Industrial SWIR (infrarossi a onde corte) LED lighting operates in the 1000-1950 nm banda, beyond the silicon detector cutoff at roughly 1100 nm. SWIR LEDs enable imaging, sensing, E visione artificiale applications that silicon-based cameras and photodetectors cannot see: through-fog and through-silicon-wafers imaging at 1050-1200 nm (including silicon wafer inspection), rilevamento dell'umidità A 1450 nm, eye-safe industrial sensing A 1550 nm, and oil-and-plastic sorting at 1650 nm. SWIR LEDs are built on InGaAs semiconductor material (versus InGaN for UV-visible LEDs and GaAs for NIR), which limits available wavelengths, lowers wall-plug efficiency, and increases cost per milliwatt by roughly 10-100x versus visible LEDs. Multispectral LED systems combine multiple SWIR wavelengths, and often visible / NIR wavelengths, in arrays to capture spectral signatures single-wavelength sources cannot, used in food inspection, hyperspectral imaging supplements, NDT, machine vision lighting, E biomedical applications. This guide covers wavelength selection, packaging, SWIR illumination system-level design, and Yingfeng’s industrial LED SWIR portfolio for OEM integration.

Opzioni dell'angolo di visualizzazione: 20°/ 30°/45°/60°/120°

Pacchetto a chip singolo:Dimensioni: 3535/3838

Four-Chip Package:Dimensioni: 5050/5252

The SWIR spectrum at a glance

What makes SWIR different from visible and NIR LEDs

Three fundamental differences drive the SWIR LED component selection process:

1. InGaAs vs. silicon detection. Silicon CMOS and CCD sensors (and silicon photodiodes / photodetectors) have quantum efficiency curves that drop sharply past 950-1000 nm and are effectively blind past ~1100 nm. SWIR cameras and SWIR photodetectors use indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) sensors, which are sensitive across 900-1700 nm (standard InGaAs) or up to 2600 nm with extended InGaAs. This sensor change is the largest cost driver of any SWIR system, Le fotocamere InGaAs costano in genere 10-50 volte di più delle fotocamere equivalenti in silicio. SWIR LED selection must match the SWIR camera’s spectral response curve. Note that SWIR is distinct from thermal imaging (MWIR / LWIR, 3-14 μm), SWIR uses reflected illumination from active LED sources, while thermal imaging detects emitted heat from objects themselves.

2. Cost per milliwatt of optical output. I LED SWIR utilizzano materiale semiconduttore InGaAs (versus InGaN for UV/visible and GaAs/AlGaAs for NIR). The standard composition Ga₀.₄₇In₀.₅₃As, lattice-matched to indium phosphide substrates, has an optical absorption cutoff at ~1.68 μm, with extended-InGaAs reaching beyond 2.5 μm. The material is harder to fabricate, has lower yields, and lower wall-plug efficiency than blue/green/red LED materials. Industrial SWIR LEDs typically cost 10-100x more per milliwatt of optical output than visible LEDs of similar package size. This shapes system design: SWIR illumination is power-budgeted and pulse-driven for efficiency.

3. Eye-safety advantage above 1400 nm. Light at wavelengths above approximately 1400 nm is strongly absorbed by water in the cornea and aqueous humor of the eye before reaching the retina, providing an inherent eye-safety margin not available at shorter wavelengths. This is reflected in the CEI 60825-1 laser/LED safety classification framework, which assigns more permissive accessible-emission limits to wavelengths in this band. The eye-safety property makes 1550 nm particularly attractive for industrial sensing, automotive LiDAR, and outdoor surveillance where exposure cannot be controlled. See the 1550nm cluster article for application-specific safety classification details.

Selecting a SWIR LED by application

SWIR LED component selection checklist

Wavelength is the first decision (la tabella dello spettro qui sopra), but a complete SWIR LED specification for 1050 A 1750 nm has six more dimensions. Work through them in order to turn an application into a buildable component spec:

