By Innofocus Photonics Technology Pty Ltd
The world-first commercialized manufacture equipment integrated with rollers specialized for fiber delivery and fiber collection. nanoLAB Roll-to-roll FBG Fabrication System (r-FBG) has the following product features: - Continuously fabricate FBG arrays up to kilometer length - Intelligent fiber core recognition for automated FBG fabrication process to achieve high speed, high quality and high yield - Position-Time Synchronization Trigger function to guarantee uniform periodic grating structure - In-situ real-time measurement of FBG transmission and reflection when combining with a spectrometer - Customized in-situ 3D refractive index characterization system for measuring 3D refractive index spatial distribution with a high accuracy of 0.0001 - Customized fixtures with accurate strain monitoring ranging from 0-30N with a high accuracy of 0.03N - Build-in recipes for directly fabricating different FBGs with various specification - Capability of fabricating high reflectivity (R>90%) and weak (R<1%) FBGs, as well as FBG strings with different central wavelengths and reflectivity High Resolution High Efficiency High Accuracy High Device Performance High Yield Industry Challenge Fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) manufactured by femtosecond laser technology possess significant advantages over conventional FBGs fabricated by ultraviolet lasers. This is due to the large refractive index difference introduced by a femtosecond laser, which can be up to 10-3(Δn ∽ 10-3). FBGs manufactured by femtosecond laser pulses offer three major advantages: 1. Achieving a high reflectivity with a short grating length. 2. Femtosecond laser manufactured FBGs can work in a high-temperature environment. 3. Capability and high flexibility of processing different types of FBGs, e.g. FBGs with ultra-narrow bandwidth, ultra-wide bandwidth, apodized FBGs, chirped FBGs etc. However, currently the cost of femtosecond-laser processed FBG products is significantly greater than that of traditional UV laser processed FBG products. Meanwhile, the performance parameters of current femtosecond FBG products cannot be well-controlled with precision and stability. The yield rate is also low. Such issues limit the broad applications of femtosecond FBG. To elaborate, the problems arise from the following three challenges of femtosecond laser FBG processing: Conventional method of processing FBG using femtosecond laser is incapable of achieving precise quantitative product standardization (eg. reflectivity, central wavelength, bandwidth, etc) During femtosecond laser processing, the accurate control of the femtosecond laser power stability as well as the precise synchronization of exposure time and speed of the displacement stage, are the rigorous requirements for precise processing of FBG with fine quantitative measures of identical performance index. Difficulty of quantitatively fabricating FBG strings with identical performance indexes in large scale on a single long-distance fiber In industrial application scenarios, it is required to process multiple FBGs continuously on fibre of kilometer-length for applications under extreme conditions, to achieve simultaneously multi-point measurements over long distance. This poses a challenge to mass-produce FBG strings with standardized performance specs in large scale on a single long fiber. Low degree of automation hinders the development of high-yield large-scale FBG fabrication The current femtosecond laser fabrication approach relies heavily on human manual control based on the expertise of the operator. Low degree of automation in the approach hence poses a challenge to achieve large-scale fabrication of FBGs with high quality, high device performance and high yield as well as repeatability. Product Performance PowerFlex Module: Precise control of laser power High power stability and precise power control are essential to guarantee the high-quality manufacturing of fiber Bragg grating (FBG). PowerFlex is a fully automated laser power control technology that enables precise control of laser power at a step of 1µW. During the manufacturing process, the controlled exposure time can be very precise, at the order of 0.001ms, so the exposure time can be maintained very consistently. In addition, controlling laser power stability is essential to ensure consistent refractive index differences. In this regard, Innofocus uses a highly stable femtosecond laser with a real-time pulse power monitoring system. The monitoring system guarantees the stability of laser pulses during long-time continuous operation (>100 hours), and the fluctuation of a single pulse can be controlled within <1%. It enables continuous stable FBG manufacturing and ensures the consistency of the refractive index of each point. It lays a solid foundation for realizing high-performance FBG manufacturing. A schematic of the comparison is shown in Figure 1. Suppose the laser power is not stable. In that case, the distribution of refractive index within the fiber during manufacturing will be uneven, as shown in the case of Figure A, causing an overall lower quality of FBG. Innofocus’s high-stability laser can output stable power values for a long time to ensure a uniform refractive index distribution. Fig 1. Comparison of FBG grid points for stable and unstable laser power processing. The blue line represents the fiber core and the dot represents the grid point of laser processing Flexibility in various laser power control Our intelligent femtosecond laser power control technology can also meet the needs of introducing different refractive index distributions. As shown in Figure 2, the points in an FBG manufactured by a high laser power are larger in size with a higher refractive index change (Figure A), whereas points manufactured at a low power are smaller in size (Figure B). By changing the system’s parameters, various flexible needs can be met. The fully automated power system effectively avoids the variation in quality caused by laser power fluctuation. It allows for long-time, large-scale, repeated FBG manufacturing, resulting in high-quality mass production of FBG. Fig 2. Schematic figure of FBG points processed with different laser processing powers. High power stability Accurate, efficient fabrication specialized for high performance, high quality, high yield FBGs. Position-Time Synchronization Trigger function Guarantee uniform periodic grating structure in different grating sizes. Roll-to-roll fiber delivery and fiber collection Continuously fabricate FBG arrays up to 5 km Applications Long-distance FBGs and FBG array fabrication nanoLAB Roll-to-Roll FBG Fabrication (r-FBG) is capable of fabricating high performance, high consistency and high customizability ultrafast Fiber Bragg Grating (UFBGs).
