Opto Diode designs and manufactures precision infrared sources, spanning near-infrared (NIR) GaAlAs LEDs, high-power NIR LEDs, and mid-IR emitters for gas analysis and related applications. The right choice depends on three variables: emission wavelength, output power, and how your application uses the light, whether that’s reflective sensing, machine vision, night vision, or gas analysis. This guide walks through Opto Diode’s three emitter families and helps you match a series to your design.
The three families at a glance
Opto Diode’s infrared sources divide into solid-state NIR LED emitters and thermal mid-IR emitters. The first two families below are near-infrared LEDs and near-infrared high-power LEDs, both offered with center wavelengths across the 700 nm to 1300 nm range. The third family, the IR emitters and controllers, uses thermal blackbody-style emission for the mid-IR. All three are catalogued under the broader emission product category.
| Family | Technology | Spectral range | Output | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near-Infrared LEDs | GaAlAs LED | 700-1300 nm (e.g. 810, 850 nm) | Wide, medium, or narrow angle parts | Industrial inspection & sorting, machine vision, medical diagnostics, scientific instrumentation |
| NIR High-Power LEDs | GaAlAs LED | 700-1300 nm (e.g. 850, 880 nm) | Up to 250 mW (DC) single chip; up to 1000 mW (DC) multi-chip arrays | Night vision, surveillance, industrial sensing |
| IR Emitters & Controllers | Thermal blackbody emission | Mid-IR | Steady-state or pulsable | Gas analysis, environmental monitoring, spectroscopy, process control |
Choosing your wavelength and pattern
For standard near-infrared work, Opto Diode’s near-infrared LEDs are available in narrow bandwidths and a range of center wavelengths from 700 nm to 1300 nm, and are offered with wide, medium, or narrow angle options, so you can match the beam to your geometry. The catalog includes 810 nm Hi-Rel radiation-hardened emitters (the OD-800W/L/F models, in wide, medium, and narrow angle versions) and 850 nm TO-46 emitters in wide, medium, and narrow angle versions, including high-temperature variants. These devices feature thermally optimized packaging, narrow spectral bandwidths, and high reliability and longevity.
Choose a standard NIR GaAlAs LED if you need a narrow-bandwidth source for industrial inspection and sorting, machine vision, scientific research and instrumentation, or medical diagnostics, and you want to select a beam angle (wide/medium/narrow) to match your field of view. The radiation-hardened 810 nm options are a natural pick for defense and aerospace.
When you need more radiant power
When a single standard LED can’t deliver the irradiance you need, step up to the NIR high-power LEDs. Emitting in the 700 nm to 1300 nm range, these emitters deliver up to 250 mW (DC) from a single chip and up to 1000 mW (DC) from multi-chip arrays, with models offered at 850 nm and 880 nm in TO-39 and TO-66 packages. The TO-39 parts are offered in narrow-angle and wide-angle versions. They share the family hallmarks of high radiant power output, thermally optimized packaging, and high reliability and longevity, and standard and custom configurations are available to meet your exact wavelength, output, and packaging requirements.
Choose a high-power IR emitter if your application is night vision, surveillance, or industrial sensing where reach and radiant intensity matter. For wide-area flood coverage, the array-based parts provide the most output; for a tighter, longer “throw,” the narrow-angle TO-39 models concentrate the beam.
Choose a standard NIR LED instead if your power budget is modest, you’re working at close range, or you prioritize a specific beam angle over raw output. There’s no need to take on the thermal and drive overhead of a high-power part for a benchtop sensing or inspection task.
Mid-IR emitters: steady-state vs. pulsable
For gas analysis and related mid-IR applications, Opto Diode offers thermal IR emitters and controllers that behave as blackbody-style sources rather than semiconductor LEDs. The key decision here is steady-state versus pulsable.
- Steady-state (SA Series): Coiled-filament emitters producing steady-state blackbody radiation with a typical emissivity of 0.70, in TO5 and TO8 packages with sapphire or calcium fluoride windows.
- Steady-state high power (SHA Series): High-power steady-state emitters with a typical emissivity of 0.70 in a robust, windowless TO5 package (e.g. the SHA727 and SHA1037 models).
- Pulsable (SVF Series): A thin metallic-foil design for pulsable blackbody radiation with a higher typical emissivity of 0.88, in TO5 and TO8 packages with sapphire or calcium fluoride windows (SVF230, SVF350, and SVF360 variants).
- Pulsable high-speed (PIRE PLUS / SPF Series): Fast pulsable emitters supplied with a complete evaluation kit, including a driver PCB, emitter, and heat sink, plus versatile software and hardware control.
Choose a steady-state emitter (SA or SHA) if your instrument reads a constant or mechanically modulated source and you want the proven emissivity of a coiled-filament design. Step up to the SHA high-power series when you need more output from a windowless TO5.
Choose a pulsable emitter (SVF) if you want to electrically modulate the source itself; the thin metallic foil and higher 0.88 typical emissivity suit pulsed mid-IR use. Window choice (sapphire or calcium fluoride) lets you match the package to your optical requirements.
Choose the PIRE PLUS / SPF high-speed pulsable kit if you want turnkey drive electronics for evaluation. The bundled driver PCB, heat sink, emitter, and software/hardware control simplify bring-up.
Quick decision summary
- Standard sensing, inspection, machine vision, or instrumentation in the NIR? Start with a GaAlAs near-infrared LED and pick your beam angle.
- Need night vision, surveillance, or industrial sensing? Move to a high-power infrared emitter (single-chip up to 250 mW DC, multi-chip arrays up to 1000 mW DC).
- Building a gas-analysis or mid-IR instrument? Use a thermal mid-IR emitter: steady-state (SA/SHA) for constant or mechanically modulated designs, pulsable (SVF) or PIRE PLUS for electrically modulated sources.
Get help specifying your emitter
Opto Diode builds these sources in the USA and offers standard and custom configurations. If you’re unsure which wavelength, output level, beam pattern, or window material fits your design, the engineering team can help you narrow it down. Contact Opto Diode to discuss your application.
FAQ
What is a GaAlAs IR LED, and what wavelengths does Opto Diode offer?
A GaAlAs (gallium aluminum arsenide) IR LED is a near-infrared emitter. Opto Diode’s NIR LEDs are offered with center wavelengths across the 700 nm to 1300 nm range, with catalog parts including 810 nm Hi-Rel radiation-hardened emitters and 850 nm and 880 nm devices.
What’s the difference between a standard NIR LED and a high-power infrared emitter?
Both are offered across the 700 nm to 1300 nm range. Standard near-infrared LEDs emphasize narrow spectral bandwidth and selectable beam angles for sensing and machine vision, while high-power emitters deliver up to 250 mW (DC) from a single chip and up to 1000 mW (DC) from multi-chip arrays for night vision, surveillance, and industrial sensing.
Should I use a steady-state or pulsable mid-IR emitter?
Choose a steady-state emitter (SA or SHA series, coiled filament, typical emissivity 0.70) when your instrument uses a constant or mechanically modulated source. Choose a pulsable emitter (SVF series, thin metallic foil, typical emissivity 0.88) or the PIRE PLUS / SPF kit when you want to electrically modulate the source.
Can Opto Diode provide custom IR emitter configurations?
Yes. Opto Diode’s high-power NIR LEDs are available in standard and custom configurations, and the PIRE PLUS line ships with a complete evaluation kit. Contact the team to discuss custom packaging, window materials, or output requirements.