https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ams_osram/en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ams_osram/m/managed-videos/151877Mon, 05 Oct 2026 03:36:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:49ec022b-5f21-413d-ac9c-71a0672fe08cCorinnaR.https://tinyurl.com/5xah4ymu Eye tracking is a key enabler for next generation smart glasses and AR/VR headsets, enabling more immersive, power efficient, and intuitive wearable devices. In this demo, Markus Zieserl, Product Manager for Power & Fo...amssensorssensingislifesensor devicesemiconductorsensor solutionssensor solutionhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ams_osram/b/blog/posts/eye-tracking-in-action-a-key-enabler-for-next-generation-smart-glassesMon, 05 Oct 2026 03:35:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:474905f3-4c13-4b43-a89b-ab49be880504CorinnaR.Eye tracking is one of the key sensing technologies used in AR/VR headsets and emerging smart-glass platforms. By determining where a user is looking, eye tracking enables gaze-based interaction and supports techniques such as foveated rendering, helping to reduce processing workload and power consumption. In this video, Markus Zieserl demonstrates the main building blocks of an eye-tracking system for wearable devices. The demo shows how infrared illumination, LED driver electronics, and image sensing work together to illuminate the eye, capture eye images, and estimate gaze direction within the tight size and power constraints of a glasses frame. Designing eye-tracking systems for smart glasses requires balancing accuracy, latency, power consumption, eye safety, and miniaturization. The video provides a practical look at the hardware technologies that make compact eye-tracking implementations possible. Learn more about eye tracking and other technologies used in smart glasses and AR wearables, including 3D sensing, visualization, display management, camera enhancement, and more: Virtual and augmented reality ▶ Watch the demo video to learn more: www.youtube.com/watch Text created with AI support.https://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ams_osram/b/blog/posts/from-distance-to-depth-the-evolution-of-time-of-flight-sensingWed, 23 Sep 2026 09:26:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:aa4496cb-3acd-4f52-bddb-52453490310aCorinnaR.From distance to depth: The evolution of time-of-flight sensing Many embedded systems only need to know whether an object is present. Increasingly, however, applications such as robotics, smart lighting, home appliances, smartphones, wearables, building automation, and industrial equipment require a deeper understanding of their surroundings. Instead of a simple yes-or-no detection, engineers are looking for information about distance, object position, and scene geometry. Direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) sensing addresses this challenge by measuring the time it takes for a pulse of light to travel to an object and back to the sensor. By measuring this round-trip travel time with extremely high precision, dToF systems can calculate distances accurately and provide spatial information about the environment. From single-point ranging to depth maps Historically, dToF sensing has been used in applications where a single distance measurement is sufficient. Examples include smartphone camera autofocus, presence detection, and object ranging. By providing accurate distance information independent of object texture or contrast, dToF can help camera systems achieve fast and reliable autofocus, including in challenging lighting conditions. Advances in SPAD (Single-Photon Avalanche Diode) technology and timing electronics are now extending dToF beyond single-point measurements. Modern multi-zone dToF systems divide the field of view into multiple measurement zones, allowing distance information to be captured across a scene simultaneously. Rather than reporting a single distance value, these systems can generate simplified depth maps that provide spatial awareness. Applications range from obstacle avoidance in robotics and object tracking in industrial systems to occupancy sensing in smart buildings, gesture recognition in consumer devices, and adaptive smart lighting that reacts to the location and movement of people within a room. Measuring distance in real-world conditions Accurate optical ranging becomes more challenging outside the lab. Ambient sunlight, highly reflective or dark surfaces, multiple objects within the field of view, and contamination on the optical window can all affect measurement quality. To address these challenges, modern dToF architectures combine SPAD-based photon detection with signal-processing techniques that analyze the temporal distribution of returning photons. Histogram-based processing can help distinguish multiple reflections and extract meaningful depth information even in complex environments. As dToF technology continues to evolve, it is increasingly bridging the gap between simple proximity sensors and vision-based systems. Multi-zone depth sensing enables embedded devices to better understand their surroundings while avoiding the complexity of a full camera-based imaging solution. Learn more: Direct time-of-flight technology overview Explore the technology: Direct Time-of-Flight Sensors On-demand webinar: Single-zone direct time-of-flight sensors (dToF) Watch the webinar: Direct time-of-flight sensors | ams OSRAM White paper on dToF sensing Access the white paper: Time-of-Flight White Paper Text created with AI support.dToFdirect time-of-flightams osramsensorhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ams_osram/b/blog/posts/how-can-optical-technology-enable-non-invasive-assessment-of-long-term-metabolic-stressTue, 21 Jul 2026 