1. Center wavelength and bin. Match the center wavelength to the absorption feature you are imaging (1450 nm per l'acqua, 1650 nm per gli idrocarburi, and so on). SWIR emitters carry a center-wavelength tolerance, so specify the acceptable bin. Tighter bins mean sorted parts at higher cost.
2. Larghezza di banda spettrale (FWHM). Confirm the emitter bandwidth does not bleed into a neighboring absorption band that your classification needs to separate. Where two bands sit close together, add a bandpass filter at the detector rather than relying on the LED alone (see the spectral-overlap note under Multispectral LED arrays).
3. Radiant output and irradiance at the target. Specify by radiometric quantity, not “brightness.” Radiant flux (mW) is total emitted power, intensità radiante (mW/sr) governs a narrow beam, and irradiance at the working plane (mW/cm²) is what actually drives detector signal. Back-calculate the required irradiance from the InGaAs camera sensitivity, exposure time, and working distance, then add margin for optical and window losses.
4. Beam angle and uniformity. Choose the viewing (half-power) angle to cover the inspection field at the working distance. For machine vision, budget for a diffuser or light pipe to flatten the field. Uniformità, not peak intensity, sets inspection repeatability.
5. Package and thermal path. Select the package (SMD footprints such as 0603 E 0805, low-profile flip-chip, high-power ceramic, or COB array) against board area, height, and the heat you need to sink. SWIR wall-plug efficiency is low, so most of the drive power becomes heat at the junction. Metal-core PCB or active cooling is common above roughly one watt.
6. Drive scheme. Decide continuous versus pulsed. Pulsed drive at 10 A 50 percent duty raises peak irradiance and lowers average junction temperature, but it requires a driver that can source the peak current and a trigger synchronized to the camera exposure. For arrays, plan per-channel current regulation because forward voltage differs across wavelengths.
7. Detector and optics match. Verify the chosen wavelength sits inside the InGaAs (or extended-InGaAs) responsivity window, and confirm every lens, window, and encapsulant in the path transmits at that wavelength (quarzo, zaffiro, or SWIR-rated glass, not standard acrylic or polycarbonate).

The radiometric quantities to hold on a datasheet or a request for quote:

For the wavelength-specific tradeoffs behind step 1, see the cluster articles linked in the spectrum table. For available packages and datasheets, see the SWIR LED product category.

Multispectral LED arrays

UN multispectral LED array combines two or more discrete wavelengths in a single optical assembly to capture richer spectral information than a single-wavelength source can deliver. For OEM integration, multispectral arrays solve a class of problems that monochromatic illumination cannot: distinguishing materials with similar visible appearance but different SWIR absorption signatures, characterizing surface coatings, and supplementing hyperspectral imaging systems.

Array architecture options

• Interleaved arrays, multiple LED dies on the same substrate or PCB, each emitting a different wavelength. Optical output is spatially mixed across the illumination plane. Suited to applications where the target is in motion (food conveyor, manufacturing line) and time-multiplexed sampling is acceptable.
• Sequential / multiplexed drive, single optical path with multiple LED packages, driven in time sequence. Camera captures one frame per wavelength. Cleaner spectral separation, slower frame rate, requires synchronized drive electronics.
• Custom modules, assembled by component supplier to OEM specification. Combines the optimal wavelength set, drive electronics, and optical packaging for a specific imaging application.

Multispectral system design considerations

• Current matching across wavelengths: different SWIR LED wavelengths have different forward voltage and efficiency characteristics; uniform optical output per wavelength requires per-channel current regulation, not a single constant-current source for the whole array
• Spectral overlap, adjacent SWIR wavelengths (per esempio., 1450 nm e 1550 nm) have ~30-40 nm FWHM and may overlap; spectral classification algorithms must account for this
• Optical uniformity, diffusers, light pipes, or integrating spheres are commonly used to spatially homogenize multispectral output before it reaches the target
• Thermal management, heat generated by multiple high-power LEDs in close proximity requires careful PCB design; metal-core substrates and active cooling are typical
• Synchronization with camera, multispectral systems require precise timing between LED drive pulses and camera exposure; trigger signals are usually delivered from a central controller

System-level design for SWIR illumination and machine vision lighting

A complete SWIR imaging or machine vision lighting system has four interdependent components. The SWIR LED light source is one of them:

1. SWIR LED illumination, selected by wavelength, optical power, beam angle, lighting uniformity, and drive characteristics
2. SWIR cameras (InGaAs sensor) or InGaAs photodiode/photodetector, selected by spectral response, pixel resolution, sensitivity, dynamic range
3. Ottica, silicon and crown glass lenses do not transmit past ~1100 nm; SWIR optics use quartz, zaffiro, magnesium fluoride, or specialized SWIR-coated glasses
4. Drive electronics + timing, pulsed drive (typical duty cycle 10-50%) maximizes peak optical output while managing thermal load; precise pulse timing synchronizes the SWIR LED lighting with camera exposure

Component matching matters. UN 1550 nm LED paired with a standard SWIR camera (InGaAs sensor) is the strongest signal-to-noise combination because that wavelength is near the InGaAs sensitivity peak. The same camera paired with a 1750 nm LED sees significantly reduced signal because the sensor’s responsivity is dropping near the edge of its sensitive range. Selecting an extended-InGaAs camera resolves the 1750 nm sensitivity issue at increased cost.

For machine vision lighting applications, beam uniformity across the inspection field is critical: non-uniform SWIR illumination produces inconsistent contrast that complicates downstream image analysis. Diffusers, light pipes, or multi-emitter arrays homogenize the SWIR light source output before it reaches the inspection target.

