News: LEDs
28 January 2021
ROHM expands PICOLED range with side-emitting IR LED for VR/MR/AR
Japan-based ROHM has expanded its PICOLED range of ultra-compact chip LEDs for compact mobile devices and wearables by launching the CSL1501RW side-emitting (side view) infrared LED, suitable for head-mounted displays, industrial headsets, and VR/MR/AR (xR, virtual/mixed/augmented-reality) gaming systems.
In recent years, VR/MR/AR technology, which has emerged following the continuing advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT), is being increasingly adopted in headsets and head-mounted displays within a variety of gaming systems. The ability to simulate 3D space and project data in the real world has expanded the market for VR/MR/AR applications in the industrial sector as well.
In parallel, increasing application functionality has led to the use of infrared LEDs for eye tracking together with accelerometers commonly installed for detecting body movement.
In response, ROHM is now offering a new ultra-miniature infrared LED with a side-firing design, optimized for the versatility required as a light source for eye-tracking in VR/MR/AR applications.
The CSL1501RW delivers a peak wavelength of 860nm in what is claimed to be the industry’s smallest (1.0mmx0.55mm, t=0.5mm) side-view design that emits light parallel to the mounting surface, providing exceptional design flexibility. In addition, ROHM says that it has leveraged its strengths in LED chip manufacturing to improve luminous efficiency and reduce power consumption by over 20% (from 0.24W to 0.18W at 1mW/sr). The device can hence serve as a light source for eye tracking in VR/MR/AR applications that require greater performance.
After samples were made available in November (at $0.36 per unit, excluding tax), mass production will begin in March.
