IR LED’s, or sometimes known as IR transmitters are considered a specialty LED that transmits in the range above 700nm. They are typically made using gallium arsenide or aluminum gallium arsenide, and will usually be pair with an IR receiver or sensor of some sort. Although they may look exactly the same as a standard LED, the differences become vastly apparent when turned on. Whereas a standard LED is readily visible when on, the same cannot be said of an IR LED, due to the fact that the human eye does not have the capability of seeing in the IR spectrum. There are means of overcoming this, such as using the camera on your cellphone, which can detect IR rays. A receiving unit is generally used in correspondence with IR LEDs. One unit will emit the infrared rays, whereas the corresponding unit receives these signals, and turns them into readouts that can be properly identified.

Infrared LED’s covers wide range of the wavelength chart, and each wavelength typically has its specific applications. Below are some of the popular wavelengths and uses:

• 940nm: Typically the wavelength used in remote control applications, such as a TV remote.
• 808nm: Typically used in medical treatment appliances, space optical communications, infrared illuminations, and solid state lasers.
• 830nm: Typically used located in automated card readers and scanners.
• 840nm: Typically found in video cameras for colored infrared illumination.
• 850nm: Usually found in night vision, security cameras, and alarms.
• 870nm: Usually found in video cameras overlooking large areas of space.

Infrared LED’s have made quick strides in the market, and as more uses are found for them, the technological advancement also increases rapidly. Infant stages of IR LED’s typically found them only in a through hole lamp packages, but now come in a broad range of packages ranging from small power to high power LEDS.

ChromeLED has placed themselves at the front of this market with the IR high power CSHD1414IR series. This series features a narrow beam angle silicone optical lens that allows unmatched high power IR performance by utilizing a micro etching Cu substrate. Placed in a 4.0mm x 4.0mm package, the CSHD1414IR series offers a range of viewing angles from 20° to 140°, and come in a multiple power options starting from 500 mA . These IR LED’s are the perfect LED solutions that are typically required in infrared illuminations for cameras, surveillance systems, and machine visions systems.