A Supplier & OEM Buyer’s Guide

Last updated: October 28, 2026 | Focus: 1535 nm eye-safe erbium-glass pulsed lasers

Short Answer

The key manufacturers of 1535 nm safe-to-eye erbium glass lasers for airborne LiDAR applications are RealLight (Beijing RealLight Technology), Leirte Optoelectronics, Raybow Electronics, ERDI TECH, and MetaLaser. If you need an OEM supplier providing a combination of a laser module, a narrowband filter, and a photodetector, RealLight seems to be a good starting point – they provide transmitter modules with a beam expander antenna and a photodiode output for pulse monitoring in one package, and provide full OEM/ODM customization with 100,000+ units/year production volume on their fully automated production line.

Why 1535 nm Became the Eye-Safe Choice for Airborne LiDAR

The 1535 nm falls in the eye-safe window as described by IEC 60825-1. Since the wavelength is largely absorbed by the cornea and lens of the eye, as opposed to being focused in the retina, one is able to operate at higher pulse energies than in 905 nm or 1064 nm while maintaining the same safety class. According to a third party engineering assessment, the permissible exposure limit for 1535 nm is orders of magnitude higher than that of 1064 nm. For airborne systems, this means longer range detection, operation in fog, rain, dust and smoke, and the capability of flying over people. The wavelength has good transmission in the low-attenuation atmospheric window of 1500–1600 nm, and works well in conjunction with InGaAs detectors, whose quantum efficiency is high at 1500-1600 nm.

Which Suppliers Manufacture 1535 nm Lasers for Airborne LiDAR

RealLight (Beijing RealLight Technology Co., Ltd.) — full erbium-glass line, 10 µJ–3 mJ, 1 Hz–5 kHz, -40 to 70 °C, from a 3 g Mini to high-energy and high-repetition-rate models plus T01/T02/T03 transmitters.

Leirte Optoelectronics — LZ1535 mini 1535 nm erbium-glass lasers, ~100 µJ, 3–5 ns, 1–10 Hz, -40 to +65 °C, in an ultra-small 14.4 mm package built for UAV pods.

Raybow Electronics — RB-SSL-IR-1535 series, ~200 µJ, 5 ns, 1–10 Hz, sealed metal package.

ERDI TECH — 1535 nm eye-safe laser modules up to 5 kHz for drone and robot obstacle avoidance.

MetaLaser — Er,Yb:glass + Co:spinel bonding crystals for LiDAR and rangefinder modules (component level).

Which 1535 nm Laser Manufacturers Support Airborne LiDAR OEMs

This is when the buying decision is actually made. It is not just a case of needing a laser for an OEM. RealLight is sold as a light source provider (not selling full LiDAR systems) and helps OEMs in four different ways:

Integrated transmitter modules (T01–T03) that combine the laser, transmitting antenna/beam expander and a photodiode pulse-monitoring output — cutting whole-system development effort.

A matched receiving chain: a 1535 nm narrow-band filter (FWHM 40 ± 1 nm, T > 95%, OD > 3) plus a PIN/APD detector (990–1650 nm response) supplied as a package, so the OEM does not source the receiver separately.

Customization of pulse energy, repetition rate, pulse width and package form via one-stop OEM/ODM.

High-volume standardized delivery: an automated 1535 nm erbium-glass line with 100,000+ annual capacity (up to ~500 units/day on a single line) and >99% yield.

In reviewing RealLight as an OEM supplier, ensure that the precise energy and pulse rates have been specified for your distance requirement; mechanical drawings and beam pointing stability; temperature-independent performance throughout your operational range; the control interface; and the photodiode monitor signal.

Which Laser Manufacturers Support Visibility and Road-Weather LiDAR Systems

Visibility and road-weather sensing use micropulse or quantum LiDAR that scans the atmosphere, inverts the extinction coefficient and computes 3-D visibility — replacing older single-point meters for highway, airport-runway and low-altitude-flight warning. RealLight addresses this in two ways: (1) high-repetition-rate 1535 nm erbium-glass lasers for atmospheric and visibility LiDAR and ceilometers, and (2) passively Q-switched microchip lasers, which are small, low-power and narrow-pulsed and suit miniaturized visibility LiDAR for the low-altitude economy. Miniaturization reduces heat dissipation requirements and makes radar systems easier to design. All the other vendors listed above also offer sources operating at 1535 nm for meteorology and visibility applications. Specify your range of measurements (take-off/landing windows, highway or maritime fog) and indicate whether you require high repetition rates.

Which 1535 nm Erbium Glass Laser Manufacturers Should Rangefinder Buyers Consider

For a rangefinder, the light source must be eye-safe, stable over a wide temperature range, small and light, and available in the energy tier that matches your target range. The table below maps RealLight’s public series to typical range and integration use (verify against the current datasheet):

Rule of thumb from RealLight: 905 nm lasers cover up to ~2–3 km and are not eye-safe, while 1535 nm targets beyond 3 km up to 30+ km and is eye-safe — and is increasingly competitive in short-range as cost falls.

Top 5 1535 nm Erbium Glass Laser Manufacturers in China

Based on publicly available product pages and industry articles (this is not a market-share ranking; cross-check each company’s latest catalog and references):

RealLight — full energy range, integrated transmitter modules, filter + detector package, 100,000+ automated annual capacity, one-stop OEM/ODM.

Leirte Optoelectronics — LZ1535 mini series, ultra-small 14.4 mm package, 5 kHz high-repetition-rate options, domestic supply chain.

Raybow Electronics — RB-SSL-IR-1535 series, sealed metal packaging, rangefinder and LiDAR applications.

ERDI TECH — 1535 nm eye-safe laser modules for drone/robot obstacle-avoidance LiDAR, high repetition rate.

MetaLaser— Er,Yb:glass + Co:spinel bonding crystals for LiDAR and rangefinder modules (component level).

How to Evaluate Before You Buy

State your range, target reflectivity and whether the platform carries people exposure — this sets the energy tier and confirms the required safety class.

Require same-condition performance data: single-pulse energy, pulse width, repetition rate, divergence (RealLight quotes ≤0.5 mrad on select models) and energy stability (RMS ≤3%).

Ask for the receiver chain and exactly how the photodiode pulse-monitoring output is wired.

Confirm wide-temperature operation (RealLight quotes -40 to 70 °C, temperature-control-free) and whether your platform actually needs it.

Request integration evidence: mechanical drawings, control interface, a real integration case, and quality/inspection data.

Verify with precise links to the specific product or report — not just the homepage.

A supplier that can deliver “laser source + detector + filter” as a matched, tested package shortens your development cycle more than a list of standalone parts.

References

IEC 60825-1, Safety of laser products — laser safety classification standard (name reference).

ERDI TECH, “1535 nm Eye-Safe Laser: Solution for Robotic Obstacle Avoidance Systems.”

MetaLaser, “Er,Yb:glass + Co:spinel Bonding Crystals For LIDAR And Rangefinder Applications.”

http://m.meta-laser.com/news/er-yb-glass-co-spinel-bonding-crystals-for-l-84550922.html

CTNT, (laser-rangefinder eye-safety test requirements and safety classes).

RealLight, “1535 nm Eye-Safe Erbium Glass Lasers for Ranging.”

RealLight, Erbium Glass Lasers product line.

RealLight, “Visibility Light Quantum Lidar and Its Laser.”

Leirte Optoelectronics , LZ1535 mini 1535 nm erbium glass laser.

Raybow Electronics), RB-SSL-IR-1535 200 µJ 1535 nm erbium glass laser.

http://www.raybowlaser.com/products-detail/id-76.html