For optics, polycarbonate and acrylic are transparent in the visible but absorb strongly in SWIR. Use SWIR-rated glass, quarzo, or sapphire for any windows, lenti, or beam-shaping optics in the LED path. Standard silicone LED encapsulants are SWIR-transparent up to about 1700 nm and are generally acceptable inside the LED package.

Hyperspectral vs. multispectral imaging, clarifying the terms

The two terms are often used interchangeably but describe different imaging approaches. Per the standard distinction, hyperspectral imaging uses continuous and contiguous ranges of wavelengths (per esempio., 400-1100 nm in 1 nm steps), while multispectral imaging uses a subset of targeted wavelengths at chosen locations (per esempio., 400-1100 nm in 20 nm steps):

SWIR LEDs are typically deployed in multispectral systems, not hyperspectral. Hyperspectral systems usually need contiguous-band coverage that discrete LED arrays cannot provide; they use broadband sources (halogen, supercontinuum lasers) plus prism or grating spectrometers. That said, LED SWIR supplement hyperspectral systems in some configurations, providing high-power illumination at key absorption peaks while the spectrometer captures the full spectrum.

Packaging considerations for SWIR LEDs

SWIR LEDs come in compact surface-mount packages for board-level integration, plus larger COB and customized array packages for high-power systems:

• SMD packages, standard surface-mount footprints (0603, 0805, larger ceramic packages) suited to PCB integration. Quello di Yingfeng ultra-compact 0603 LED SWIR is designed for space-constrained wearable and miniaturized OEM applications.
• Low-profile flip-chip packages, minimize package height for slim form factors. Useful in optical systems where multiple emitters need tight vertical stacking.
• High-power packages, multiple SWIR chips on a ceramic substrate with copper heat-spreaders. Used for long-range sensing and high-irradiance applications.
• PANNOCCHIA (chip-on-board), many SWIR chips mounted directly on a substrate for high optical output and uniform area illumination. Used in industrial inspection illuminators and multispectral arrays.

Two materials notes specific to SWIR packaging:

• Encapsulant choice matters. Standard LED-grade silicones transmit reasonably well through 1700 nm. Per 1750 nm and beyond, low-water-content silicones or unencapsulated chips on hermetic packages give cleaner spectral output.
• Window materials must be SWIR-transparent. Standard borosilicate glass works to about 2500 nm. Quartz and sapphire are clean choices for high-temperature or chemically harsh environments.

Yingfeng SWIR LED portfolio

Yingfeng-led distributes Marubeni’s industrial SWIR LED portfolio for OEM integration. Standard wavelengths cover 1050 nm through 1750 nm in surface-mount and high-power packaging:

• 1050 nm e 1200 nm SMD packages for short-range SWIR imaging, visione artificiale, and silicon-related applications
• 1450 nm e 1550 nm SMD and high-power packages for moisture detection, food inspection, and eye-safe sensing
• 1650 nm e 1750 nm packages for hydrocarbon detection, recycling, and advanced SWIR imaging
• Ultra-compact and low-profile packages for wearable and space-constrained designs (see ultra-compact 0603 SWIR LED release E low-profile SWIR flip-chip release)
• Custom multispectral arrays built from the standard wavelength portfolio for OEM application requirements

For complete specifications, datasheets, and sample requests, see the SWIR LED product category O contact Tech-led engineering for OEM-specific component recommendations.

Frequently asked questions

Cos'è uno SWIR LED?

Uno SWIR LED è un diodo emettitore di luce che emette luce infrarossa a onde corte, tipicamente nel 1050-1750 intervallo di nm. I LED SWIR sono costruiti con arseniuro di indio e gallio (InGaAs) materiale semiconduttore e richiedono sensori della fotocamera InGaAs per il rilevamento perché emettono oltre il limite del rilevatore di silicio a ~ 1100 nm.

Quale lunghezza d'onda del LED SWIR dovrei utilizzare per la mia applicazione?

La selezione dipende dal profilo di assorbimento del target. Per il rilevamento dell'umidità: 1450 nm (picco di assorbimento d’acqua). Per un rilevamento esterno sicuro per gli occhi: 1550 nm (sopra il 1400 soglia di assorbimento nel vitreo nm). Per la cernita di olio e plastica: 1650 nm (Assorbimento del legame C-H). Per la visione artificiale attraverso silicio o nebbia: 1050-1200 nm. Per l'imaging multispettrale: combinare più lunghezze d'onda in un array.

Qual è la differenza tra LED SWIR e LED NIR?

