Reliability Testing Confirms Device Maintains Consistently High Output Power When Operated at High Ambient Temperatures and Continuously for Thousands of Hours

Tokyo- March 7, 2000 - Mitsubishi Electric Corporation today announced the ML8XX2, a 980-nm pump laser diode for optical fiber amplifier applications that has the industry's highest power output, 250-mW, even when tested at 70 degrees Celsius - a more severe ambient temperature than actual operating conditions. The device also reliably operates at a consistently high output power level in dense wavelength division multiplex (DWDM) communication system applications when operated continuously for as long as 10,000 hours, successfully avoiding the power erosion effects of catastrophic optical damage (COD).

The pump laser diode achieves the specified 250-mW high output power performance as a result of an optimized ridge waveguide structure, which allows the device to operate comfortably at normal operation, and improves the kink level to more than 280 mW. The device also employs a window structure that widens the bandgap to reduce the power absorption of the active layer at the edge of the laser diode. As a result, the pump laser diode's power output is only limited by thermal saturation, unlike the conventional laser diode technology that suffers from COD power erosion effects at high output power operation.

According to Jim Locke, senior marketing manager for optoelectronic products at Mitsubishi Electronics America, "Mitsubishi has perfected its optimized ridge waveguide structure and window optoelectronic technologies to set industry-leading power and reliability performance standards for 980-nm pump laser diodes."

Specifications

The ML8XX2 has the following specifications at 25 degrees Celsius with a continuous sine wave (CW):

Output Power - 250 mW
Center Wavelength - 980 nm
Threshold Current - 30 mA (typical)
Operating Current - 350 mA (at 250 mW power output)

Packaging and Availability

The ML8XX2 is available in a TO-can package. Samples will be available in April 2000, with volume production scheduled for the third quarter of 2000.

About Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation offers a diverse range of optoelectronic products for SDH, SONET, DWDM, data communication, FITL, as well as passive optical network systems, test and instrumentation applications, and CATV distribution. The company markets its optoelectronic products in North America through the Electronic Device Group of Mitsubishi Electronics America Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and its North American affiliate, Mitsubishi Electronics America Inc., are world-class suppliers of semiconductors and electronic products for computers, communications, industrial, Internet-enabled, automotive, and visual applications. Mitsubishi combines its systems-level expertise and high-level silicon process technologies to provide chip, chipset and system-on-chip solutions. The company is ranked among the top-tier worldwide semiconductor suppliers and offers an extensive range of semiconductor and computer system components for the North American marketplace, including embedded DRAM/flash/SRAM, ASIC, ASSP, MCU, discrete memory, graphics, microwave/RF, optoelectronic, storage, and flat-panel display products.

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