IR question?

[kbohannon]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum as this is my first post, and consider myself as a noob compared to all of you elecro-wizards out there, just had a question. I was wondering if there is such a thing as an IR BEAM not an LED but more like how a laser pointer projects like a beam. Like a solid projection.

 

[Vizier87]

please change your avatar! (with a moderator-style frown ) If you incorporate a lens with an IR LED the way red LED laser pointers work, why not?

 

[kbohannon]

what kind of lens or what would that be called? also, would i need a more powerful IR LED?

 

[Vizier87]

Remote TV control are usually IR beams. I haven't seen IR pointers before, there might be some models. You can buy scrapped IR remote controls and there you are. Connect a 100 ohm resistor and 5V series to the IR led and test the range using a receiver. That is if you have one. If you don't have it then you can see the light dispersion on a surface, the beam spot can be seen using your cellphone in camera mode.

 

[Space Varmint]

Sure, you can buy those pointers he was talking about at novelty stores and so forth. You could replace the LED with an IR LED. Like you said. You could pull it out of a TV remote. If you want a real beam that is absolutely coherent light, then you need a ruby rod.

 

[crutschow]

If you incorporate a lens with an IR LED the way red LED laser pointers work, why not?

LED laser pointers use a laser diode. Thus you would need an IR laser diode to achieve the same small beam pattern.

 

[MikeMl]

If you had an IR pointer, how would you know where it is pointed????

 

[Vizier87]

If you had an IR pointer, how would you know where it is pointed????

LOL. good question mike. Probably for infrared-guided snipers with a camera scope?

 

[Space Varmint]

If you had an IR pointer, how would you know where it is pointed????

That's just it. The light is not quite coherent so there will be some visible light.