Startup Phlux ships 1550nm IR sensors
British InGaAs APD company wins six-figure value export contract
Phlux Technology, a UK manufacturer of avalanche photodiode (APD) infrared sensors, has announced that it has won a six-figure (GBP) value export contract and is now shipping production quantities of its 1550 nm InGaAs avalanche photodiode sensors.
Phlux CEO, Ben White (pictured above), said: “Unlike most semiconductor companies, we didn’t need to win new design slots before generating sales. Our Noiseless InGaAs APDs are drop-in replacements for traditional IR photodetectors. They’re ideal for making instant performance upgrades to laser rangefinders, LiDAR, and optical test equipment, so we’re seeing immediate demand, particularly across North America and Europe. It’s a huge vote of confidence in our technology and there will be more product announcements as we build on this success over the next few months. Just over a year after closing an initial £4 million seed funding round, we’ve now delivered products to fifteen customers.”
Amy Nommeots-Nomm, Early-Stage Investor at Octopus Ventures, added, "Securing a significant contract so quickly after their seed round is great validation of Phlux's technology, vision and execution. Phlux are proving they can deliver their incredible innovation to customers and are on an exciting trajectory to shape the future direction of LIDAR, communications and sensing. We are excited to see them continue to deliver on their roadmap, bringing products to market, and building further strategic partnerships.”
Phlux’s Aura 1550 nm APDs, launched in January 2024, are 12X more sensitive than other best-in-class InGaAs APDs. This means that the operating range of IR-based systems can be immediately extended by up to 50% as well as offering accuracy and environmental stability. In new designs, it’s possible to reduce the power of the laser diode that produces IR pulses and simplify both the system optics and thermal management arrangements. This cuts product size and cost.
The performance of Noiseless InGaAs APDs is boosted by the addition of antimony alloy in the compound semiconductor fabrication process. This not only increases the sensitivity of the diodes but greatly improves their thermal stability, making them more environmentally robust.
