The adoption of iris recognition features into Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Note 7 in New York last week caught market attention, users of the device can unlock their phones simply by peering into their smartphone displays, reported TechNews.

Samsung’s latest flagship phone Note 7 iris recognition features created a new buzz in the market, as the new phone’s IR modules used for optical recognition is expected to benefit IR LED manufacturers, such as Epistar and High Power Lighting, reported UDN.

ams AG, a leading provider of high performance sensors and analog ICs, today launched the smallest ever optical sensor module that delivers a combination of color (RGB), ambient light and proximity sensing, providing OEMs with design flexibility and the ability to provide a better display viewing experience.

Dermatouch, a leading beauty brand that develops innovative, clean, and effective products for consumers, introduces a new UV/LED light therapy and lifting system, called the Dermatouch Skinforce Dermajuvenate.

Mobile World Congress Shanghai, which is held from 28 June to 1 July 2016, features two “Connected Lifestyle” halls that showcase up-to-date products and services. Bodo Ischebeck, Vice President Infrared Components at Osram Opto Semiconductors delivered a speech titled “Optical Sensors Advancing Mobile Technology.” Bodo Ischebeck introduced optical sensors’ applications and outlook of biometrics, biosensor, VR/AR and 3D sensor applications.

Construction of comprehensive optic fiber networks and maturing Internet technology are ushering innovative technology developments. LEDinside observed the emergence of more innovative technology products at CES Asia 2016, which took place in Shanghai, China recently. Growing number of products require the integration of IR sensor technologies, such as trending virtual reality (VR) headsets, or wearable fitness devices for measuring heart rates and pulse. IR sensor technology in man and machine interface is also playing an increasingly important role. 

Arecont Vision®, the industry leader in IP-based megapixel camera technology, has announced that Iluminar, a leading manufacturer of IR and white light illumination products, has joined the Arecont Vision Technology Partner Program. Iluminar products are available in the Arecont Vision MegaLab™ as part of the agreement to enable pre-installation integration and new product testing.

Lextar’s booth highlighted more advanced lighting technology at the lighting show this year, including several IR LED solutions, automotive lighting and UV LED modules at Taiwan International Lighting Show (TILS) 2016, which took place at Nangang Exhibition Hall from April 12-16, 2016 in Taipei.

What’s next for the LED industry? Will CSP LEDs become a widely used light source in general lighting? These were some of the questions industry insiders asked at LED Executive Summit 2016 hosted by SEMI, which took place at Nangang Exhibition Centre, Taipei, Taiwan on Wednesday. 

There were few innovative breakthrough technologies at this year’s Light+Building show organized by Messe Frankfurt that concluded last Friday in Frankfurt, Germany, manufacturers were more focused on optimizing existing technology. Still LEDinside observed several trends that stood out:

Lighting innovations from Osram lead the way into the future. Intelligent street lights that find and assign parking places, infrared lighting solutions that unlock smartphones via iris scan or transmitting units integrated into luminaires that  navigate people through buildings are just a few of the new solutions that Osram will present at this year's Light + Building show starting on March 13 in Frankfurt. A focus at the booth will be on intelligent and efficient lighting solutions for cities and buildings, but also present pioneering innovations in other areas. "Our products have set major trends in the lighting market for more than 100 years - and they will also do so at Light + Building 2016", said Olaf Berlien, Chief Executive Officer of OSRAM Licht AG.

Taiwan’s largest LED die manufacturer Epistar has filed a patent infringement complaint against Epileds in Taiwan’s courts for selling infringing products to downstream suppliers, the company announced in a recent press release.

Dialight, the innovative global leader in LED lighting technology, today announced the launch of its new Vigilant® LED Dual Red/White Strobe with Infrared (IR) obstruction lighting system. The Dual IR flash head and systems are approved through Intertek to the FAA AC 150/5345-43G and Engineering Brief No. 67D standards, with the addition of the IR LEDs to the standard red night operation to enhance visibility and safety for pilots, including those who utilize Night-Vision Goggles (NVGs).

IXYS Integrated Circuits Division (ICD), Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IXYS Corporation (NASDAQ:IXYS), announced the availability of the LIA135 and LIA136 low voltage optically isolated error amplifiers each with an integrated programmable precision shunt reference incorporated into a single 8-pin package. Unique to this pair of devices is the capability of the error amplifier and shunt reference to operate down to 1.6V, the industry’s lowest level, enabling higher efficiency, isolated low voltage power supply designs. The LIA135 and LIA136 offer a 1.299V internal precision voltage reference with a very low 0.5% tolerance for improved power supply accuracy.

Marktech Optoelectronics, a leading supplier of visible and infrared LED sensor products, recently introduced the latest in their series of high power, 950nm LED emitters with typical power output up to 25 mW.

The LED lighting industry outlook for invisible LED business opportunities has been increasingly optimistic, with many international and Taiwanese companies jumping in this new blue sea market. Japanese, Korean, European and American manufacturers are all developing UV LEDs for curing, sterilization, medical, water and air purification systems. Security, retina recognition markets that require IR LED, are also presenting new business and technology opportunities for LED companies specializing in these fields.

