Our Approach to Engineering Support ColorLink® is a technology-driven photonics company, with its emphasis on innovative polarization control solutions. Creating/discovering/inventing new product functionality has “broken the mold” of what experienced optical scientists and engineers thought possible, just a few years ago. One key contribution presented by ColorLink engineers is Wavelength Selective Polarization Control (WSPC). For example, in applications using two (or more) spectral lines or wavelengths, WSPC allows you to alter the polarization state of wavelength one, while leaving wavelength two unchanged. Alternatively, with WSPC we can convert wavelength one from linear to right circular while wavelength two is converted from linear to left circular. This capability is changing the way optical read-write heads are now designed for CD/DVD applications. The technical staff at ColorLink is uniquely qualified to assist you in identifying a cost-effective, production solution for your polarization control situation. We are familiar with the phased product development approach now so widely used. From the Conceptual phase, to Technical Feasibility, throughout Product Development, into Commercial Validation, Full-Scale Production, and After-Sale Support – ColorLink is available to assist you to ensure your product success. Five key areas highlight ColorLink strengths and how our design team works best to overcome your polarization control challenge. Broad Application Understanding ColorLink is familiar with many applications now taking advantage of its innovative polarization control solutions. Front and rear projection systems in the display industry, three-dimensional imaging, and CD/DVD read-write heads are just a few applications with solutions now in production. With its broad application understanding, ColorLink can quickly begin working with you designing and developing a unique solution, tailored to your specific cost and performance requirements. Unique Material Characterization Material characterization is another important area where ColorLink continues to lead the industry. Together, we can take advantage of this unique understanding of optical, mechanical, thermal, and other material properties to build a solution which optimizes performance and cost, while carefully considering environmental and reliability requirements. Proprietary Design Tools (Software) ColorLink has developed its own proprietary software design tools. This software includes the latest material characterization content generated to date. With this design tool, the ColorLink technical staff can quickly and easily input key factors and produce a product design, ready for fabrication in our pilot line. Often, the preliminary design performance can be input into more general optical design packages to ensure the right functionality has been captured. Specialized Manufacturing Processes Of course, designs by themselves provide little relief without a practical method to convert them into working hardware. With many years of manufacturing experience, ColorLink owns and operates two production lines – each suited for certain volume requirements. The first is designed for low to mid-level volumes and is located here in Boulder, Colorado. ColorLink Japan, Ltd. provides an additional production facility, primarily addressing mid to high-volume requirements in Joetsu-City in the Niigata prefecture. Application-Specific Metrology Working with ColorLink provides one additional advantage – unique metrology capabilities. Wherever possible, we take advantage of commercially available metrology, including polarimetry, ellipsometry, and interferometry tools. However, as you might expect – “breaking the mold” in terms of product functionality sometimes requires application-specific, custom metrology. When customer requirements call for custom test, measurement, and calibration tools, ColorLink has the experience and know-how to design, build, and maintain those metrology instruments to ensure we test performance according to application-specific requirements. top of page ^