Homogeneous illumination for facial recognition thanks to VCSEL technology from Osram

Osram, one of the world’s leading LED manufacturers, presents its first VCSEL

13.09.2018 | Trade Press

Osram Opto Semiconductors is launching a new product family with Bidos PLPVQ 940A, its first Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser, or VCSEL for short. This is another future technology that Osram is adding to its product portfolio, paving the way for new areas of application such as 3D sensing. Shortly after the acquisition of US specialist Vixar, the company is setting new standards with this VCSEL, including facial recognition for mobile devices. The VCSEL acts as a light source, illuminating the face evenly with infrared light. A camera is used to capture the significant features of the user. The image is then compared with the image of the user stored in the system – if the two match the device will be unlocked.

VCSEL combines the outstanding properties of two lighting technologies – the high power density and simple packaging of an IRED coupled with the spectral width and speed of a laser. Unlike laser diodes (edge emitters), Bidos is a surface emitter which emits its light perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor chip and, in terms of its wavelength, is much less sensitive to temperature fluctuations. A VCSEL chip is also much easier to install in the end application – it can be glued into the package like an LED chip and can be used for example as an array (consisting of several hundred individual apertures per VCSEL chip).