This paper describes the recent technical trends and Fuji Electric's present status of optical technology applications classifying them into the following three categories: (1) Functional devices and computer peripheral equipment, e.g. magnetooptical disk memories, etc., (2) Measuring and control equipment and systems, e.g. fiber-optic field instrumentation systems, optical system equipment for factory automation, etc., (3) Device utilizing optical power, e.g. power laser, amorphous silicon solar cells, etc.

This paper introduces a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for surface analysis optimized with grazing-angle reflection-absorption spectrometry and its applications.
The collimated high-throughput optical system FINE SPEC-D (R) enables the spectrometer to obtain high signal-to-noise ratio. A computer-controlled automatic sample holder is built in to minimize interference by water vapor etc. and to give a high-quality spectrum easily. The application of the spectrometer to the measurement of lubricating oil thickness on magnetic disk media proved its superior performance in surface analysis.

To introduce optical technology into the general-purpose FA apparatus, Fuji Electric made researches into optical elements and system configurations, and has completed a basic system design, It allows free-connecting of plastic optical fiber cables, An optical power level diagram for the basic system over a 60-m loop transmission distance has been completed.
We also developed an optical switch unit as a general-purpose component. It features low transmitting loss, low leakage at light shutout, short changeover strokes, small size, free-connecting of optical fiber cables, and easy assembly.

The introduction of optical technology into factory automation (FA) produces many advantages such as noise immunity, high insulating property, and safety. Fuji Electric has developed FA apparatus for optical systems using plastic fiber cables, cheap and easy to handle.
This paper describes their constructions, functions, and uses. It also introduces individual and multiple transceivers which can convert optical signals into electric ones and vice versa as the interface of optical and electrical systems.

Fuji Electric introduced optical technology into control systems for factory automation (FA) and has developed various FA optical apparatus, giving priority to general-purpose ones: optical limit switches and optical temperature sensors for detection, optical pushbutton switches for control, and dot display lamps for indication. Their switches parts can be connected with light-sending/receiving fiber cables from the same side and contains miniature optical switches composed of lenses with low optical attenuation characteristics. Optical-fiber cord reels, optical terminal blocks and optical connectors for connecting optical-fiber cables have also been developed.

Bar-code systems are now indispensable for POS, material handling and production control as an information management tool.
In 1989, Fuji Electric put on the market new bar-code readers PK2 series particularly for facto automation systems with which bar-code systems can easily be built without using a personal computer.
We have developed two types of visible-light sensors utilizing a visible-light semiconductor laser diode of 670-nm wavelength for PK2 series. This paper introduces their usefulness as well as the line-up of PK2 series.

Network systems have become important means to apply information-incentive and flexible systems to recent distributed systems using programmable controllers.
This article introduces the current status of optical LANs and the optical technology of network components DPCS-F and F-Net (P-link and T-link) for MICREX-F series and FAIS cell network (Mini MAP) that is an internationally compatible open network.

The fiber-optic field instrumentation system is a new-generation field instrumentation developed on the basis of the three concepts: (1) Making field instruments intelligent, (2) Adopting field bus, and (3) Optical-fiber transmission. It was put on the market in 1985, and is rated highly in various plants in Japan and overseas. This paper introduces an outline of optical limit switch, optical pressure switch and optical switching valve newly added to the family. Also it outlines MICREX/FFI systems linking distributed control system.

There is increasing demand for particle measurement widely in the fields of semiconducters, electronics materials, medicines, fine chemicals, and precision machining.
Fuji Electric has commercialized particle counters for liquid and for solid surfaces. These instruments can measure the number and size distribution of fine particles in a liquid or on a solid surface easily and accurately.
This paper introduces an outline of the latest four types.

This paper introduces a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for surface analysis optimized with grazing-angle reflection-absorption spectrometry and its applications.
The collimated high-throughput optical system FINE SPEC-D (R) enables the spectrometer to obtain high signal-to-noise ratio. A computer-controlled automatic sample holder is built in to minimize interference by water vapor etc. and to give a high-quality spectrum easily. The application of the spectrometer to the measurement of lubricating oil thickness on magnetic disk media proved its superior performance in surface analysis.

Laser markers are capable of noncontacting, high-speed, clear and fine marking, so that they have many superiorities to conventional methods such as printing, punching, and etching.
This paper describes an outline and feature of Fuji Electric's scanner-type laser markers which achieves satisfactory results in various fields, and also their applications to bar-code marking, precision graduating, and marking on plastic parts which have recently been noticed.

Fuji Electric has developed a high average power Nd:YAG slab laser. The Nd:YAG crystal is 5.6mm thick, 18.4mm wide, and 154mm long. The concentration of Nd³⁺ ion is 1.1 at.%. The slab is pumped by two krypton flash lamps from both sides. The resonator is as compact as 450 mm long. The lasing characteristics at the maximum average input of 25 kW in continuous 8-hour operation were as follows: laser output 600W, beam divergence less than 10 × 20 mrad (depth × width), stability less than 3% (p-p). Beam divergence was improved with an intracavity cylindrical lense resonator.

Short-wavelength high-power semiconductor lasers are a key device in the development of promising optical disk systems as rewritable large-capacity memories.
Fuji Electric, to cope with this situation, has developed a 780-nm, 40-mW semiconductor laser. It has realized the required characteristics which are beam quality, noise and polarity ratio, not to mention high reliability, in addition to short wavelength and high power. This paper introduces its characteristics, laser structure and fabrication process.