Osram SFH 4787S makes iris recognition easier

New Oslux IRED uniform illumination

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors will be exhibiting a new infrared LED (IRED) for iris scanning at the upcoming Mobile World Congress. The SFH 4787S illuminates the eyes evenly , so the iris recognition software now almost no longer needs to correct artifacts. As in previous versions, the LED's emission direction is not vertical, but is slightly tilted, eliminating the need for common mechanical aids , simplifying the design process.

â–² iris recognition is fast, safe and reliable

Iris recognition is one of the most reliable methods of biometric identification . Simply put, the iris scan uses infrared light to illuminate the eye, then the camera takes a photo. Next, dedicated software uses this photo to detect the unique iris of everyone.

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is a technology leader in this field. Two years ago, the company pioneered the introduction of infrared LEDs in the market, bringing this technology to smartphones and other mobile devices. The launch direction of subsequent products is slightly tilted, which means that the designer does not need mechanical assistance to tilt the entire LED. The launch angle can be adapted to the camera field of view .

â–² Detecting the unique iris in the eye

Uniform illumination simplifies the process

This third-generation OSRAM IRED for iris recognition meets another need for this application: ideally, the difference in brightness in the camera image should only come from the iris, and the illumination gradient does not create additional brightness differences. This means that the software only needs to correct a small amount of artifacts when measuring the iris. With the SFH 4787S, OSRAM has developed a planar light emitter with an optimized reflector and lens for an extremely stable emission beam intensity .

â–² iris recognition

In addition, the SFH 4787S is almost identical to its previous version, the SFH 4786S. Both products are based on the compact 3.5 x 3.5 x 1.6 mm large Oslux package. The 810 nanometer (nm) wavelength provides high contrast images of all eye colors. The emission direction is inclined by 8° and the emission angle is ±18° . At 1 A, the high-efficiency emitter has a light output of 720 milliwatts (mW) and a radiation intensity of 1,000 milliwatts per steradian (mW/sr).

â–² SFH 4787S Product Picture

Professional applications continue to make progress

Protecting mobile devices from unauthorized access requires a reliable solution that is the driving force behind the development of more compact and reliable iris scanners. Now, the technology is gradually being applied to other fields. Bianka Schnabel, Marketing Manager at Osram Opto Semiconductors' German headquarters, explains:

Access control as a whole is becoming more and more important, and iris recognition remains one of the most reliable methods in the field. After entering the consumer electronics market, we are now seeing interest in other products in other industries. ”

â–² Iris recognition protects mobile devices from unauthorized access

Osram Opto Semiconductors' new SFH 4787S infrared LED emits flat light for extremely uniform illumination, simplifying access control applications, making it easy for iris scanners to detect unique irises in the eye.

About Osram

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, OSRAM is a global light source manufacturer with a history of about 100 years.

Its product portfolio covers high-tech applications based on semiconductor technology such as infrared or laser lighting.

Products are used in a wide range of applications, from virtual reality, autonomous driving or mobile phones to smart and connected lighting solutions in buildings and cities.

In the field of automotive lighting, OSRAM is a global market and technology leader.

Through continuing operations (excluding Ledvance), as of the end of FY2016 (September 30), OSRAM has a global total of approximately 24,600 employees, with revenues of nearly 3.8 billion euros in the fiscal year.

Osram is listed on the Frankfurt and Munich stock exchanges (ISIN: DE000LED4000; WKN: LED 400; transaction code: OSR).