Joint Development of "Segmented Laser Lighting Device Using Blue VCSEL"
Iwasaki Electric, in collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions and Osaka University's Institute of Laser Engineering, has developed a "Segmented Laser Lighting Device using Blue VCSEL." This technology eliminates the need for conventional beam-steering mirrors and enables electrical beam control. Advanced under a NEDO project, the company aims to commercialize it for energy-efficient factory and parking lot lighting.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 19:01
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 10:31
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Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp. and the Institute of Laser Engineering at Osaka University, has developed a "Segmented Laser Lighting Device using Blue VCSEL."
This development has been underway since fiscal 2023 as part of a project subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). It was first unveiled in April 2026 at OPIE'26, hosted at the booth of the Visible and Infrared Semiconductor Laser Application Consortium.
VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) is a device that emits laser light perpendicular to the surface of a semiconductor chip. Compared to conventional lasers, it is compact, consumes less power, and can be arranged in large 2D arrays. This technology is already being utilized in a wide range of fields, such as smartphone facial recognition sensors and optical communications.
The developed lighting device adopts a configuration that combines a 2D array of these VCSELs with phosphors. It eliminates the need for the galvano scanner mirrors conventionally required for light direction control, achieving a segmented laser lighting system that performs beam distribution via electrical control.
Key target specifications include a light source output of 4 watts with an efficiency of 20%, and the company is working toward further performance improvements for commercialization. While color temperature depends on the phosphors used, 4,000 to 5,000 Kelvin has been achieved for lighting applications.
The primary intended applications are lighting in factories and parking lots, where it can illuminate only the necessary areas when combined with motion sensors. This is expected to contribute to significant energy savings.
For details, please visit the Iwasaki Electric website.
This development has been underway since fiscal 2023 as part of a project subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). It was first unveiled in April 2026 at OPIE'26, hosted at the booth of the Visible and Infrared Semiconductor Laser Application Consortium.
VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) is a device that emits laser light perpendicular to the surface of a semiconductor chip. Compared to conventional lasers, it is compact, consumes less power, and can be arranged in large 2D arrays. This technology is already being utilized in a wide range of fields, such as smartphone facial recognition sensors and optical communications.
The developed lighting device adopts a configuration that combines a 2D array of these VCSELs with phosphors. It eliminates the need for the galvano scanner mirrors conventionally required for light direction control, achieving a segmented laser lighting system that performs beam distribution via electrical control.
Key target specifications include a light source output of 4 watts with an efficiency of 20%, and the company is working toward further performance improvements for commercialization. While color temperature depends on the phosphors used, 4,000 to 5,000 Kelvin has been achieved for lighting applications.
The primary intended applications are lighting in factories and parking lots, where it can illuminate only the necessary areas when combined with motion sensors. This is expected to contribute to significant energy savings.
For details, please visit the Iwasaki Electric website.
FAQ
岩崎電気が開発した照明装置の特徴は何ですか？
VCSEL（垂直共振器面発光レーザー）の2次元アレイと蛍光体を組み合わせ、電気的制御によって配光を行う分割型のレーザー照明です。光の方向制御用ガルバノスキャナミラーが不要な構造となっています。
この技術はどのような場所での活用が想定されていますか？
工場や駐車場での照明用途を想定しています。人感センサーと組み合わせることで、必要な場所のみを点灯させ、大幅な省エネルギー化を実現することを目指しています。
VCSELとはどのような技術ですか？
半導体チップの表面に対して垂直方向にレーザー光を出射する素子です。従来のレーザーに比べて小型・低消費電力であり、2次元アレイ状に多数配列できる特長があり、顔認証センサーや光通信などに活用されています。
開発目標のスペックはどの程度ですか？
光源出力4ワットで効率20％を目標としています。色温度は照明用途として4000～5000ケルビンを達成しています。
本プロジェクトの背景を教えてください。
新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構(NEDO)の助成事業の一環として2023年度より推進されており、ソニーセミコンダクターソリューションズおよび大阪大学レーザー科学研究所との共同開発です。