absolute current). • Engineering sample price: $2,000 (June, 1999). Yikes! And you can only get the privilege of buying them at this new low price by signing a non-disclosure agreement with Nichia. OK, calm down…. In a couple of years, violet laser diodes will be $2.98 at your local Radio Shack. 🙂 As of September 1999, Nichia appears ready to actually sell these things in large volume for (hopefully) a reasonable price. There is also a 30 mW version in the works or already available (