World only HoloView 3D-Ri Characterisation Benchtop System that provides unique performance, simple operation, fast characterisation speed at about 1 minute World-only Benchtop 3D Refractive Index Characterization System provides high index accuracy (10-4), simple operation, fast characterization speed at about 0.5 fps, allowing quantitative measurement and rapid optimization of photonic nanomanufacturing parameters and processes. - In-situ characterization of refractive index of optimal design and fabrication parameters - Fast Characterization Speed (0.5 Fps) - Characterize available for various devices (eg. FIFO, WDM, FBGs) - Characterize available for a wide range of materials including polymers, glasses (incl. chalcogenide glass), crystals (eg. LiNbO3), sapphires, transparent ceramics, quartzes, fibers and etc. - Convenient one-click operation design, with minimal time consumption and manual operation interference, ensuring high efficiency in processing - Suitable for a wide range of applications to test surface and internal refractive index distributions under harsh environment conditions - Provide a quantitative reference index system for 3D refractive index measurements, which is continuously being enriched - Obtain unique data for 3D refractive index distribution to assist cutting-edge scientific research The rapid advancement of information technologies in the 21st century has indicated the approaching post-Moore’s law era. Moore’s law, which dictates the doubling of transistors on microchips every two years, has driven traditional computing technology for many years. The demand for higher speed, larger bandwidth, lower energy consumption, and improved security and stability in information technologies continues to grow. However, as we near the physical limits of miniaturisation, new approaches are needed to continue advancing computation. Integrated Photonic Chips (iPC) have emerged as a promising successor to silicon chips. With the continuous development, iPCs which offer the desired features including high speed and low power consumption, has become the best solution for high-throughput communication technology. However, as 3D photonic chips move towards commercialisation and industrialisation, existing fabrication capabilities face significant challenges concerning precision, reproducibility, and scalability to fulfil the needs for R&D and manufacturing. There is currently no effective measure to accurately characterise the three-dimensional structural changes formed inside an optical crystal by femtosecond laser, as well as the resulting refractive index distribution and morphology. To fabricate 3D optical structures in optical crystals, the difference in refractive index introduced by laser processing is particularly important, which determines the design of the component and its loss. Therefore, to effectively characterise the fabricated nanostructure/nanopatterns and provide timely feedback to the fabrication process has become one of the key challenges in quality control for processing 3D photonics chips. HoloView 3DRI, the 3D in-situ refractive index characterisation system designed by Innofocus, has proved to enable characterise the 3D spatial refractive index distribution with our newly-developed optical imaging technology and image reconstruction algorithm. The system can precisely measure the refractive index distribution in material and effectively reconstruct the refractive index distribution, and form image of the 3D structure with an accuracy of 10-4. It is non-destructive and non-invasive, and it allows real-time monitoring the fabrication process, making it valuable for the applications in the disciplines of all-optical communications, sensors, biophotonic and micro/nano optical and photonic devices. The key properties of an optical component are its refractive index distribution and surface morphology. High-performance optical components can only be fabricated when meeting requirements for both of the properties. Otherwise, distortion in electric field pattern, transmission loss and imperfection will occur, degrading the performance of the components. Meanwhile, by understanding the refractive index variation and distribution, properties of the optical material and components are quantified, which can be used to indicate whether the material or component is damaged. For those optical components that are sensitive to variation of refractive index, e.g. optical waveguide and optical fibre gratings, there is no standard quantitative method to characterise their 3D refractive index distribution. This issue has become a bottleneck for accurately designing and fabricating optical components like 3D photonic chips. To solve, Innofocus has developed world-unique technology of 3D spatial characterisation of refractive index to measure the refractive index difference between the structure designed and the substrate material, with an accuracy of 10-4. The system can not only precisely measure the distribution of refractive index differences, but also reconstruct