CLEO/Laser Focus World Innovation Awards Program
2010 CLEO/Laser Focus World Innovation Award Goes to NTT Advanced Technology Corporation
Honorable Mentions Include Products from Femtolasers GmbH, General Photonics Corporation and TOPTICA Photonics AG
The CLEO/QELS: 2010 co-sponsors (APS, IEEE Photonics Society, OSA) and Laser Focus World are pleased to honor NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (booth 1742) as the recipient of this year’s CLEO/Laser Focus World Innovation Award. NTT Advanced Technology Corporation received the award for the development of a very broad-wavelength-range (532-4000 nm), voltage-controlled laser beam scanner with no moving parts that is 100 times faster and 100 times smaller than conventional scanners.
The winning entry, KTN Voltage-Controlled Laser Beam Scanner Using KTN Crystals, identifies a novel laser scanning device that offers several benefits over conventional beam scanners. The device, which employs a crystal composed of potassium, tantalum, niobium, and oxygen, uses step and continuous operation with applied voltage formats rather than mechanical movement, allowing it to achieve operation rates ranging from DC to several hundreds of kHz. The device is also simpler in design and 100 times smaller than current scanners. All of these features create a superior tool useful in applications such as laser radar detection, laser scanning displays, and laser machining.
In addition to the award given to NTT Advanced Technology Corporation, three other products were recognized with honorable mentions. They are as follows:
- Femtolasers GmbH – Booth 2115
CEP-Stabilized FEMTOPOWER V for Few-Cycle Pulse Generation
For the FEMTOPOWER V carrier-envelope-phase (CEP)-stabilized booster amplifier that generates high-power, few-cycle laser pulses critical to the attosecond science community
- General Photonics Corporation – Booth 1439
PMDPro Polarization Mode Dispersion Analyzer for Communications Networks
For the development of a compact, all-digital, inexpensive test instrument that both generates and compensates for the effects of PMD in high-speed, in-service communications networks
- TOPTICA Photonics AG – Booth 1321
High-Power Tunable Laser Source for Sodium Spectroscopy and Other Applications
For the creation of a tunable, narrow-linewidth, high-power (30 W), 589 nm yellow laser for guide star, spectroscopy, LIDAR, phototherapy, and other visible and near-IR applications.
Each year, the CLEO/Laser Focus World Innovation Awards Program honors the most timely, ground-breaking products in the field of laser science. Designed to showcase some of the most significant new products in the field, Innovation Award entries are evaluated on criteria critical to product success: impact, functionality, life expectancy, effect on the optics industry, innovation and patents or trademarks.
The Innovation Awards Program allows CLEO exhibitors to showcase their latest products and services entering the marketplace. This award provides exhibitors the opportunity to reach the top industry decision makers in attendance at CLEO, the premier laser conference. It also offers a unique promotional opportunity with CLEO’s partnership with Laser Focus World.
The winning entry will receive the CLEO/Laser Focus World Innovation Award in a special presentation during the Plenary Session on Monday, May 17. In addition, the chosen entry's submitter will participate in the prestigious CLEO Press Luncheon with other prominent speakers at the conference. Honorable mentions will also be acknowledged during the Plenary Session. All winners and finalists will be highlighted in official conference materials on-site (Conference Program, Exhibit Buyers' Guide) and in a CLEO press release, as well as on signage at the conference. See a list of 2009 award winners.
The Innovations Awards Program is sponsored by: