News: Optoelectronics
7 January 2026
Phlux showcasing 1550nm IR sensor APDs for laser range finders, optical test, LiDAR and free-space optical communications
Phlux Technology — which was spun off from the University of Sheffield in 2020 and designs and manufactures 1550nm avalanche photodiode (APD) infrared (IR) sensors — is showcasing its Aura family of Noiseless InGaAs APDs in booth 5528 at SPIE Photonics West 2026 in San Francisco, CA, USA (20-22 January).
The booth features two demonstrations: one for 1550nm LiDAR, an essential long-distance IR sensing technology for assisted driving (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle applications, and the second for optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDR), where the sensors boost range and improve fault-detection accuracy.
The Aura family of sensors, available in 30µm, 80µm and 200µm versions, are 12x more sensitive than traditional InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) APDs and extend the range and accuracy of IR systems by up to 50% for a given laser power. Alternatively, for a given range, significantly lower laser power is needed, which reduces system costs by up to 40% and size and weight by up to 30%, not least due to simplified thermal management. The sensors are designed for professional laser range finders, fiber-optic test equipment (OTDRs), long-distance LiDAR, and free-space optical communications. In all these applications, the adoption of 1550nm ensures eye-safe operation, eliminating one of the biggest disadvantages of 905nm IR systems.
Aura APDs will operate at up to +85°C with minimal performance degradation, which is significantly higher than traditional sensors. They feature high dynamic range and fast recovery from powerful reflected signals to minimize dead zones in OTDR applications, which can otherwise mean that faults close to the instruments may go undetected. The high sensitivity of the APDs also enables higher resolution so that even minor faults can be detected in fiber-optic networks, and tiny objects with low reflectivity identified in range finding and LiDAR applications. These benefits are equally applicable to emerging hollow-core fiber (HCF) technologies, which promise up to 47% greater data speeds and significantly lower latency than current networks.
Aura Noiseless InGaAs APDs are designed to meet MIL-STD-883, are qualified to Telcordia GR-468 and are drop-in replacements for existing surface-mount or TO-packaged components, enabling instant upgrades to existing systems.
Noiseless InGaAs APD technology was developed by adding an antimony alloy to the compound semiconductor manufacturing process. The resulting devices operate with internal gain of up to 120, enabling the smallest signals to be detected above the noise floor.
Phlux makes available evaluation board for Aura Noiseless InGaAs APDs
Phlux adds high-speed, high-bandwidth 30µm APDs to the Aura family of 1550nm IR sensors
