ams-OSRAM's sixth-generation infrared chip IR:6 sets a new benchmark in infrared technology

The sixth-generation infrared chip IR:6 uses true technological innovation to comprehensively improve performance, efficiency and image quality in applications such as facial recognition, smart sensing and energy-saving systems.

Although infrared light cannot be detected by the human eye, it has become an indispensable core component of many modern technologies. As modern technology increasingly demands high-efficiency light sources, even beyond the visible range, the importance of infrared technology is growing. IR:6 stands out with higher brightness, lower power consumption and better image quality. The optimized LED architecture combined with the newly added 920nm wavelength technology has established a new distance coverage and system reliability standard in key applications such as security monitoring.

IR:6 is not just a regular upgrade, but a major evolution in many applications: including clearer imaging, longer battery life and more optimized sensor performance. The infrared LED equipped with IR:6 can output brighter and more detailed images, ensuring accurate and reliable facial recognition and further strengthening the overall safety protection system. Even in low-light environments, it can demonstrate stable object recognition and clear monitoring images.

Energy conservation is the key to achieving a sustainable and green life. IR:6 significantly extends the battery life of portable devices by reducing power consumption, bringing obvious advantages to wearable devices, doorbells and locks, laptops and smart security systems. In addition to the existing 850nm and 940nm wavelength products, we have also launched a new 920nm technology, which achieves an excellent balance between detection distance and image quality, helping infrared cameras capture more delicate contrast and details, reducing reflection noise, and improving the reliability of security surveillance and identity recognition systems.

Making the Invisible Visible: Multiple Application Scenarios of IR:6

The application scope of infrared technology is far beyond ordinary imagination, and IR:6 further enhances its stability, efficiency and accuracy. For example, in biometric identification and security applications, IR:6 helps laptops, smartphones and access control systems achieve faster and more accurate facial recognition, enhancing the security and smoothness of the overall verification process. The improved image quality also allows smart surveillance cameras to record clearer images and more complete recording content, improving overall surveillance capabilities.

Other typical applications include: long-range and short- and medium-range CCTV surveillance, passenger flow statistics, smart doorbells, home surveillance cameras and baby monitors, etc. For wearable devices and health monitoring equipment, IR:6 can also provide more accurate vital sign information and further optimize technologies such as health tracking, vein identification, fingerprint identification, 2D facial recognition, high-precision eye tracking and AR augmented reality.

In industrial automation and robotic applications, enhanced infrared technology further improves object detection capabilities, which is the core requirement of smart manufacturing and self-driving systems, thereby bringing about a more efficient, stable and reliable industrial operation model, application scenarios include Including industrial robots, machine vision, traffic control and license plate recognition, etc. In the automotive industry, IR:6 also enhances driving assistance systems and night vision photography functions, providing clear vision even in low-light environments and improving overall driving safety.

Accurately connect technological breakthroughs with market demands

Relying on years of experience in technological innovation, ams-OSRAM has launched an infrared chip with a stacked architecture. Through a dual P/N junction series design, a single chip can achieve an optical output power that is 1.8 times higher than the traditional single-layer architecture. Although the working voltage of stacked LEDs is higher, its advantages are significant: the components are simpler, the system volume and cost are smaller, the radiation flux and output power are increased, and the effective irradiation distance is extended.

In addition, thin film chip technology continues to improve. Most of its infrared light-emitting LEDs use multiple generations of thin film chips, which greatly improves overall performance. Through the 10-micron-thick film layer light-emitting structure, energy loss is effectively reduced and photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved. The metal reflector design can accurately reflect back-facing light, and randomizes the internal reflection angle through a special surface texture, significantly improving the efficiency of light radiation extraction. Compared with standard volume emitters, thin film emitters have about 300% higher luminous efficiency.

IR:6 also optimizes the material architecture. The new internal reflector not only enhances the luminous intensity, but also reduces the optical loss inside the chip. The roughened surface design improves the light energy release efficiency and concentrates the beam distribution. The newly designed n-type contact electrode adopts a central layout, which effectively equalizes the current distribution and reduces the forward operating voltage.

Considering the different requirements for light source characteristics in different infrared applications, ams-OSRAM product portfolio provides a variety of output power and divergence angle configurations. For example, 850nm band products are particularly suitable for machine vision or outdoor security monitoring, with high sensor-side sensitivity and suitable for long-distance fill light; 940nm products are suitable for facial recognition and eye tracking applications, with low red exposure characteristics and a more comfortable visual experience; and the new 920nm technology achieves an ideal balance between sensor sensitivity and low red exposure effect.

IR:6 Diverse Application Scenarios

ams-OSRAM has created a diversified product portfolio based on IR:6 to meet diverse application needs:

OSLON® Black series: provides a variety of power options and can be flexibly used in automotive cockpit sensing, industrial security, consumer electronics and other fields.

OSLON® P1616: It has become the industry benchmark with its excellent package size and performance ratio, achieving high-power optical output in a compact package.

SYNIOS® P2720 lens integrated version: combines high power with compact packaging, specially designed for access control systems and biometric identification applications.

IR:6 not only once again confirms ams-OSRAM's core strategy of innovation-driven growth, but also reflects its commitment to sustainable development. Customers can use IR:6 to improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and expand more innovative applications; at the same time, ams-OSRAM will continue to consolidate its leadership position in the global infrared technology field. Higher performance and lower power consumption combine to achieve a win-win situation of corporate value and environmental benefits! (Source: ams-OSRAM)

TrendForce 2025 Infrared Sensing Application Market and Brand Strategy

Publication date: January 1, 2025
File format: PDF / EXCEL
Reporting language: Traditional Chinese / English
Number of pages: 184