Efficient infrared light emitting diode (IRED) with wide beam angle

Osram Oslon black SFH 4716S with an 850 nanometer (nm) wavelength

High output in a compact package. The new infrared (IRED) Oslon black SFH 4716S from Osram Opto Semiconductors is one of the most powerful IREDs on the market with an optical output of 1030 milliwatts (mW). And with a beam angle of 150 degrees this IRED offers perfect illumination at a range of a few meters. It is therefore ideal for gesture detection systems linked to computer games or for optical safety systems in the automotive sector. But the infrared diode is capable of even more. With external optics and tight focusing even distant objects can be perfectly illuminated with infrared light.

The new Oslon black is ideal wherever gesture detection is involved. This high-power IRED illuminates the relevant area so that a camera sensor can detect movement which will then be used to control a computer or enter text. The wide beam angle of 150 degrees ensures that the near-field area is uniformly illuminated and gestures are reliably detected. Text can therefore be entered, for example, even if the hand is a few centimeters away from the keyboard. The SFH 4716S is also certified in accordance with the Automotive Standard so it can be used in safety-related applications such as driver monitoring or seat occupancy detection systems in vehicles.

Its high optical output of 1030 mW is achieved at an operating current of 1 amp (A) with an efficiency of around 35 percent. This increased performance is based on stack technology with which Osram provides each chip with two emission centers, thereby doubling its output. Oslon black achieves a radiant intensity of up to 225 mW/sr. Radiant intensity is measured in milliwatts per steradiant. It indicates the light output within a solid angle segment and therefore defines the intensity of the light beam. The emitted light with a wavelength of 850 nm is suitable for camera sensors but is barely visible to the human eye and therefore is not considered annoying.

Perfect for external optics and long ranges

The high optical output of the Oslon black also makes it suitable for combining with external reflectors. It may initially seem contradictory to create a narrow beam from a wide-angle light source but in actual fact this is a very efficient way to achieve high radiant intensity and long ranges. The light from the SFH 4716S injects very well into an external reflector. The reflector shapes the beam so that it can be tightly focused by an additional lens. This makes it suitable for security systems and monitoring systems that operate with additional infrared illumination. “With the aid of external reflectors it is possible to produce very narrow beam angles and illuminate at distances of several hundred meters”, said Dr. Jörg Heerlein, who is responsible at Osram Opto Semiconductors for product marketing for infrared illumination.