07:28:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:4e43f303-c013-427b-b62c-9a15d96d31bdCorinnaR.Wearable devices are highly effective at monitoring real-time physiological parameters such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and other vital signs. While these measurements provide valuable information about the body's current state, some physiological changes develop gradually and may not be apparent from momentary readings alone. One emerging approach is the measurement of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) via skin autofluorescence. AGE-related signals are associated with long-term metabolic processes and can provide additional physiological context beyond traditional vital sign monitoring. For engineers developing next-generation wearables and medical devices, the challenge is to integrate this capability into compact, robust systems. Recent advances in multi-wavelength optical components demonstrate how AGE measurement can be combined with established optical sensing functions within a single architecture, enabling both heart-rate monitoring and AGE assessment. In our latest article, we explore how optical sensing technology enables non-invasive AGE measurement and why this supplementary vital sign could help expand the capabilities of wearable and point-of-care devices. Read the full article: More than a snapshot in time: Supplementary vital sign offers deeper insight into long-term health risks | ams OSRAMvital sign monitoringHealthams osrammedicalsensorhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ams_osram/b/blog/posts/ir-led-product-versions-based-on-the-new-ir-6-technology-to-boost-performance-in-security-and-biometrics-applicationsFri, 13 Dec 2024 08:53:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:688af84d-f616-40ce-8fd3-234a1c2f84c2CorinnaR.The new IR:6 thin-film chip technology will enable manufacturers of products such as security cameras and biometric authentication systems in PCs and smart doorbells to achieve better illumination for improved image quality as well as the faster, more accurate recognition of individual biometric markers, while saving power and extending battery run-time between charges. In medical equipment such as light therapy fixtures for the treatment of tissue damage, the higher optical power output from the IR:6 chip will enable equipment manufacturers to use fewer LEDs while producing the same therapeutic effect, saving space and reducing bill-of-materials cost. The first ams OSRAM products to take advantage of the new chip are the OSLON® P1616 series of high-power LEDs in a compact 1.6mm x 1.6mm package — and the OSLON® Black family, which offers various viewing angle options, including a new rectangular field of illumination which is perfect for use with IR cameras. Dominic Bergmann, Product Marketing Manager at ams OSRAM, emphasized: ”The new, improved IR:6 technology is raising IR LEDs from ams OSRAM to the top rank in their market segment for brightness and efficiency. Customers that replace their existing IR LEDs with new IR:6-based LEDs can instantly achieve better performance in their application with lower power consumption.” IR:6: the next generation of infrared LED technology The new IR:6 chip technology implements various improvements in materials, structure and design to achieve its superior performance. These improvements include: Improvements to the intrinsic chip efficiency A new central bond pad for better current spreading and a lower forward voltage Better roughening of the chip’s surface for higher decoupling efficiency and higher brightness In addition, the new IR:6 technology adds the capability to emit light at a 920nm dominant wavelength, as well as the familiar 850nm and 940nm wavelengths. The new 920nm option offers a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than the 940nm option because of photodiodes’ higher sensitivity to shorter wavelengths, and a weaker visible red glow effect than at 850nm. At the time of its launch, the IR:6 technology is available in the following ‘B’ designated versions of the existing OSLON® P1616 products, which are aimed at space-constrained applications: OSLON® P1616 SFH 4180BS – 920nm/940nm wavelength options, 1485mW radiant flux, 130° viewing angle OSLON® P1616 SFH 4181BS – 920nm/940nm wavelength options, 1550mW radiant flux, 70° viewing angle OSLON® P1616 SFH 4182BS – 920nm/940nm wavelength options, 1650mW radiant flux, 130° optimized viewing angle The technology is also available in new versions of existing OSLON® Black emitters: OSLON® Black SFH 4713B – 850nm wavelength, 980mW radiant flux, 80° viewing angle OSLON® Black SFH 4714B – 850nm wavelength, 940mW radiant flux, 150° viewing angle OSLON® Black SFH 47167B – 850nm wavelength, 940mW radiant flux, 110° x 130° rectangular field-of-illumination The IR:6 chip is manufactured by ams OSRAM at its plant in Regensburg, Germany. The entire supply chain for OSLON® P1616 and OSLON® Black LEDs, from chip to packaging, is fully controlled by ams OSRAM to give customers full confidence in the product’s high-volume availability. Further information on the IR:6 technology can be found on our homepage. Learn more in the latest whitepaper, click here to download for free: IR LED IR:6 | ams OSRAM The IR:6 technology is e.g. used in biometric authentication systems in PCs The IR:6 technology is also used in Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) applicationschip technologyledams osramhttps://community.element14.com/products/manufacturers/ams_osram/b/blog/posts/leveraging-multispectral-sensing-to-reduce-food-waste-ams-osram-s-photonic-innovationTue, 03 Dec 2024 09:59:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:e85719e4-937d-4971-be9f-43e397fb4501CorinnaR.Food waste is a pressing global challenge that affects both the