Osram unveils the first flush-mountable infrared LED

As a remote control transmitter for tablet computers and smartphones, T-Midled saves on height but not on performance

Osram Opto Semiconductors now enables remote control functionality to be incorporated in a lower profile than ever before thanks to the first flush-mountable infrared LED. The compact side-looking T-shaped Midled offers impressively high radiant intensity and protrudes only fractions of millimeters from the board. An infrared transmitter can therefore now be integrated in extra-thin smartphones or tablet computers.

For the first time, Osram Opto Semiconductors has succeeded in sinking a surface-mountable infrared LED in a pc board. The LED in question is the T-Midled SFH 4140. "We want to enable our customers to install a powerful infrared transmitter even if there is very little height in the device to work with", explained Bianka Schnabel, the person responsible for the product at Osram Opto Semiconductors. "We have therefore developed a transmitter that disappears almost entirely into the board. Only 0.6 of a millimeter extends above and below the board. That saves plenty of height."

High output from an extremely small space

The T-shaped transmitter takes up only 4.6 square millimeters (mm²) of board space and emits a powerful focused beam to the side. The beam angle of +/-25 degrees is created by an integrated reflector – a real plus point in terms of space requirements. The SFH 4140 produces an impressive 50 milliwatts per steradiant (mW/sr) as its typical radiant intensity from 100 mA so it achieves the ranges needed for remote control functions. The wavelength of 940 nanometers is also perfect for meeting the requirements of this application.

Smartphones and tablet computers as remote controls

This component is Osram Opto Semiconductors' contribution to the trend of turning smartphones and tablet computers into universal remote controls, particularly for home entertainment electronics. If the device is equipped with the appropriate infrared transmitter diode then the diode can be controlled with a suitable app. Whereas classic remote controls traditionally use radial infrared LEDs, this option is not an attractive one for slim smartphones and tablets. These need a low-profile SMT solution which can nevertheless operate over the required distance. Up to now, manufacturers have been using transmitters such as Midled, Mini Midled and Chipled. The powerful T-Midled SFH 4140 is Osram Opto Semiconductors' latest addition to its portfolio of remote control transmitters, a no-compromise low-profile solution for which there will almost always be sufficient space.

Technical data for T-Midled SFH 4140: