The Process of Creating a Custom Emitter, Detector, or Assembly in Optoelectronics

Marktech Optoelectronics have been in the business of producing custom LEDs across nearly every industry imaginable for the last thirty years. AZoOptics speaks to Marktech Optoelectronics' CEO, Mark Campito, and CTO, Vincent Forte about their new eBook, which details their latest evolution in the process of creating a custom emitter, detector, or assembly.

Can you give a brief overview Marktech Optoelectronics and the work you do?

The only field that Marktech Optoelectronics is involved in is optoelectronics hence our name. For the last 30 years Marktech Optoelectronics has been providing customers with both standard and custom designed components and assemblies. Beginning in 1985 Marktech Optoelectronics was originally a Value Added Reseller for Toshiba where we focused on LEDs and LED IC Drivers. What differentiated us from broad line distribution is that we had design capabilities combined with complete testing facilities where we could test for all optical and electrical parameters. In 1985 we were the first distributor to offer these services.

Image Credits: Marktech Optoelectronics

Today we have evolved into a sensor manufacturer offering materials, emitters, detectors, and assemblies for all your optoelectronic requirements. We offer one of the broadest ranges of materials commercially available beginning with emitters at 250nm to 3000nm in the UV range, visible, near IR to SWIR . Our detector range is 150nm to 2600nm in addition we offer a large selection of packaging options and engineering services to support our customers. Roughly eighty percent of the inquiries we receive are for custom designed components and assemblies.  

You recently released the first of a series of 5 eBooks, called; “A Brief Introduction to Customization”, can you explain to our readers the basic principles of this eBook?

Our engineering staff is amused by the fact that I named this eBook “A Brief Introduction to Customization” when in fact its 67 pages. The eBook is a reference guide that highlights our capabilities and informs the reader on the technology and process of creating a custom emitter, detector, or assembly. Segmented  into 5 chapters that begins with Emitter Materials followed by Detection Materials, Packaging, Design, Testing, and Binning and lastly Getting Started which outlines what information we need to assist you in getting the custom component or assembly that fits your needs.      

Power output selection for 5mm red LED product (Credits: Marktech Optoelectronics)

Can you expand on how Marktech Optoelectronics will help design engineers from a custom emitter, detector or assembly process?

Optoelectronics is sometimes viewed as simplistic (just a light source), however there is much detail required when using light for highly critical applications such as medical, spectroscopy, or communications. The colour/wavelength, power output, how the light interacts with a photo detector are all parameters that need to be clearly defined.  Our eBook will help the reader understand what steps are taken to develop a custom component as well as help them in their ultimate design for their specific application.   

Can you please detail to our readers the full range of customization products you can assist with?

As a blanket statement there are no limitations regarding a custom emitter or detector. There certainly can be application challenges based on space restrictions, heat, power output demands, etc. Our evolution into customization began years ago when we started to receive requests from potential customers who were not satisfied with the electrical, optical or physical trade-offs of having to design in standard components. To that extent I believe that one of the most important steps in the customization protocol is a thorough  understanding of the customers application. What environment will it be used in? What are the technical issues the customer is dealing with? Once we have a good understanding about what the customer goals are  we can offer solutions. The protocol  begins with signing a mutual NDA (non-disclosure agreement), understanding the application, creating a prototype and finally production. What is special about Marktech Optoelectronics is we do this for small, medium or large volume quantities.

Photo research combination Photometer/Spectroradiometer equipment, utilized for spectrally based colorimetry and high speed, low level luminance testing (Credits: Marktech Optoelectronics)

How will this improve the user’s product’s performance?

Because a custom device is specific to their application the designer does not need to make a standard component “fit”. A custom component or assembly will improve efficiency and overall product performance. In addition it will save both time and money.

You also detail how offer a large selection of materials and packaging options, what advantages does using Marktech Optoelectronics offer?

To begin with we offer one of the largest selections of both emitter and detector chips available. In most cases we can bin to plus or minus one nanometer. We offer both standard plastic, metal can packages and surface mount. Our custom packages include Chip on Board, FR-4 boards, Metal Core PCBs, and ceramic and flex Polyimide-up to 144 die on a single substrate.  One of our most popular products is customized multi-chip emitters where the customer can have up to seven chips on a TO-39 header. The chips can be any wavelength or a combination of emitter and detector chips.  

Is there anything else detailed in the eBook that you offer?

Our 67 page eBook is a comprehensive guide that covers much of our accumulative knowledge of the past 30 years of custom designed components and assemblies. Some but not all of the subjects we cover in detail includes Emitters, wavelengths, drive current and temperature, Chip mounting (Die attach and wire bonding), Lensing (Illumination patterns and output) , UV curing and SWIR (Short Wave Infrared) emitter applications.

High Speed LED Insertion (Credits: Marktech Optoelectronics)

Chapter 2 focuses on Detector materials and characteristics, Photo Detector variations, SI Avalanche Photo Diodes, UV Detectors, InGaAs PIN Photo Diodes and SWIR Industrial applications. Chapter 3 Discuses Packaging including Die attachment, Temperature concerns, Custom assemblies, Star boards, linear boards and Light rings. Chapter 4 will cover Test services in detail, including reliability of components and assemblies, testing and evaluation and Machine Vision lighting. Chapter 5 basically outlines the steps for anyone interested in having Marktech Optoelectronics design and build for them custom components or assemblies.  

What will the next eBook in this series detail?

Our next eBook will focus on detector products that we are manufacturing in our California facility. These include both UV  and 1064 nm silicon enhanced detectors. InGaAs 1.7, 2.2, and  2.6 micron detectors and GaP detectors for deep UV applications.    

Where can our readers find the current eBook, and future eBooks in this series?

The eBook is featured on;

1. AZoNetwork - https://www.azosensors.com/news.aspx?newsID=12324
2. Digi-key - https://www.digikey.com/en/supplier-centers/m/marktech-optoelectronics
3. photonics.com - https://www.photonics.com/WhitePaper.aspx?WPID=1670

What’s next for Marktech Optoelectronics?

Besides the afore mentioned Detectors some of the products we are getting ready to introduce include Reticles for applications involving rifle scopes, range finders, binoculars and LIDAR. We also have an improved point source emitter with smaller apertures and a green point source for rifle scopes.

About Mark Campito

The founder and CEO of Marktech Optoelectronics, Mark Campito has more than three decades of experience in marketing, sales, and engineering. His previous roles have included vice president in marketing and sales division for International Devices in Santa Ana, California; International Sales Manager for Xciton Corporation of New York; and Marketing Engineer for National Semiconductor's optoelectronics division. Mark has travelled extensively throughout the Pacific Rim and Europe and is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

About Vincent Forte, Chief Technology Officer

Marktech Optoelectronics' CTO, Vincent Forte, has over 25 years of experience in the optoelectronics industry. His background includes the processing of III-V materials at Xciton Corporation, and head of quality assurance and failure analysis at National Semiconductor.

At Marktech Optoelectronics, Vincent has been influential in developing new and enhanced applications and devices using LED technology. He has also been instrumental in the creation of new test methodologies and test equipment for various types of optoelectronic components. Vincent works closely with both customers and LED manufacturers throughout North America and the Pacific Rim, providing input and hands-on experience. Additionally, he has authored and co-authored several papers in the areas of LED design, development, and application.