IRdioder

IRdioder, short for infrared diodes, are semiconductor devices that emit or detect infrared radiation. The category commonly includes infrared light-emitting diodes (IR LEDs) and infrared photodiodes, as well as related devices such as infrared laser diodes and phototransistors. IR LEDs typically emit in the near to mid-infrared spectrum, roughly 700 nanometers to 1,550 nanometers, and are used in remote controls, signaling, and consumer electronics. They are made from materials such as GaAs, GaAsP, AlGaAs, or InGaAs, with the emission wavelength determined by the semiconductor bandgap.

IR photodiodes operate primarily in reverse bias and convert incident infrared light into an electrical current. Common materials include GaAs, Ge, and InGaAs, with sensitivity spanning about 800 nanometers to 1.7 micrometers depending on the design. They are used in remote receivers, fiber-optic communications, and motion or presence sensing. Some photodiodes are designed as avalanche photodiodes to achieve higher sensitivity.

Infrared laser diodes provide coherent IR light and are used in fiber-optic communications, sensing, and barcode or barcode-like applications. They typically emit at specific wavelengths around 1.3 to 1.55 micrometers in telecommunications systems. Packaging for IR diodes ranges from through-hole to surface-m mount formats, with common emitter wavelengths for LEDs around 850 nm or 940 nm and detectors optimized for corresponding IR bands.

Safety and standards: higher-power IR sources require attention to eye safety, with compliance to applicable standards such as IEC 60825-1. See also infrared LEDs, infrared photodiodes, and laser diodes.