Rock and pop shows today are about much more than music. State-of-the-art stage lighting plays an essential role in these shows, and these entertainment show elements are becoming more and more important in big stadium concerts and event halls across the world. Numerous manufacturers rely on lighting solutions from Osram to create memorable experiences. A new blue high-power laser is now expanding the range of options available to manufacturers of show lasers and stage spotlights.
Osram is expanding its photonics portfolio for stage lighting with the PLPT9_450LA_E. Image Credit: Osram
The PLPT9_450LA_E from Osram Opto Semiconductors is a multimode laser diode that is mounted in a hermetically-sealed TO metal can package. Lasers combine an outstanding form factor with excellent beam quality – making them particularly suitable light sources for show lasers and stage lighting.
In terms of brightness, laser diodes offer some advantages over LEDs. At a typical operating current of 2 A, the PLPT9_450LA_E achieves an optical power of 300 milliwatts and emits blue light with a wavelength of 447 nm. In many optical systems, the laser light is focused at a point only a few micrometers in diameter. The laser can be directly used as a blue light source or in combination with a special phosphor for white conversion. The achieved luminance of the white light source is around three times higher than that of a comparable LED.
The PLPT9_450LA_E comes in the proven, robust TO90 package. Compared to the first TO56 generation that included three pins, the new TO90 package contains only two pins for contact. This allows for more effective cooling because the generated heat can be easily dissipated from the component. In addition, the integration of the laser into the final lighting solution is much faster because of the simpler design.
"Our customers need to provide top of the line lighting solutions that will elevate the entertainment experience for concert audiences," said Thomas Brandes, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Osram Opto Semiconductors. “Our latest addition to our broad portfolio of InGaN lasers with a 3 W version, the PLPT9_450LA_E, improves heat dissipation, an application range up to 85 °C and an operating voltage of less than 5 V in a small and lightweight design of high-quality lighting solutions for show lasers, professional laser torches and other numerous applications.”
Osram Opto Semiconductors will be demonstrating the PLPT9_450LA_E in booth #4568 at the SPIE Photonics West 2020 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, February 1-6.