[Laser] 5mw laser transceiver kit

[Tom Becker]

  > ... Do any of the big LED makers offer high power infrared LEDs?

FWIW, a few months ago I did a search for high-power IR LEDs and had 
little success.  I did find, and obtained, a pair of IR security 
illuminators, though, that claimed to produce several optical Watts. 
  The device carries a label "IR LED Array Light, Model TR-180D"; it is 
a barrel about 4cm OD x 10cm, adjustably glass-lensed.   It contains 4 
LEDs in series/parallel, each about 2mm square, mounted on a Luxeon-like 
star.  The barrel serves as a heat sink; it gets pretty warm.

At 12v, the device draws ~240mA, about 2W, as best I can determine 
radiating about 250mW of ~800nm light; the chips glow visibly deep red 
to the eye.  The manufacturer's claims are absurd, claiming 2-20W from 
12v at 450mA! 
  http://cgi.ebay.com/Outdoor-Waterproof-Light-IR-Illuminator-F-Night-Camera-/280550217700?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41521897e4

It has a CDS cell in the barrel to turn it on at night, but there 
appears to be no regulation apart from a series resistance.  The barrel 
heat is produced by the LEDs themselves.  I've made no attempt yet to 
modulate them, but see no reason why they shouldn't repond as expected 
to analog or PWM current control.

http://rightime.com/images/Misc/DSCN0618a.JPG
http://rightime.com/images/Misc/DSCN0482a.JPG
http://rightime.com/images/Misc/DSCN0476a.JPG
http://rightime.com/images/Misc/DSCN0479a.JPG

Tom
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio  VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u  VLF