A boost for mobile fitness applications

Osram now offers a selection of discrete products to supplement its line of integrated sensors. The Firefly E 1608 in hyper red has a narrow-band wavelength range of approximately 660nm, so it also offers optimised signal recognition. It is also suitable for measuring oxygen levels in blood, while the true green Point LEDs are well suited for use in pulse monitors. Both colour versions of the Firefly offer compact dimensions, giving customers greater flexibility in designing their products.

Osram Opto Semiconductors is launching two LEDs in true green and one version in hyper red as additions to the PointLED and Firefly families. In true green, the PointLED offers greater brightness of 1,800 to 2,800mcd at 20mA. In fitness trackers, therefore, it provides an improved signal with a higher output compared with earlier versions. This means that it needs less energy to produce the same signal as its predecessors, which enables the battery to last about 50% longer.

“Thanks to the compact dimensions, much less space is needed on the board in the fitness tracker. This gives our customers greater flexibility in designing their mobile devices,” said Russell Willner, Product Manager, LEDs, at Osram Opto Semiconductors. In addition, the hyper red version at 660nm has a special narrowband wavelength range that is well suited for these applications.

The true green version has a typical brightness of 1,400mcd and a wavelength of 525nm. Both versions of the Firefly E 1608 have a small package of only 0.8x1.6x0.6mm. With the introduction of the new PointLED and Firefly E 1608, Osram Opto Semiconductors is offering more options for developing mobile devices such as fitness tracking wristbands.

Customers can either produce their own designs or benefit from preconfigured integrated sensors such as the SFH 7050 from Osram’s Biofy family. “Choice is a huge benefit for our customers because wearables is a fast growing market where differentiated solutions are in demand,” added Willner. The PointLED is already fully available. The Firefly E1608 is available for first customer projects. Volume start-up is planned for early 2017.