Powerful computer chips, highly efficient infrared LEDs and modern camera sensors now make it possible for previously complex eye-tracking systems to be adapted for consumer applications. These systems enable devices to detect the user’s eye movements and recognise what the user would like to do next. In conjunction with established input methods, eye tracking opens up a wealth of new intuitive interactions between man a...

A Porsche has set the fastest lap time on the first day of practice for round two of the FIA WEC in Spa-Francorchamps. For the first time the two 919 Hybrids have run with the aerodynamic package which is designed for the Le Mans 24 Hours. The cars were designed with a newly-specified headlight system, provided by Osram.

The much anticipated European Football Championships will kick-off in France next month when the host nation open the tournament against Romania. The 2016 event will be the first time the competition has been expanded to include 24 teams and, as such, will consist of a number of Euro debutants such as Wales, Albania and Iceland. One of the favourites for the tournament however, will be three time winners and current world champions Germany.

As pioneers in entertainment lighting, Osram and Clay Paky are once again being entrusted to provide exceptional lighting effects for the shows staged at the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Stockholm from May 10 to 14th, 2016. Around 1,000 moving heads equipped with state-of-the-art light sources will be used to present, in the best possible light, the contestants from 42 countries during the semi-finals and the final.

Spotlights provide the right illumination for actors in front of the camera and on the stage, put concerts and other events in the right light and are the main tool for lighting designers looking to create spectacular effects. A special highlight from Osram at Prolight + Sound 2016 is the next generation of entertainment lighting based on laser technology.

Osram Opto Semiconductors’ research lab has considerably improved the luminous efficacy of its high-power LEDs by reducing the unwanted droop effect at high currents. This development was made possible by optimised epitaxial growth processes. At a current density of 3A/mm², the quantum efficiency of the LEDs is now a full 7.5% above the previous level.

Enabling iris recognition systems to be designed with lower profiles and made less complex, the Oslux SFH 4786S InfaRed Emitting Diode (IRED) has been introduced by Osram Opto Semiconductors. This IRED is 1.6mm high, making it around one third thinner than its predecessor. Its direction of emission is slightly angled so there is no need for the usual mechanical aids to ensure correct geometrical alignment.

Enabling users for the first time to equip mainstream projectors rated at more than 2,500 lumen (lm) exclusively with LED lighting, Osram Opto Semiconductors has introduced its new Osram Ostar Projection Power.

Claimed to be the most compact infrared emitting diode (IRED) in the high-power class, the SFH 4770S from Osram Opto Semiconductors provides a typical high optical output of 1200mW from a 2.7x2.0x0.6mm package. The device's broad emission characteristics and low profile make it suited for facial recognition and eye-tracking systems in smartphones and tablets that can activate applications in response to eye blinking instead of the usual double-cl...

For years, leading manufacturers of televisions have been demanding an ever broader colour space. The Quantum Colours conversion technology from Osram Opto Semiconductors will set new standards in LED backlighting for TV displays as it offers much better coverage of the colour space, significant cost savings compared with conventional quantum dot sheets and zero cadmium content.

Featuring four high-power chips with the latest thin-film and UX:3 technologies in red, green, blue and white, the Osram Ostar Stage LED has been released by Osram Opto Semiconductors. Providing higher brightness with no increase in package size, this LED is suitable for use in stage spotlights. 

Providing excellent signal quality and low energy consumption, the SFH 7060 sensor from Osram Opto Semiconductors is designed to measure pulse rates and the oxygen saturation level of blood. It is designed for wearables such as smart watches and fitness armbands for continuously monitoring fitness levels. This integrated optical sensor contains five light emitting diodes with three different wavelengths and one high-sensitivity photodiode.

Suited for security applications such as camera surveillance, Osram Opto Semiconductors has introduced an InfraRed Emitting Diode (IRED) with an 850nm wavelength. The Oslon Black SFH 4713A supports efficient designs for near-range illumination from 10 to 50m (approximately 30 to 200ft), compared to previous Oslon Black high-flux IREDs which were designed for systems with a range of up to 100m.

Osram IR technology is making smartphones even smarter by enabling mobile devices, for the first time, to be unlocked by scanning the iris of the user. Fujitsu Limited is using iris scanning in its ARROWS NX F-04G smartphone, which is being marketed by the Japanese telecomms company NTT DOCOMO. This smartphone, which is currently available only in Japan, is the first in the world with this extremely secure functionality for consumers, using IREDs...

Osram Opto Semiconductors has announced the SFH 7051, an integrated optical sensor specially designed for heart rate monitoring. Suitable for use in fitness trackers, smartwatches and other wearables, the sensor consumes very little power, maximising battery life and reliability. The SFH 7051 consists of a large-format photodiode and three green LEDs with a wavelength of 530nm.

Osram Opto Semiconductors has introduced the P2W 01 LED, a reliable addition to its Osram Ostar Projection series. This LED contains four chips that can be controlled in two separate groups. This provides an integrated solution that, in the event of emergencies, offers trouble-free operation in safety-related and security-related applications such as control room monitors.

With the introduction of the SFH 4715AS and the SFH 4716AS infrared LEDs, Osram Opto Semiconductors has increased the output of its IR Oslon Black family for the second time in six months. This has been achieved by combining the latest chip design with an optimised package and Nanostack technology, in which each chip has two emission centres. 

  A fully optimised production concept for LED components and light modules in which all the process steps are co-ordinated with one another could give rise to completely new types of LEDs and reduce their manufacturing costs. 

The SPL BF98-40-5 laser bar from Osram Opto Semiconductors combines power and beam quality, reducing the complexity of coupling light into fibres. Thanks to its high brilliance, diode or fibre laser systems for material processing can be made simpler and more cost-effective. Even at its maximum output of more than 60W, the component has an impressively long life.

Designed to unlock mobile phones and tablet computers, the IR Oslux SFH 4780S infrared emitter has been introduced by Osram Opto Semiconductors. The emitter measures 2.4mm in height, setting new standards and achieving record radiant intensity values with a narrow emission angle from very small dimensions. This combination paves the way for compact energy-saving designs for reliable iris scanning functionality on mobile devices.