Newport Debuts Integra-Related Gizmos

IRVINE, Calif. -- Newport Corporation (Nasdaq:NEWP) today introduced the world’s first, commercially available, automated system for the assembly of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) transceivers, designed to align and bond VCSELs and VCSEL arrays to fiber arrays or other waveguide components.The Newport system consists of a pick and place robot for part loading and unloading, a machine vision based alignment engine, and a bonding/attachment system. The bonding/attachment system is typically an automated epoxy dispenser with fiber delivered, UV curing light. Other attachment technologies are available as well. The Newport automated VCSEL assembly system is designed for flexibility and ease of integration into the high volume, photonics production environment. The system uses machine vision to register parts, rather than dedicated tooling fixtures, enabling the standard system to accommodate the diverse range of VCSEL geometries presently in use. The assembly product can also handle incoming parts in a wide variety of packages or carriers, such as waffle packs or Auer boats. In a separate release: Newport Corporation (Nasdaq:NEWP) today will preview its new Automated Laser Diode Characterization System (ALDCS) at OFC 2002. This system, designed for high-throughput characterization of laser diodes, combines a machine vision guided pick and place robot for part loading/unloading with a variety of optional characterization modules. These enable the system to perform completely unattended laser diode testing, including LI (light vs. current) curves, spectral measurements, far-field beam profiling and high magnification image capture for visual inspection. The ALDCS is specifically designed to integrate into an automated, high volume photonics production environment. It is capable of handling incoming parts in a wide variety of packages or carriers, such as waffle packs or Auer boats. The system also complements the laser diode burn-in systems from Newport and other manufacturers to form a high-throughput diode test and burn-in line.In a separate release:Newport Corporation (Nasdaq:NEWP) today announced the introduction of AutoAlign-MDX, a flexible, modular system for performing automated alignment and metrology of fiber optic telecommunications components, such as planar waveguides, Arrayed Waveguide Gratings (AWGs), collimator arrays, MEMS, and various active devices.The AutoAlign-MDX is a low cost, compact, entry-level automation system, primarily intended for early process development, prototyping and pilot production – yet is expandable to address more comprehensive automation requirements as customer needs evolve In a separate release:Newport Corporation (Nasdaq:NEWP) today introduced INTEGRA. This is a modular, expandable automation control software platform that provides comprehensive functionality, ease of use, and seamless integration and connectivity across a broad range of photonic test & assembly systems and applications. The INTEGRA platform offers a common software environment to perform automated alignment, metrology, material handling, data recording and process management functions, as well as providing a universal interface for connecting Newport automation equipment with other factory automation components, instruments, or software. INTEGRA incorporates a flexible, programmable user interface utilizing intuitive menus and tool bars to facilitate rapid process development, while simplifying use for production line personnel via a SEMI-compliant interface. At the same time, it maximizes developer productivity by incorporating a powerful library of built-in process and instrument controls for creating sophisticated, automated routines. At the core of the INTEGRA platform lies the Photonics ToolBox™ module, which embeds 15 years of Newport’s application and process automation expertise in a set of pre-engineered functions to perform automated alignment, device metrology, machine vision, high-precision bonding, and process programming. The open architecture format offers highly customized operation and even greater levels of automated functionality, while enabling integration with other third-party instrumentation and user-developed software applications produced in Microsoft Visual Basic™, Visual C++™, LabView™, or other development environments. Newport’s Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser test system, Automated Laser Diode Characterization System, AutoAlign-MDX system, and INTEGRA will be on exhibit at OFC 2002 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hall C, Exhibit Booth 3101. Newport Corp.For more information on OFC 2002, please visit: www.nottheofc.com