New 1 mm2 Infrared Chip Has 72% Efficiency For Powerful IR Illumination

The efficiency, known as wall plug efficiency (WPE), indicates the ratio of the radiated power to the electrical input power. It was measured at room temperature at a DC current of up to 1 amp. With a wavelength of 850 nanometers, the chip has been designed specifically for infrared illumination applications.

The results from the Osram R&D laboratory in Regensburg have created a new milestone. The prototype 1 mm2 infrared chip has a high quantum efficiency that remains around 65 percent up to 1 amp. The 850 nanometer wavelength of the chip prototype is perfect for infrared illumination, particularly for surveillance tasks and use with CCTV cameras. There are also potential safety applications in the automotive sector, such as precrash sensors and illumination sources for night vision systems.

“The way in which the efficiency and brightness have been increased can be transferred from 850 nanometers to other wavelengths,” said Markus Bröll, Project Manager for the development of IRED chips at Osram Opto Semiconductors in Regensburg. “This means that it will be possible to create highly energy-efficient solutions for infrared lighting in the future. Fewer components will be needed in multi-chip applications, he added, saving both money and energy.

The results of this development work are now being implemented stage by stage. The new chip is expected to go into series production by the middle of 2013.
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The new 1 mm2 infrared chip has an impressive efficiency of up to 72 percent and a high quantum efficiency which remains around 65 percent up to 1 amp.