First, let's figure out what VCSEL technology is and how it works.

Simply put, VCSEL is the abbreviation of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, which refers to the vertical cavity surface emitting laser. As can be seen from the vertical character, the laser diode is a single-chip laser resonator that emits light perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor chip. The technology can also be used as a VCSEL array, consisting of hundreds of VCSEL, glued and bonded like conventional leds.

So back to your question, is VCSEL technology just a gimmick? The answer is: no.

Not only is VCSEL not a gimmick, but it will have broad prospects in infrared applications.

When it comes to the prospects of infrared applications, it inevitably comes to EEL and IRED. EEL has the advantages of high performance, high efficiency and high illumination, while IRED has the advantages of uniform illumination, high cost performance of chips and various packaging forms.

Compared with the above two technologies, VCSEL has advantages of lower production cost, higher beam quality and lower output power. Because of its compact package size, high beam quality and excellent focusing performance, the coupling efficiency in optical fiber is very high.

As a surface mount element (SMT), VCSEL combines LED and laser features, making it easier to assemble than an edge emitting laser (EEL). The technology provides directional emission of coherent light, higher power density and simple IRED encapsulation, while having the spectral width of a linear emitter, similar to that of EEL or DFB (distributed feedback laser diode).

Fp-eel (fabry-perot side emission laser) and DFB beams are oval in shape, while VCSEL beams are round in shape. Unlike EEL, which is sensitive to temperature, VCSEL has little wavelength change when temperature changes.

According to the above-mentioned advantages of compact structure, low energy consumption and high reliability, VCSEL can be widely used in a variety of applications. So back to your question: how far is it from us? What areas can I think of as VCSEL technology?

In general, VCSEL is a good choice for all applications requiring high frequency modulation.

Because of its superior manufacturing cost ratio and high reliability, VCSEL is increasingly used in mobile phones and consumer electronics. In the mobile phone field, the first applications have appeared. 3D sensing is also integrated into augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for smart glasses or future smartphones and other mobile devices.

How do you apply it? I can give you an example of how we can imagine a future where we can use a smartphone to do a 3D scan of your foot and send the image to a shoe manufacturer to make a perfect fit for your foot.

Besides mobile phones, apps in cars are another factor driving the growing VCSEL market worldwide. In the automotive industry, VCSEL technology is expected to be used for applications such as gesture recognition, driver monitoring or (semi-) autonomous driving. Other applications include robotics, security and surveillance cameras, infrared heating or machine vision in industrial applications.