Green laser for smartphone RGB projectors

Although a projector also needs red and blue lasers, green is the colour that poses the greatest challenges in semiconductor laser and LED production.

“Up to now, RGB laser projections for smartphones, based on a red, green and blue laser, often had brightness problems,” according to Osram. “The reason was the often insufficient brightness of the green laser. Green light has a special importance in RGB applications because the human eye is most sensitive in the green spectral range – the brighter the green laser shines on a surface, the brighter and stronger the projected image appears to the viewer.”

Called PLT3 520D, it can deliver those 140mW pulses at 520nm with 8% efficiency, driven at 300mA at 50% duty cycle – the firm’s previous limit was 80mW with the PL 520B.

Sadly the firm has yet to put a data sheet onto its website, so no further details are available, nor has any production date been supplied –  I couldn’t even get the web page up for the earlier 80mW device – details have been requested.

The new device has been developed to work in MEMS-based scanners.

“Users can be confident that this technology will open up additional functions on smartphones in the medium term,” claimed Osram marketing manager Pedro Muñoz.