Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. of Malvern, Pennsylvania USA, has launched the first two members of a new line of ceramic-based, high-power UV LEDs with silicone lenses. The company designed the UV LEDs to serve as a reliable, energy-saving replacement for mercury lamps. The VLMU3500-385-060 and VLMU3500-385-120 boast exceptionally long lifetimes. The surface-mount packages measure just 3.5 mm by 3.5 mm. Vishay says that the UV LEDs are ideal for printing, industrial, and medical applications.
According to the company, the silicone lenses of the VLMU3500-385-060 and VLMU3500-385-120 enable extremely long lifetimes compared to typical mercury lamps. The UV LEDs are also free of heavy metals. The company contends that they offer increased reliability with their immunity to degradation from frequent on/off switching and their shock resistance. Vishay points out that unlike mercury lamps that need complex drive circuits and require between two and 15 minutes to warm up, the VLMU3500-385-060 and VLMU3500-385-120 can use simple low-voltage circuitry and require no warm-up period.
The company built the UV LEDs on InGaN (indium gallium nitride) technology. They feature typical radiant power of 1037 mW at 700 mA and 780 mW at 500 mA in a range of wavelengths between 380 nm and 390 nm. The VLMU3500-385-060 has an emission angle of 60° and delivers a radiant intensity of 730 mW/sr. The VLMU3500-385-120 features an emission angle of 120° and delivers a radiant intensity 390 mW/sr at 700 mA. of 730 mW/sr.
The LEDs’ specifications make them ideal for UV curing in blood and counterfeit money detection, nail salon, dental, and poster printing applications; and photocatalytic purification. Halogen-free, RoHS-compliant, and Vishay Green, the VLMU3500-385-060 and VLMU3500-385-120 feature a Moisture Sensitivity Level of 2 in accordance with J-STD-020 and are compatible with reflow soldering processes.
Samples of the new UV LEDs are immediately available. Production quantities are available with lead times of six to eight weeks.