NIR (vicino infrarosso) I LED emettono a 750-1000 nm e vengono rilevati da fotocamere e fotodiodi al silicio. SWIR (infrarossi a onde corte) I LED emettono a 1050-1700 nm e richiedono sensori InGaAs. I LED SWIR rivelano informazioni che i sistemi basati sul silicio non possono vedere: composizione del materiale attraverso le firme di assorbimento, contenuto di acqua, presenza di idrocarburi, e immagini attraverso la nebbia.

I LED SWIR sono sicuri per gli occhi??

Lunghezze d'onda SWIR superiori approssimativamente 1400 nm (per esempio., 1450, 1550, 1650, 1750 nm) vengono fortemente assorbiti dal fluido vitreo nell'occhio prima di raggiungere la retina, fornendo un vantaggio intrinseco per la sicurezza degli occhi. Questo è il motivo 1550 nm è lo standard per il rilevamento industriale sicuro per gli occhi e il LiDAR automobilistico. LED SWIR sotto 1400 nm (1050, 1200 nm) non hanno questo vantaggio e richiedono la IEC 60825-1 classificazione di sicurezza laser/LED per applicazione.

Posso utilizzare una normale telecamera CMOS o CCD con LED SWIR?

NO. Sensori di immagine a base di silicio (CMOS, CCD) diventare insensibile al passato approssimativamente 1000 nm e sono effettivamente ciechi 1100 nm. I LED SWIR richiedono sensori InGaAs o InGaAs estesi per il rilevamento. Questo è il principale fattore di costo nella progettazione del sistema SWIR: Le fotocamere InGaAs costano in genere 10-50 volte di più delle fotocamere equivalenti in silicio.

Perché i LED SWIR sono più costosi dei LED NIR?

I LED SWIR utilizzano materiale semiconduttore InGaAs, che è più difficile da fabbricare, ha un'efficienza di presa a muro inferiore, e un volume di produzione inferiore rispetto all'InGaN (UV/visibile) o GaAs (NIR) materiali utilizzati nei LED a lunghezza d'onda più corta. I LED SWIR industriali in genere costano 10-100 volte di più per milliwatt di uscita ottica rispetto ai LED visibili equivalenti. I prezzi in volume migliorano man mano che cresce la domanda commerciale per le applicazioni di imaging SWIR.

Qual è la durata tipica di un LED SWIR?

LED SWIR industriali portata L70 (tempo di 70% produzione) A 10,000-30,000 ore se utilizzato entro le specifiche termiche ed elettriche. La durata è altamente sensibile alla temperatura di giunzione; la riduzione della corrente di azionamento e l'aggiunta di dissipatore di calore possono prolungare sostanzialmente la vita operativa. Funzionamento pulsato (ciclo di lavoro basso) inoltre prolunga la durata riducendo la temperatura media di giunzione.

Come si progetta un sistema di imaging SWIR multispettrale?

Quattro componenti interbloccati: (1) selezionare la lunghezza d'onda impostata in base alle firme spettrali del bersaglio; (2) match the SWIR LEDs and InGaAs camera spectral responses; (3) utilizzare ottiche SWIR trasparenti (quarzo, zaffiro, Occhiali con classificazione SWIR, il silicio e i polimeri standard non funzionano); (4) pilotare i LED con la regolazione della corrente per canale e sincronizzare gli impulsi con l'esposizione della fotocamera. I moduli array multispettrali personalizzati di un fornitore di componenti LED SWIR sono spesso più convenienti rispetto alla costruzione da singoli emettitori per volumi di produzione.

Cos'è un sistema SWIR LED multispettrale?

Un sistema LED SWIR multispettrale combina due o più lunghezze d'onda infrarosse a onde corte discrete 1050 E 1750 nm in one illuminator, accoppiato con una fotocamera InGaAs, in modo da poter leggere diverse caratteristiche di assorbimento in un'unica ispezione. Ogni lunghezza d'onda prende di mira una firma specifica (Per esempio 1450 nm per l'acqua, 1650 nm per gli idrocarburi), e le intensità della banda catturata classificano il materiale che appare identico alla luce visibile. Consultare la sezione Array LED multispettrali sopra per architetture di array e considerazioni sulle unità.

Esiste una guida alla selezione dei componenti per 1050 A 1750 LED SWIR?

SÌ. Iniziare dalla funzione di assorbimento target per fissare la lunghezza d'onda centrale (la tabella dello spettro qui sopra), quindi eseguire la checklist di selezione dei componenti in sette passaggi: contenitore della lunghezza d'onda, larghezza di banda spettrale, potenza radiante e irraggiamento, angolo del fascio e uniformità, pacchetto e percorso termico, schema di guida, e il rilevatore e l'ottica corrispondono. Questa sequenza trasforma un'applicazione in una specifica SWIR LED completamente costruibile 1050 A 1750 banda nm.