Osram Opto Semiconductors has released a stacked chip version of its infrared Platinum Dragon. The device utilizes 1 mm? thin-film chip in stack technology, which generates an optical output at 850nm of almost 1 W from a driving current of 1 A (Optical output of infrared and ultraviolet light is given in wattage output because it is not visible to the naked eye) . Osram boasts that this is almost twice the output of the standard chips that have been used up to now. Osram says that the packaged chip's viewing angle and radiant intensity can be varied with standard secondary optics. Osram notes that preferred applications for the device are those which require high radiance so that small optics can be used. This is important for example in pedestrian protection systems and night vision systems in vehicles.
Osram indicated that the increased output of the new Platinum Dragon is based on a special thin-film chip. The design incorporates not only one p-n junction, but two that have been grown or “stacked” one on top of the other. Osram says that this stack technology leads to almost twice the optical output power compared to conventional IR thin-film chips.
