Osram First to Market with LED for Unlocking Smartphones

Osram Smartphones

Osram is making smartphones even smarter: infrared light emitting diodes (IREDs) from Osram Opto Semiconductors will enable owners of Fujitsu Limited’s Arrows NX F-04G smartphone to unlock the device with an iris scan. This smartphone, which is currently only available in Japan, is the first in the world with this functionality.

Secure methods for unlocking cell phones and tablet computers are gaining in importance because these devices are being used more and more for sensitive applications such as online banking and online shopping. In addition to fingerprint scans, many manufacturers are now considering iris scanning. This new biometric unlocking method involves illuminating the eye with infrared light. The camera on the smartphone simultaneously takes a picture of the iris in which characteristic features are then identified. So far, the Osram IREDs are the only ones capable of the high power needed for iris scanning from a compact package.

The Oslux SFH 4780S has a wavelength of 810 nanometers (nm). This enables the iris scanner to identify iris patterns for all eye colors – brown, blue, green and gray – with a high degree of reliability. The light source is also extremely efficient so does not involve an unnecessary drain on mobile device batteries. For having developed the IRED, Osram Opto Semiconductors was recently presented with the 2015 Kaiser Friedrich Research Award.

 

Related Articles

Changing Scene

  • Dec 4, 2025 - Wow Lighting and Controls Announces New Partnership with Eterna Light

    Wow Lighting and Controls Announces New Partnership with Eterna Light

    Wow Lighting and Controls is excited to welcome Eterna Light to their lighting family! A Canadian manufacturer based in Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec, Eterna Light specializes in high-end architectural luminaires for commercial, hospitality, and retail projects. Their broad lineup includes downlights, cylinders, track lighting, and advanced backlighting solutions, all designed to bring flexibility, performance, and timeless… Read More…

  • Dec 3, 2025 - Magic Lite Announces the Promotion of Jennifer Penton to Chief Operating Officer

    Magic Lite Announces the Promotion of Jennifer Penton to Chief Operating Officer

    Magic Lite is proud to announce the promotion of Jennifer Penton to Chief Operating Officer (COO)! Jennifer brings a strong personal connection to Magic Lite. With a PhD in engineering and early experience working in the Magic Lite warehouse as a teenager, she has grown with the company from the ground up. Over the past… Read More…

Design

New Products

  • EB Horsman: Philips LED Lamps & TLED Tubes – Efficient Lighting Solutions for Any Space

    EB Horsman: Philips LED Lamps & TLED Tubes – Efficient Lighting Solutions for Any Space

    Looking to upgrade your lighting with high-efficiency LED solutions? Philips offers a wide range of LED lamps and TLED retrofit tubes that deliver energy savings, long life, and professional-grade illumination for commercial and residential projects. Philips LED lamps provide consistent brightness and excellent color rendering, making them ideal for offices, retail environments, warehouses, and homes.… Read More…

  • Omnilumen: Metalumen – Rail 2 Acoustic Direct/Indirect (RM2DU-ACL)

    Omnilumen: Metalumen – Rail 2 Acoustic Direct/Indirect (RM2DU-ACL)

    When designing lighting for a space, why not consider solving an often-overlooked issue in that space – noise. Metalumen’s Rail 2 Acoustic is now available with direct/indirect distribution, while quietly adding light to your environment with sound-dampening properties. The Rail 2 Acoustic RM2DU-ACL is constructed with ezoBord sound-absorbing baffles making it a 2-in-1 solution that… Read More…