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Noticias y actualidad de miCos Iberia S.L.
Physik Instrumente (PI) at Photonics West 2024: Breakthrough Technology Improves Photonic Coupling Acquisition Speed by One Order of Magnitude and More
To further its leadership in enabling the rapid manufacturing scaling of Photonics, Physik Instrumente (PI) introduces at this year’s Photonics West PILightningTM, the new first light search method with integrated AI-based real-time executive function.
Replacing fine pitch scanning by high frequency data sampling
PILightningTM is based on a new search method with integrated AI-based real-time executive function. It also replaces fine pitch scanning by high frequency data sampling, raising acquisition speeds significantly. It drastically reduces the time required to acquire first-light in single- and double-sided couplings and in loopback (omega) waveguide configurations.
Higher Speed and Throughput for Microscale Fluid Handling
With its precise analyses, diagnoses, and therapeutic treatments, microfluidics brings benefits to fields such as chemistry, biotechnology, or medical technology. The integration of piezoceramic components revolutionizes the handling of liquid volumes down to the picolitre range. With the help of the piezoelectric effect, piezoceramic generates electrical charges under mechanical load and deforms under the influence of electricity. Piezoceramic can therefore exert precise mechanical forces and achieve controlled deformations – thus generating ultrasonic waves, amongst other things. Piezo elements are capable, for example, of triggering fluid movements in microchannels or of dispensing the smallest of volumes. As a result, they enable tasks such as mixing, printing, sorting, and dosing in microfluidic systems. Piezoceramics provide high sensitivity and precise control capability, with fast response times, enabling a granularity that facilitates smaller sample volumes, improved analytical accuracy, and the option of real-time monitoring. Due to their compact dimensions and high speed, as well as their low energy requirements and optional battery operation, piezo elements are suitable for applications in the smallest of installation spaces, such as point-of-care (POC) devices.
Laser Drilling: Quick and Accurate Positioning of the Laser Beam and Workpiece with a Single Controller Strategy
Whether in the production of fuel injection nozzles, cooling holes for aerospace components, or microvias in printed circuit boards (PCBs) - laser drilling continues to find new applications. A key driver is the trend toward miniaturization. Laser drilling machines must be able to achieve ever-higher accuracies down to the submicron range.
The concept consists of long travel XY positioning stages for workpiece positioning, highly dynamic Z axis for laser focusing, and the choice of either enhancing beam or workpiece positioning via the use of piezo motion. PI’s range of ACS servo controls and PI’s piezo drives, plus specific laser control options enhance the throughput and precision during the process. Both are essential when drilling deep holes with high aspect ratios, whilst controlling heat affected zones (HAZ).
Active Shims for Nanometer Resolution and Long-Term Stability: Adjusting with Piezo-Based "Shims"
If a target or an actual dimension between two components inside precision machines changes, for instance in semiconductor manufacturing, measuring applications or inspection systems, readjustment may be necessary. An example of this would be when the machine is started up at the user's location, and initial settings, drifting or changes in tolerances need to be compensated after installation. The disadvantage of classical shims that are ground exactly to the required dimension, is that they need to be inserted mechanically. Furthermore, unlimited fine adjustment is not always possible and once the dimension has been fixed, it is often very difficult to change it afterwards. PI (Physik Instrumente) has found the perfect solution for this and developed the PIRest piezo-based "shims". Once they have been installed into the machine, the active shims not only make it possible to readjust the gap between two components at any time, but also achieve this with nanometer precision.
Silicon Photonics
Simultaneous Testing of Optical Components
In a demonstration setup, PI (Physik Instrumente) shows how fast and precise XYZ stages are able to achieve parallel fiber alignment on the input and output side.
Silicon photonics creates new challenges both for the production of components as well as testing them prior to wafer dicing. Although the test procedure is essentially the same as the familiar electrical process, it is nevertheless more sophisticated for optical components as far as precision is concerned.
The components for processing and transmitting optical signals have one or more inputs and outputs. The packaging or testing process requires an optical fiber to be adjusted with an accuracy of only a few tenths of a nanometer for each individual input and output. If the so-called alignment process is sequential, it quickly becomes uneconomical due to the time factor. As a result, a solution is required for a simultaneous alignment process on the input and output side that shortens the test duration of the components.
Compact Multiaxis Piezo Systems for Nanopositioning and Fast Fiber Alignment
In a demonstration setup, a waveguide integrated in the wafer is simulated by a single-mode fiber. Fibers with lenses are coupled at the fiber ends via precision piezo-based XYZ stages. The positioning systems have a fast scanning velocity and are able to perform alignment in several degrees of freedom – simultaneously at the input and output.
The travel ranges along the X, Y and Z axis are 25 mm for initial alignment of the fibers and 100 µm for the position-controlled scan. The modular E-712 motion controller platform with integrated alignment routines serves as controller, which was specially adapted for this task and can control six motorized and six piezo actuator axes.
Sensor incremental PIOne
Para sistemas de nanoposicionamiento convencional con piezo actuadores y recorridos menores a 1mm, los sensores capacitivos con resoluciones sub nanométricas alcanzan gran estabilidad y linealidad. Pero, para desplazamientos mayores a 1 mm, los sensores capacitivos no son suficientemente precisos....
PIMag
PI ha desarrollado un nuevo sistema de posicionamiento electromagnético.
Para la realización de este novedoso sistema han colaborado PI, el IMMS (Instituto de Microelectrónica y sistemas Mecatrónicos) y el departamento de ingeniería mecatrónica de la Universidad Tecnológica de Ilmenau. El resultado de estas cooperaciones es un sistema basado en levitación....