the 3D surface morphology of the fabricated structure. The main functions of the Innofocus HoloView 3DRI include: In-situ inspection of the refractive index difference, along with the 3D spatial distribution of the refractive index and surface smoothness of femto-laser-processed optical components and structures. All of these can then contribute to optimising laser processing parameters. Quantitative measurement of both the surface and internal refractive index distributions of the components, followed by a comparison with the original design input. This helps to ensure whether the fabrication outcome is optimal in terms of the desired quality requirements (e.g. self-inspection for defects and alignment with the design), allowing on-site correction of fabrication conditions of the optical components. Imaging functionality which visualises the quantitative measurement of the refractive index distribution. HoloView 3DRI provides three-dimensional refractive index imaging display functionality which can visualise the observed refractive index distribution outcome. Based on the observed distribution, novel physical mechanisms of laser-material interactions can be discovered, displayed in a trustworthy and aesthetically pleasing manner through three-dimensional imaging. Refractive index characterisation X-Y image Refractive index characterisation X-Z image In-situ 3D Refractive Index Characterisation HoloView 3DRI Benchtop
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Innofocus's NanoPrint 3D Intelligent Laser Nano-fabrication System. Innofocus Photonics has developed the world's first and only intelligent laser nanofabrication system with in-situ refractive index imaging characterization capability, which is a ground-breaking invention. Based on this patented invention, they have achieved the first in-situ characterization of three-dimensional refractive index difference distribution, which is a fundamental breakthrough in the field of laser processing. Innofocus's commercialized nanofabrication equipment based on multiple patented technologies is the world first system to ever achieve in-situ laser nanofabrication characterization of three-dimensional refractive index distribution, which is a fundamental breakthrough in the field of laser processing. Innofocus provides laser of multiple wavelength options including 450nm, 488nm, 532nm, 633nm etc., and can customize laser wavelength to be used according to customer requirement. Innofocus's nanofabrication system have unique technical advantages in terms of light field modulation. For example, our software system can generate phase maps for aberration correction in real time, based on the processing depth calculated after locating the material surface, and quickly update them on the spatial light modulator to achieve optimal compensation for each processing depth. Furthermore, since the laser focal spot runs along a specific designed trajectory in 3D space during the processing, it may move continuously at different depths. We designed AI-assisted software system to realize real-time compensation according to the depth where the focal spot is located during the continuous processing, to ensure quality and consistency. With the support of Innofocus's unique beam shaping function, we can adjust the beam focus and extend one of the focus dimensions (perpendicular to the fiber core direction) to inscribe in a pancake-shape focus. This method inscribes in a circular interface. Furthermore, this method can directly adjust the focus to match the specific parameters of the fiber core. The advantage of using this method is that it enables high-speed processing of FBGs with point-by-point writing. Innofocus's system has excellent performance in this area and completely automated the process for users, allowing automatic continuous image acquisition and computational reconstruction without multiple background acquisitions. The speed of the completed process depends on the configuration of the computer. A real-time reconstruction speed of 0.5 Hz can be achieved with the standard configuration of a small workstation. Speed can be increased with more advance-configured workstations. For example, Innofocus' standard SLM achieves a maximum power of 800 mW/cm2. Thus, depending on the SLM irradiated area, the maximum power is 1.06 W. If set higher customised SLMs, 2 W/cm2 can be achieved with a maximum power reaching 2.654 W. The surface tracing function of Innofocus's nanofabrication system is a valuable invention that ensures accurate processing position throughout the whole processing area, enabling large-area processing of micro and nano optical components. Innofocus's unique multi-focus parallel fabrication function, which divides the laser energy into hundreds or thousands of focal points for parallel processing, in accordance with the desired processing target, increases the productivity of 3D laser nanofabrication technology by hundreds or thousands of times and achieves a breakthrough in large-area processing from the principle.
