650nm RCLEDs

Firecomms' RCLEDs (Resonant Cavity Light Emitting Diodes), supplied by LASER COMPONENTS, are high-speed light emitting diodes designed to operate at speeds up to 400 Mbps, eight times faster than conventional LEDs. Specifically designed to meet the specifications of POF (plastic optical fibre) data bus standards, such as IEEE 1394b and MOST, these RCLEDs offer all the attractive features of a conventional LED, plus high speeds, high temperature operation, and superior coupling efficiency into optical fibre due to a compact optical output.

The RCLED’s cavity and thin active region combine to significantly increase both the extraction efficiency of light out of the front surface of the device and the maximum modulation frequency. Thus a RCLED compared to a conventional LED can generate more light for each mA of drive current and be modulated to a higher data rate.

Tested to automotive grade, these RCLEDs are capable of operating over a temperature range of -40°C to 95°C with POF coupled powers in excess of 1 mW at 20 mA DC. With a suitable drive circuit the maximum change in output power between -40 and 95°C is only 3 dB. This performance is achieved through a combination of the epitaxial design of the RCLED and the optical design of the transparent plastic encapsulated package.

Applicatons include replacement of copper cables in homes and car networks, handheld gaming devices, personal computers, and in electrically noisy environments.