Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Olson LED Ideal Light Source for Covert Surveillance

By Patrick Curran | February 7, 2013

The infrared Oslon black SFH 4725S LED from Osram Opto Semiconductors has a wavelength of 940 nanometers, making it nearly invisible to the human eye, and its black package reflects virtually no ambient light. Together with its high optical output power of almost one watt, this infrared LED is the ideal light source for covert surveillance applications.

Concealed security systems – such as those installed in banks, on machinery and at border crossings –need to be designed so they are unobtrusive. This is a major challenge for infrared illumination in such applications because the 850 nanometer (nm) LEDs that are typically used here appear as weak dots of red light, especially in dark environments, giving away the cover of security cameras. The solution is to switch to a wavelength of 940 nm, which the human eye is 130 times less likely to notice. Camera sensors, however, can easily detect this invisible radiation.

Oslon-black-SFH-4725S-LED

The Oslon black SFH 4725S is truly invisible: Its light and its package are both unobtrusive.

The Oslon black SFH 4725S is the ideal component for such applications. This compact infrared LED provides 940 nm light with a high optical output of 980 milliwatts from an operating current of 1 Amp. Behind this high performance is Osram Opto Semiconductors’ Nanostack technology, which enables two emission centers to be put into one chip, almost doubling the light output. The SFH 4725S achieves a radiant intensity of 450 mW/sr at an emission angle of 90 degrees, providing excellent illumination over the area being monitored. Radiant intensity (measured in milliwatts per steradian) indicates the light output within a solid angle segment and defines the intensity of the light beam.

The black package ensures that the component is completely concealed behind the camera lens. “The 940 nm SFH 4725S is a potent addition to our Oslon black series for the security sector, which already includes 850 nm versions with standard and Nanostack chips,” said Sevugan Nagappan, Product Marketing Manager for industrial infrared components.

Surveillance-camera-with-Oslon-Black-SFH4725S

Candid camera: With a wavelength of 940 nm and a black package, the Oslon black SFH 4725S is the ideal light source for discreet surveillance.

The Oslon LEDs are currently some of the most powerful LEDs available in the compact class for both visible and infrared illumination. Measuring only 3.85 x 3.85 x 2.29 mm, the infrared Oslon components are among the smallest IREDs with approximately 1 W optical power. “Users with experience in constructing visible lighting units can transfer their know-how and their processes directly to the infrared Oslon,” added Nagappan. There is an array of lenses on the market that designers can use to shape the beam from the IRED to meet their specific requirements.

Osram Opto Semiconductors offers an Optical Selector Tool that can be accessed to help select the right lens for each particular application at http://www.ledlightforyou.com.

Osram Opto Semiconductors
http://www.osram-os.com/pr-IR-Oslon-black-940nm


Filed Under: Lights • signal lamps • indicators, Semiconductor manufacture, ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
Tagged With: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more