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World best cooling film without zero energy The world's best cooling film without using electricity. - Cooling down objects with zero electricity consumption - Proven superior cooling performance - Ultra-thin, easy and flexible for integration - Wide applications in various industries - Cost-effective and mass-production ready Innofocus designed and manufactured in Australia a novel nanostructured thin film that can cool down any objects without using electricity. It is based on innovative nanostructures precisely manufactured by our intelligent nanoprinting system, which can manipulate solar spectrum at will for the first time. This technology can revolutionise sectors, which need to maintain products at low temperature. Radiative cooling cools an object on the earth by emitting thermal infrared radiation to the cold universe through the atmospheric window (8–13 µm). It consumes no electricity and has great potential to be explored for cooling buildings, vehicles, solar cells, and even thermal power plants. Radiative cooling has been explored in the past few decades but is limited to night-time use only. Very recently, owing to the progress in nanophotonics and metamaterials, daytime radiative cooling to achieve subambient temperatures under direct sunlight has been achieved. As the energy situation and environmental issues become more and more severe in the 21st century, radiative cooling can be explored for energy saving in buildings and vehicles, mitigating the urban heat island effect, resolving water and environmental issues, achieving more efficient power generation, and even fighting against the global warming problem. Our patented power-free film employs radiative cooling technology which enables it to cool any covered objects by emitting the thermal radiation into the universe. The film can block sunlight from heating it up and simultaneously emit the heat to the cold universe thus cooling the objects attached to it by 5-10°C without using any electricity. Such a film can be made in a large scale. It can be either flexible or rigid. It can attach to any outdoor surfaces requiring cooling. It performs better at high temperature. It operates 7/24 and provides continuous cooling without energy consumption. The high performance cooling film developed by Innofocus can cool down any covered objects without consuming electricity. The patented film with nanostructure on its surface can allow objects to radiate heat completely into outer space (emissivity close to 100%) while completely avoid solar heat absorption in the visible and infrared, achieve the highest efficiency of radiative cooling. The cooling process by the film consumes absolutely zero power and has the capability to revolutionise industries like food and agriculture, transportations, energy storage, data centres, etc. Applications of the film will result in billions of dollars in savings while significantly reducing carbon footprints. The product is proven effective, with its unique performance that can revolutionise industries like food and agriculture, transportations, energy storage, data centres, etc.
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Zero energy consumed A nanostructured thin film with the world-record cooling performance and mass-production efficiency that can cool down any objects without using electricity. It has been adopted in food preservation and glasshouse farming, and it can be widely used for many more industries towards net-zero emissions. - Record cooling power - Proven performance - Cost-effective - Ultra-thin & flexible - Trusted durability - UV completely blocked - Mass-production ready World best cooling film without electricity Power-Free Radiative Cooling Mechanism Innofocus designed and manufactured in Australia a novel nanostructured thin film that can cool down any objects without using electricity. It is based on innovative nanostructures precisely manufactured by our intelligent nanoprinting system, which can manipulate solar spectrum at will for the first time. This technology can revolutionise sectors, which need to maintain products at low temperature. Radiative cooling cools an object on the earth by emitting thermal infrared radiation to the cold universe through the atmospheric window (8–13 µm). It consumes no electricity and has great potential to be explored for cooling buildings, vehicles, solar cells, and even thermal power plants. Radiative cooling has been explored in the past few decades but is limited to night-time use only. Very recently, owing to the progress in nanophotonics and metamaterials, daytime radiative cooling to achieve subambient temperatures under direct sunlight has been achieved. As the energy situation and environmental issues become more and more severe in the 21st century, radiative cooling can be explored for energy saving in buildings and vehicles, mitigating the urban heat island effect, resolving water and environmental issues, achieving more efficient power generation, and even fighting against the global warming problem. Our patented power-free film employs radiative cooling technology which enables it to cool any covered objects by emitting the thermal radiation into the universe. The film can block sunlight from heating it up and simultaneously emit the heat to the cold universe thus cooling the objects attached to it by 5-10°C without using any electricity. Such a film can be made in a large scale. It can be either flexible or rigid. It can attach to any outdoor surfaces requiring cooling. It performs better at high temperature. It operates 7/24 and provides continuous cooling without energy consumption. Disruptive Solutions that Revolutionises Industries The high performance cooling film developed by Innofocus can cool down any covered objects without consuming electricity. The patented film with nanostructure on its surface can allow objects to radiate heat completely into outer space (emissivity close to 100%) while completely avoid solar heat absorption in the visible and infrared, achieve the highest efficiency of radiative cooling. The cooling process by the film consumes absolutely zero power and has the capability to revolutionise industries like food and agriculture, transportations, energy storage, data centres, etc. Applications of the film will result in billions of dollars in savings while significantly reducing carbon footprints. The product is proven effective, with its unique performance that can revolutionise industries like food and agriculture, transportations, energy storage, data centres, etc. Currently, Innofocus has partnered with several businesses in Australia and U.S. and deployed industrial applications, e.g. applying the film to seafood packaging to provide superior freshness; to outdoor energy storage systems to avoid overheating and extend battery life; to solar panels to enhance photovoltaic conversion efficiency, and to pill boxes to facilitate the distribution of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals in tropical regions like Africa.
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