Ultra-compact infrared LED from Osram enables gesture control in car interiors

Automotive interior design is currently undergoing a fundamental change. Displays are getting larger, the number of manual controls is decreasing, and customizable lighting solutions are creating a feel-good atmosphere. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and technologies previously designed for mobile devices – such as facial recognition, eye tracking or gesture control – are increasingly making their way into the automotive sector. These technologies are based on infrared light. The smaller and more powerful the required components, the easier they are to integrate into complex designs. Osram’s Oslon Piccolo now offers an extremely compact infrared LED (IRED) that packs enormous power in a small package, making it ideal for customers.

Thanks to its extremely compact dimensions of only 1.6 mm x 1.6 mm and a package height of only 0.81 mm, the IRED can be installed easily in a small space. With a DC power of 1.15 W at 1 A and very fast switching times of 10 ns, the component is suitable as both a constant light source for a camera-based application and for 3D image acquisition with modulated or fast pulsed light. The automotive-qualified component (AEC-Q102) is available in two different wavelengths: 850 nm (SFH 4170S A01) and 940 nm (SFH 4180S A01, more info).