IR LED emitter claims largest 7-mm spot size

By Warren Miller, contributing writer

TT Electronics claims that its new infrared LED emitter offers the largest spot diameter in the industry. Featuring a 7-mm spot size, the OP207CL is optimized for high reliability in optical sensing and position encoder applications.

The OP207CL is designed to function at a high level in extreme environments and can withstand temperatures between –40°C and 105°C. It’s also very space-efficient. The LED itself is mounted on a PCB substrate that measures 9.9 × 9.9 mm with a 6.3-mm height.

The GaAIAs LED emits wavelengths in the 840 to 870 near-infrared range and offers up to 10 mW of total radiated power at a maximum drive current of 100 mA. Coupled with a 2.25° angle of half-intensity, this allows the OP207CL to detect on/off transitions and respond to turn-on/-off signals with a typical rise/fall time of 22 ns.

For devices like linear or radial encoders that require a high degree of accuracy, the integrated collimating lens provides a tight beam profile, which is optimal for making absolute or incremental measurements.

Key applications:

• Linear and rotary encoders
• Optical sensors and switches
• Long-range light barriers
• Optical scanning and edge sensing
• Automatic control systems

TT Electronics believes that the OP207CL can be valuable in a variety of fields that depend on optical sensing and switching applications, including robotics, industrial automation, and security sensors.