Osram Opto Semiconductors is expanding its Oslon Black family for the infrared range with six new automotive IREDs. The 850 nm versions are intended for exterior applications such as night vision, pedestrian protection, pre-field recognition and lane detection. The new 940 nm versions are suitable above all for interior automotive applications such as driver monitoring, seat occupancy detection and gesture recognition. Thanks to different wavelengths and lenses these products cover a wide range of customer requirements and can be operated at up to 5 A in pulsed mode. 

For driver monitoring the IREDs illuminate the driver precisely so that a camera can capture the drivers’ status (drowsiness, distraction) and pass this information to the system. (Image: Osram)

The new products show a high maximum pulse current of up to 5 A, compared to 3 A previously. The IREDs are particularly bright, with an optical output of up to 2.0 W in continuous operation. The six new IRED versions are available in different wavelengths and beam angles. SFH 4715AS A01, SFH 4716AS A01 and SFH 4717AS A01 all have a wavelength of 850 nm and a beam angle of ±45°, ±75° and ±25° respectively.               

SFH 4725AS A01, SFH 4726 A01 and SFH 4727AS A01 all have a wavelength of 940 nm and a beam angle of ±45°, ±75° and ±25° respectively. A high refractive index silicone is used for the lens, giving it a particularly low profile so that only very little light is lost from the sides. The maximum operating temperature of the IREDs is 125°C.

The newcomers to the Oslon Black family offer an impressive pulse handling capability of up to 5 A. (Image: Osram)

The high optical pulse outputs and the wide range of integrated lens options allow system designers to select the right IRED for virtually any application without having to install secondary optics. Infrared light sources in a wavelength range < 900 nm are perceived by the human eye as a red glow. This red glow is largely suppressed at 940 nm.

Like the rest of the Oslon Black family, the new IREDs offer outstanding performance, long lifetime and excellent thermal properties. “With this product line within the Oslon Black family we can cover all IRED-based lighting applications inside and outside the car. The exemplary performance and compact dimensions of the IREDs give engineers maximum freedom of design, and end customers benefit from a new level of road safety”, said Walter Rothmund, Marketing Manager ELS at Osram Opto Semiconductors.