Surface mount IR LED, or surface mount infrared LED, is a type of light-emitting diode that emits infrared light. It is widely used in various fields such as consumer electronics, automotive, medical equipment, and industrial automation. This article will introduce the development history, working principle, application fields, and market prospects of surface mount IR LED.

Development History of Surface Mount IR LED

Surface mount IR LED technology has a history of more than 30 years. In the early 1990s, with the development of surface mount technology, surface mount IR LED began to emerge. At that time, the main products were 850nm and 940nm IR LEDs. Due to the advantages of small size, high density, and low cost, surface mount IR LED quickly occupied the market and became the mainstream product in the infrared LED field. In the 2000s, with the continuous optimization of technology, the performance of surface mount IR LED was further improved. The wavelength range was expanded, and the products with higher brightness and longer lifespan were developed. At the same time, the application fields of surface mount IR LED were also expanded, from the initial consumer electronics to automotive, medical equipment, and industrial automation.

Working Principle of Surface Mount IR LED

Surface mount IR LED is a semiconductor device made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) or gallium phosphide (GaP) as the material. The working principle is based on the PN junction. When the forward voltage is applied to the PN junction, electrons and holes are injected into the depletion layer, and then recombine in the active layer. During the recombination process, a part of the energy is released in the form of light, which is infrared light in this case. The surface mount IR LED has a small size and high density, which can be directly mounted on the printed circuit board (PCB). The forward voltage of the surface mount IR LED is generally 1.2V to 3.5V, and the current is 20mA to 100mA. The wavelength range of the surface mount IR LED is generally 780nm to 1100nm, and the typical products are 850nm and 940nm.

Application Fields of Surface Mount IR LED

Surface mount IR LED has a wide range of applications, mainly including the following aspects: 1. Consumer electronics: such as remote control, barcode scanner, infrared sensor, and so on. 2. Automotive: such as car rearview camera, car anti-theft alarm, and so on. 3. Medical equipment: such as endoscope, laser treatment equipment, and so on. 4. Industrial automation: such as infrared communication, infrared detection, and so on. 5. Security and monitoring: such as infrared burglar alarm, infrared surveillance camera, and so on. 6. Communication: such as infrared communication module, infrared remote control, and so on.

Market Prospects of Surface Mount IR LED

With the continuous development of the global economy, the market demand for surface mount IR LED is growing rapidly. According to the statistics of relevant industry organizations, the global surface mount IR LED market size is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2025. The main reasons for the rapid growth of the market are as follows: 1. The continuous expansion of application fields: With the development of technology, the application fields of surface mount IR LED are expanding, which promotes the growth of the market. 2. The continuous improvement of product performance: The continuous improvement of product performance makes surface mount IR LED more competitive in the market. 3. The continuous reduction of production cost: With the optimization of production technology, the production cost of surface mount IR LED is gradually reduced, which promotes the expansion of the market. In conclusion, surface mount IR LED has a broad market prospect. In the future, with the continuous development of technology and the expansion of application fields, the market demand for surface mount IR LED will continue to rise.