Japan-based Ushio Opto Semiconductors announced that it has developed a broadband LED that produces an output 160 mW over a wide bandwidth between 400 and 1000 nm, covering the range from visible light to near-infrared light.

According to the Ushio Opto Semiconductors, the near-infrared light are widely applied in food scanning and medical field. In addition, the demands for portable measuring devices such as blood oximeter are rising.

On the other hand, light that extends from the visible region to the near-infrared region where the wavelength is about 1000 nm matches the spectral sensitivity of the silicon photodetector which typically employs a CMOS device. It is therefore hoped that by combining the light source with a photodetector, it can also be used as a sorting unit that sorts materials, colors, and other properties of PET bottles.

Ushio Opto Semiconductors has managed to manufacture wide range wavelength LEDs that emits light with output of 160 mW. Conventionally, near-infrared LEDs that cover a wide range of wavelengths produce week output which cannot generate adequate light output for measurement. Ushio’s LEDs solve the issue and are small enough to be installed in multiple devices.

(Image: Ushio Opto Semiconductors)

It is hoped that this work will bring about the development of a device that enables an individual to measure the sugar content or fat content of foodstuffs, for example, and also increase the efficiency of sorting units that can sort the raw materials, colors and foreign matter in agricultural produce and plastic products.

(image: Ushio Opto Semiconductors)