AN 27

1 of 4

Relative Intensity and Notes on Calibration

Optomistic Products’ Universal LightProbe Sensors, together with their customer-specified fiber-optic
probes, are individually tested on calibrated LED LightSources before shipment, ensuring that they perform
within an established set of parameters.

PRODUCTION LED INTENSITY TESTING:

Optomistic Products’ Universal LightProbe Sensors’ intensity response depends on a variety of factors, in-
cluding the size of the LED under test, the fiber-optic probe aperture, and the distance of the probe tip from
the LED emitter. (See Figure 1.) However, for production test, determining “relative” intensity of the LED
under test is normally sufficient to provide acceptable “pass”/”fail” limits. (In contrast, “absolute” intensity
measurements would require an LED of the same type and characteristics of the LED under test calibrated
to NIST-traceable standards, as an absolute “gold” reference, a service provided by independent calibration
laboratories.)

A relative intensity “gold” reference LED is similar to the traditional “gold” circuit-board or finished product,
but as an acceptable level of intensity for the end-user of the product. Variations of intensity over
production runs establish the “pass”/”fail” limits of acceptable LED intensity for a specific Universal
LightProbe Sensor and Fiber-Optic Probe.

Repeatable LED intensity measurements require a consistent distance between the LED under test and the
fiber-optic probe tip, and the centering of the probe tip on-axis with the LED (Figure 1).
FIGURE 1: Sensor Intensity Response vs. Distance of Fiber-Optic Probe Tip to LED Emitter

2D

Illuminance
Illuminance==11
Illuminance
Illuminance == 1/4
1/4
Working Distance
PO Box 751 • South Freeport, ME 04078 USA | Phone (207) 865-9181 • Fax (207) 510-8039
w w w. o ptomist ic pro duc t s. co m
info@ o pto mist ic pro duc t s. co m
The information in this data sheet is intended to be a general product description. Optomistic Products reserves the right to make changes in specifications and charac-
teristics at any time without notice. Unless specified otherwise, all dimensional values are nominal. ©2016 Optomistic Products. All rights reserved.
 AN 27
2 of 4

Relative Intensity and Notes on Calibration:

Continued:
PRODUCTION LED COLOR TESTING:
Based on production tests of Universal LightProbe Sensors, coupled to a wide variety of Universal LightProbe
Fiber-Optic Probe types/sizes, the typical variation of color responses to the calibrated LightSources shown
are summarized in the following table. Hence, for the green LED LightSources, the “pass”/”fail” limits can be
set to +/- 2.8nm. For the many different LEDs currently on the market, the “pass”/”fail” limits can be set
accordingly, using the table below as a guide.
Universal LightProbe Sensor Typical Color Response Variances for Production LightSources
and a Wide Range of Universal LightProbe Fiber-Optic Probe Types/Size
LED Color Maximum Variation Calibrated Value of LED Percentage Tolerance
from Calibrated Value (nm) +/-
(nm)
Blue 11 467 2.36%
Green 2.8 567.2 0.49%
Yellow 2.5 589.5 0.42%
Orange 1.8 606.2 0.30%
Red 5.2 619.8 0.84%

The spectral plots of these LightSources and their physical and optical characteristics are shown in the
following pages, in Figures 2- 6. The Spectral Graphs have the following characteristics:

LED Size: T-1 3/4 Diffused

Luminous Intensity: 30 mcd

FIGURE 2: Blue LED LightSource Dominant Wavelength: 467nm

5

4
Absolute Irradience

2 Size: T-13/4; Diffused Luminous Intenstity: 30mcd; Dominant Wavelength: 589.5

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Wavelength (nm)

PO Box 751 • South Freeport, ME 04078 USA | Phone (207) 865-9181 • Fax (207) 510-8039
w w w. o ptomist ic pro duc t s. co m
info@ o pto mist ic pro duc t s. co m
The information in this data sheet is intended to be a general product description. Optomistic Products reserves the right to make changes in specifications and charac-
teristics at any time without notice. Unless specified otherwise, all dimensional values are nominal. ©2016 Optomistic Products. All rights reserved.
 AN 27
3 of 4

Relative Intensity and Notes on Calibration:

Continued:
LED Size: T-1 3/4 Diffused
Luminous Intensity: 30 mcd

FIGURE 3: Green LED LightSource Dominant Wavelength: 567.2 nm

0.5

0.4
Absolute Irradience

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Wavelength (nm)

FIGURE 4: Yellow LED LightSource Dominant Wavelength: 589.5nm

0.5

0.4
Absolute Irradience

0.3

Size: T-13/4; Diffused Luminous Intenstity: 30mcd; Dominant Wavelength: 589.5

0.2

0.1

0
400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Wavelength (nm)

PO Box 751 • South Freeport, ME 04078 USA | Phone (207) 865-9181 • Fax (207) 510-8039
w w w. o ptomist ic pro duc t s. co m
info@ o pto mist ic pro duc t s. co m
The information in this data sheet is intended to be a general product description. Optomistic Products reserves the right to make changes in specifications and charac-
teristics at any time without notice. Unless specified otherwise, all dimensional values are nominal. ©2016 Optomistic Products. All rights reserved.
 AN 27
4 of 4

Relative Intensity and Notes on Calibration

Continued:
LED Size: T-1 3/4 Diffused
Luminous Intensity: 30 mcd

Figure 5: Orange LED LightSource Dominant Wavelength: 606.2nm

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
Absolute Irradience

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Wavelength (nm)

Figure 6: Red LED LightSource Dominant Wavelength: 619.8 nm

1.0
Absolute Irradience

0.0
400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Wavelength (nm)

PO Box 751 • South Freeport, ME 04078 USA | Phone (207) 865-9181 • Fax (207) 510-8039
w w w. o ptomist ic pro duc t s. co m
The information in this data sheet is intended to be a general product description. Optomistic Products reserves the right to make changes in specifications and charac-
teristics at any time without notice. Unless specified otherwise, all dimensional values are nominal. ©2016 Optomistic Products. All rights reserved.