As some people welcome the long holiday ahead, binge- watching is sometimes one of the most popular activity to do in midwinter. However, accidentally falling asleep and waking up confused many episodes later, probably is not a welcoming way to celebrate Christmas.

The new Oslux SFH 4786S infrared LED (IRED) from Osram Opto Semiconductors enables iris recognition systems to be made less complex and with lower profiles. At 1.6 millimeters (mm) high, this new IRED is around one-third thinner than its predecessor. Its direction of emission is slightly angled so there is no need for the usual mechanical aids to ensure correct geometrical alignment.

Blinking replaces the double-click The SFH 4770S from Osram Opto Semiconductors is currently the most compact infrared LED (IRED) in the high-power class. Its low height is of particular benefit in smartphones and tablets. The high optical output of typically 1200 milliwatts (mW) and broad emission characteristics make this IRED ideal for facial recognition and eye-tracking systems which can activate applications in response to blinking instead of the usual double-click. The basis for the new record emitter is the Synios package which Osram introduced some time ...

Left bleeding from price wars over the past few years, LED manufacturers are seeking alternative markets and restructuring business strategies. Epistar for instance is looking into niche markets including GaN power devices and specialized lighting, said Carson Hsieh,Vice President, R&D Center,Epistar during his presentation at LEDforum 2015, which took place recently at Room 201, National Taiwan University Hospital International Convention Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

More than ten years ago, Osram Opto Semiconductors supplied infrared laser diodes for the first laser sensors in cars. As one of the first suppliers of powerful infrared LEDs (IREDs), Osram has also accompanied the development of camera systems with additional infrared illumination since their inception. Up to now, these optical sensors have been connected to one assistance system each, but from now on they will play an important role in automated driving in combination with other technologies. With the help of the optical sensors, the self-driving car captures its surroundings, and makes decisions using the data it has gathered.

Osram is launching the Oslon Black SFH 4713A, an infrared LED (IRED) with a wavelength of 850 nanometers (nm). It is ideally suited to security applications, such as camera-surveillance of public spaces, company premises and entrances to banks and shopping centers. While previous Oslon Black high-flux IREDs were designed for systems with a range of up to one hundred meters, the SFH 4713A supports efficient designs for near-range illumination from 10 to 50 meters.

Appropriately themed “Envision the future of lights” after its mission, the 20th edition of the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition had participants sharing inspirational ideas and innovative technologies. Dialogue of this nature is essential in shaping the future of the lighting industry. Held from 9 – 12 June 2015, the fair spanned across 21 halls and occupied 225,000 sqm. The show closed with a 4.7% increase in visitor figures from the previous year, totalling 135,990 professional visitors (2014:129,885) from 131 countries and regions including over 5500 domestic and overseas delegates. These numbers were duly matched by a record-breaking 2,698 exhibitors (2014: 2,621) representing 27 countries and regions.

Osram is making smartphones even smarter: Infrared technology enables mobile devices to be unlocked for the first time by scanning the iris of the user. Iris scanning is being used in the ARROWS NX F-04G smartphone from Fujitsu Limited, which is being marketed by the Japanese telecommunications company NTT DOCOMO Inc. This smartphone, which is currently only available in Japan, is the first in the world with this extremely secure functionality for consumers. Infrared light emitting diodes (IREDs) from Osram Opto Semiconductors are used as the light source. These IREDs are the only ones capable of the high power needed for iris scanning from a compact package. 

A special UV or IR pavilion was set up at this year’s Photonics Festival in Taiwan, which took place earlier this month in Taipei, Taiwan.This is the first time that the show organized by Taiwan’s Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA) has highlighted niche UV and IR LED applications, which has benefited attending manufacturers and visitors.

EVERLIGHT ELECTRONICS 【TSE:2393】, a leading player in the global LED and optoelectronics industry, exhibiting diversified products at the IR/UV zone of Photonics Festival in Taiwan 2015 (Taiwan International Lighting Show 2015) owing to the increasing demands of IR products and special applications, where IR products are widely applied for mobile devices, smart phones and surveillance systems, UV LEDs are applied for printer drying, disinfection and counterfeit detection, thoroughly demonstrating EVERLIGHT ‘s high-end technology and multiple dimension.

The latest research by LEDinside, a division of TrendForce, sees a significant growth for the infrared (IR) LED market in the near future. LEDinside’s 2Q15 Gold Member Report - 2015 Global LED Supply and Demand Market provides a clear outline on the IR LED’s wide range of applications, such as imaging sensors, motion sensors, light sensors, proximity sensors, position detection systems, biometric recognition systems, and heart rate and blood oxygen monitors.

LEDinside, a division of TrendForce, projects the infrared (IR) LED market value for surveillance application during 2014 reached US$94 million in its latest 2Q15 Gold Member Report - 2015 Global LED Supply and Demand Market. This recently released analysis also estimates IR LED market scale in surveillance application will furthermore come to US$120 million for 2015. 

Everlight was one of the few manufacturers showcasing LEDs for niche market applications at LED Expo Thailand 2015, which took place last week at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center.

The second day of IR+UV Expo 2015 special forum that took place in late April in Yokohama, Japan started off with a semiconductor components for laser diodes (LD) and UV LED developments presentation by a senior researcher from Japan’s prestigious research institute, Riken.