Osram and Corning turn a former fantasy technology into reality with Fibrance Light-Diffusing Fiber

Osram Opto Semiconductors and Corning Incorporated announce a co-marketing agreement to promote Corning Fibrance Light-Diffusing Fiber, a first-of-its-kind technology that embeds lighting into products using Osram laser diodes. Fibrance fiber uses Corning’s glass optical fiber designed for thin, colorful, aesthetic lighting and Osram’s blue and green laser diodes to create endless design possibilities. Fibrance fiber is optimized for a variety of applications such as automotive interior, architecture, consumer electronics, major appliances and many more. The flexibility and tight-bend capability of the fiber allows it to curve, wrap, or contour around objects – while maintaining bright and uniform light. The fiber is so small and thin it is nearly invisible when the light source is off, thereby enhancing a product’s overall aesthetics and user experience. Fibrance fibers disperse light, rather than transferring it, allowing it to emit vibrant, clear colors up to 50 meters in product length. “We expect the automotive and consumer markets to be early adopters of this technology,” said Osram marketing manager, Sevugan Nagappan. “While Fibrance fiber is ideal for vehicle interior applications, the design possibilities and product integration opportunities are truly endless.” Osram Opto Semiconductors plays a leading role in the laser industry and has been a pioneer in the development of direct green laser diodes based on indium gallium nitride. Osram’s blue and green laser diodes stand out due to their high beam quality, well suited for optical imaging of light and excellent efficiency, which minimizes their temperature increase and improves their performance life. In order to emit light, Fibrance fiber must be coupled to such a laser light source. “With this fiber, designers can enhance a product’s appeal and functionality by adding light how and where they want it,” said Curt Weinstein, vice president and general manager, Advanced Optics, Corning Specialty Materials. “Our long-term goal is to get Fibrance Light-Diffusing Fiber into the hands of designers and let the capabilities of the product create new lighting possibilities.” Osram will feature Fibrance fiber in its booth (hall A3, booth 107) at the Electronica International Trade Show and Conference in Munich, Germany on Nov. 11-14. ABOUT OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS OSRAM, Munich, Germany is one of the two leading light manufacturers in the world. Its subsidiary, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH in Regensburg (Germany), offers its customers solutions based on semiconductor technology for lighting, sensor and visualization applications. Osram Opto Semiconductors has production sites in Regensburg (Germany), Penang (Malaysia) and Wuxi (China). Its headquarters for North America is in Sunnyvale (USA), and for Asia in Hong Kong. Osram Opto Semiconductors also has sales offices throughout the world. For more information go to www.osram-os.com. ABOUT CORNING Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 160 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy, and metrology.