News: LEDs
23 May 2025
ROHM adds compact top-view types to surface-mount near-infrared LED portfolio
Japan-based ROHM has expanded its portfolio of surface-mount near-infrared (NIR) LEDs with new compact top-view types, optimized for applications such as VR/AR devices, industrial optical sensors, and human detection sensors.
Demand for advanced sensing technologies utilizing near-infrared light has grown in recent years, particularly in VR/AR equipment and biosensing devices, e.g. for eye tracking, iris recognition, and blood flow/oxygen saturation measurements that require high accuracy. At the same time, miniaturization, energy efficiency and design flexibility are becoming increasingly important. In industrial equipment, near-infrared LEDs are playing a greater role with the rise of precise printer control and automation systems. In response, ROHM is expanding customer options by developing a lineup of compact packages and wavelengths that offer greater design flexibility, while contributing to higher precision and power savings by achieving high radiant intensity.
The new lineup consists of six models in three package configurations, including two ultra-compact (1.0mm x 0.6mm), ultra-thin (t=0.2mm) products as part of the PICOLED series: SML-P14RW and SML-P14R3W. In addition, there are four variants in the industry-standard (1.6mm x 0.8mm) size, featuring a narrow-beam circular lens package (CSL0902RT, CSL0902R3T) and flat lens design that emits light over a wide range (CSL1002RT, CSL1002R3T).
Each package is available in two wavelengths, 850nm (860nm for the SML-P14RW) and 940nm, allowing various options for specific application needs. The 850nm wavelength is ideal for photo-transistors and camera sensors, making it suitable for high-sensitivity applications such as eye tracking and object detection in VR/AR. At the same time, the 940nm wavelength is less affected by sunlight and does not appear red when emitting light, making it suitable for motion sensors. It is also widely used in biosensing applications such as pulse oximeters to measure blood flow and oxygen saturation (SpO2).
The light source incorporates a near-infrared element with an optimized emission layer structure utilizing proprietary technology developed through in-house manufacturing expertise. This has made it possible to achieve what is claimed to be industry-leading radiant intensity in a compact package, which was previously considered difficult. For example, compared with a standard 1006-size product, the SML-P14RW delivers about 1.4 times the radiant intensity at the same current, i.e. it consumes 30% less power to achieve the same radiation intensity. This technology hence improves sensing accuracy and power savings for the entire system.
