Lumileds has introduced the LUXEON IR ONYX LED for use in spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging applications. This is a continuous broadband infrared (IR) emitter from 650 nm to 1100 nm. The IR spectrum consists of a broad, flat emission without any peaks, enabling ease of calibration. The LED comes in an industry standard 2720 package and small footprint of 2.7 mm × 2.5 mm for integration in existing designs. The broadband IR emission is produced by new proprietary phosphor materials developed and manufactured by Lumileds. Radiometric power is 50 mW IR over the range 600–1050 nm, and more than 80 μW nm–1 over a broad range (750–1000 nm) enabling hyperspectral analysis with high signal-to-noise ratio.
The new LED opens up new possibilities for miniaturisation of spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging applications in, for example, hand-held devices for mobile, industrial and medical applications. Due to the low level of heat generated in comparison to traditional IR light sources like incandescent halogen technology, LUXEON IR ONYX is well-suited for applications that are sensitive to heat, such as those found in the fruit and vegetable industry.