environment and the economy. Recent figures show that up to one-third of the food produced globally is lost or wasted, leading to unnecessary resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and financial losses. ams OSRAM, a global leader in intelligent sensors and emitters, is committed to providing cutting-edge sensor technologies that address these issues head-on. The company’s multispectral sensing solutions are driving meaningful change in the agricultural and food industries by pinpointing ideal harvest times, ensuring better quality control and reducing waste throughout the supply chain. At the Photonics Days Jena 2024, ams OSRAM presented the latest advancements in multispectral sensing technology, showcasing how its solutions are helping to transform food production and management. By delivering precise, real-time data on the ripeness and quality of fruit, the company empowers industries to make informed, sustainable decisions that benefit both businesses and the planet. Tackling food waste with multispectral technology Food loss and waste contribute significantly to the world’s environmental footprint, including 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By addressing inefficiencies in harvesting, post-harvest handling, and distribution, ams OSRAM can help to significantly reduce waste. Its multispectral sensing technology offers a powerful solution by identifying the optimal time for harvesting and managing food quality during storage and transportation. The company’s multispectral sensors operate by analyzing the molecular composition of fruit through the reflectance of light at specific wavelengths. These non-invasive sensors track critical molecular changes, such as the breakdown of chlorophyll or the accumulation of carotenoids, providing an accurate and detailed picture of the ripening process. The science: spectral insights into ripening ams OSRAM’s multispectral sensors leverage the visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR), and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectra to monitor key pigments and molecules such as chlorophyll, anthocyanins, carotenoids, water, and carbon-hydrogen bonds. As fruits ripen, these molecular components evolve, which can be precisely measured using the company’s sensors. In a comprehensive 18-week study, researchers from ams OSRAM examined the ripening process in Gala apples, tomatoes, and bananas. Using spectroscopic data, they identified clear markers at key wavelengths that indicate the optimal harvest time and ongoing ripeness: Chlorophyll (670 nm): Reflectance decreases as the fruit ripens, signaling the degradation of chlorophyll. Anthocyanins (550 nm): These pigments, which give fruit its red and purple hues, become more pronounced as the fruit ripens. Carotenoids (480 nm): Responsible for yellow and orange colors, carotenoids increase toward full ripeness. Water and starch (970–1190 nm): These bands provide insights into internal changes like water loss and starch conversion, critical for monitoring fruit quality during storage. By tracking these wavelengths, sensors from ams OSRAM offer outstanding accuracy in determining the ripeness of various fruits, helping producers harvest at the perfect time to maintain quality and reduce losses. Practical applications: from field to consumer The AS7341 multispectral sensor is at the core of these innovations. This compact, cost-effective solution captures real-time data across eight visible (VIS) channels and one near-infrared (NIR) channel, making it a versatile tool for a wide array of industries. With its advanced multispectral sensing technology, the AS7341 delivers actionable insights at every stage of the food supply chain. These include: Agriculture: Smart harvesting systems can determine the ideal time for picking fruit, minimizing the risk of over-ripening in the field and reducing food loss during transport. Processing and sorting: Automated sorting systems can categorize fruits based on internal quality rather than appearance, improving efficiency and cutting waste in processing plants. Retail and distribution: Supermarkets and distribution centers can monitor produce freshness in real time, ensuring that only the highest-quality products reach the shelves. Consumer devices: Handheld devices equipped with multispectral sensors could soon help consumers select perfectly ripe fruit, reducing household food waste. The potential for multispectral sensing technology in the food industry is immense. With the ability to reduce waste, improve product quality, and extend shelf life, ams OSRAM’s sensor solutions offer a scalable, cost-effective tool for farmers, food processors, and retailers alike. By integrating these sensors into their operations, businesses can streamline workflows, enhance quality control, and make significant contributions to global sustainability efforts. Looking ahead: shaping a sustainable future The multispectral sensing research presented at the Photonics Days Jena 2024 highlights the transformative power of photonics in the fight against food waste. ams OSRAM’s innovative sensor technologies are not only helping businesses operate more efficiently but also driving the future of sustainable food production. By enabling real-time, data-driven decision-making, the company is contributing to a more sustainable food system for future generations. Our vision is clear: to harness the power of light for a smarter, more sustainable world. As the demand for efficient, eco-friendly solutions grows, ams OSRAM remains at the forefront of innovation, creating products that deliver tangible benefits across industries. Together, we can reduce food waste, improve quality, and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.environmentmultispectral sensorams osramsensor