New high-speed IR emitters reduce component count and solution cost

New high-speed 940 nm infrared (IR) emitters in leaded and SMD packages, built on proprietary SurfLight surface emitter chip technology, have been introduced by Vishay. The devices provide up to five times greater radiant intensity than standard IR emitters, reducing component counts, improving performance, and lowering solution costs in a wide range of infrared illumination, data transmission, and gesture-recognition applications, says the company. The devices released today include one leaded 5mm IR emitter with a parabolic lens and eight SMD devices in 0805, PLCC-2, top-looking, and side-looking packages. Unlike standard IR emitters that emit light in all directions, Vishay's SurfLight devices emit nearly all the light and power out of the top of the chip. With most of the light concentrated on the surface, higher intensity is achieved — up to an exceptionally high 600mW/sr for the leaded emitter and from 10mW/sr to 120mW/sr for the SMD devices. The SurfLight emitters combine their high brightness with narrow angles of half intensity of ±3 degrees for the leaded device and ±9 to ±60 degrees for SMD devices. With their 940 nm wavelength and narrow spectral bandwidth, the emitters guarantee invisible infrared radiation for CMOS cameras in CCTV and night vision systems, gaming, smoke detectors, light curtains, proximity sensors, and IR touch panels. For automotive applications, the SMD VSMY1940X01 and VSMY3940X01 are AEC-Q101-qualified. The IR emitters offer fast rise and fall times of 10ns, low forward voltages down to 1.32V at 20mA, and radiant power to 55mW. Top-looking devices are package matched with Vishay's VEMD2000X01 and VEMD2503X01 series detectors, while side-looking devices are matched with the VEMD2xx3SLX01 and VEMT2xx3SLX01. Supporting lead (Pb)-free reflow soldering, the IR emitters are suitable for high pulse current operation, offer a floor life of up to four weeks, and feature moisture sensitivity levels of 2a and 3 in accordance with J-STD-020, says the company.