Osram LED for Handheld spectroscopy
Company announces smallest broadband infrared LED for spectroscopy applications
Osram Opto Semiconductors has developed what it believes is the world’s smallest broadband infrared LED for spectroscopy applications.
"With the Oslon P1616 SFH4737, we are once again demonstrating our many years of experience in the infrared range and our outstanding development know-how," explains Carola Diez, product manager in the Sensing Division at Osram Opto Semiconductors.
"Used in mobile spectroscopy applications, our NIREDs not only help determine the freshness of food, but also identify counterfeit medicines and banknotes. And in agriculture, they are key tool in determining the ideal time to harvest in agriculture".
With dimensions of 1.6mm x 1.6mm x 0.9mm, the Oslon P1616 SFH 4737 is half the size of the previous smallest product in the Osram portfolio, making it suitable for use in smartphones. Its output of 74mW at 350mA is about three times the peak values of earlier products. The new product has a radiant intensity in the forward direction at 18mW/sr – which doubles the values of former Osram NIREDs.
Performance across the whole wavelength range offers another advantage in spectroscopy. The sensitivity of the often silicon-based detectors decreases with increasing wavelength (especially above 950 nanometer). In order to compensate, higher currents were required in the past. Thanks to a new phosphor, the component emits more light at higher wavelengths – with positive effects on the overall energy consumption of the system.
