New optoelectronic devices for the Near and Mid-Infrared spectral range open completely new possibilities for portable sensors creation. Using infrared LED-PD optopairs allows developing an instrument that is smaller, less expensive and energy-saving.

Agriculture & Food Applications

Different types of sensors are widely used by agricultural and food industries. We offer new optical sensing tools based on mid-infrared LED-PD optopairs that can be used in a vast number of applications. The use of our sensors will help to solve many problems and to raise yields, decrease costs and reduce chemical input.

Our devices can be used in solving the following problems:
1. Moisture measurement:
- moisture of arable crops (grain, legumes etc.) measurement
- moisture of cotton, wool measurement
- soil moisture measurement
There are several water absorption bands: the main absorption band lies in 1800‒1950 nm region; besides, there are bands in 1350‒1450 and 2500‒2800 nm regions (the data are taken from HITRAN Catalogue). So, we recommend using the following sets of diodes:
▪ Lms14LED (measuring LED), Lms13LED (reference LED), Lms24PD series photodiode;
▪ Lms19LED (measuring LED), Lms22LED (reference LED), Lms24PD series photodiode;
▪ Lms27LED (measuring LED), Lms34LED or Lms35LED (reference LED), Lms36PD series photodiode.

Spectra of LEDs and PDs for H2O detection:


See also:

2. Carbon dioxide measurement:
- CO2 emission control from farms and agricultural lands
- CO2 emission control in greenhouses, mushroom-farming, food transportation and storage, chicken hatcheries, incubators
- CO2 concentration measurement during drinks carbonation, winemaking process, bakery etc.
Carbon dioxide has the main absorption band at 4200-4300 nm (the data are taken from HITRAN Catalogue). So, we recommend using light emitting diode Lms43LED and Lms43PD series photodiode.

Spectra of LEDs and PDs for CO2 detection:

See also:

3. Methane measurement:
- methane concentration measurement in biogas production
- methane quantification in pastures
Methane has the main absorption band at 3200-3400 nm. Weaker absorption bands that can be used for detection are located around 2300 nm and 1650 nm (the data are taken from HITRAN Catalogue). So, we recommend using:
  - for development of compact measuring cells and/or for detection of low CH4 concentrations: light emitting diode Lms34LED and Lms36PD series photodiode;
  - for development of long-path measuring cells and/or for high CH4 concentration detection: light emitting diode Lms23LED and Lms24PD series photodiode.

Spectra of LEDs and PDs for CH4 detection:


See also:


4. Quantitative analyses of plants, crops and food:
- sucrose/fructose quantification in crops
- proteins measurement
- fibers measurement
- alcohol content measurement
- monitoring product composition and its correspondence with the normal contents


Advantages of our devices:
✔  Possibility of non-destructive/non-invasive in situ analysis
✔  Possibility to arrange a compact design of an optical cell thanks to compact size of the LED chip – 0.35 × 0.35 mm
✔  No need of using additional optical filters – LED emission band width is comparable to absorption band width of CH4
✔  Low power consumption (<1 mW)
✔  Short response time (10‒50 ns)
✔  Possibility to achieve modulation ranges of up to 100 MHz
✔  Operation temperatures up to +150°C
✔  Lifetime of 80 000 hours

LED-PD based Evaluation kits, systems and analysers for agricultural applications
For quick start we offer out-of-the-box solutions that can be launched with minimal effort – evaluation systems:
UDK universal evaluation kit with modular design that includes:
- Light emitting diodes LmsXXLED (other LED is available) with an LED driver
- Photodiode Lms43PD-03 (other PD is available) with a preamplifier
- SDM synchronous detector
- Any additional component(s) can be added by request

MDK evaluation kit with modular design that includes:
- Light emitting diode Lms34LED (other LED is available) with an LED driver
- Photodiode Lms36PD (other PD is available) with a preamplifier
- SDM synchronous detector
- Any additional component(s) can be added by request

CDK evaluation kit with modular design that includes:
- Light emitting diodes Lms43LED (other LED is available) with an LED driver
- Photodiode Lms43PD-03 (other PD is available) with a preamplifier
- SDM synchronous detector
- Any additional component(s) can be added by request

NEW MDK-c evaluation kit with modular design that includes:
- Light emitting diode Lms34LED-CG (LED with a special glass covering) with an LED driver
- Photodiode Lms36PD-CG (PD with a special glass covering) with a preamplifier
- SDM synchronous detector
- Any additional component(s) can be added by request

NEW CDK-c evaluation kit with modular design that includes:
- LED Lms43LED-CG (LED with a special glass covering) with an LED driver
- Photodiode Lms43PD-CG (PD with a special glass covering) with a preamplifier
- SDM synchronous detector
- Any additional component(s) can be added by request

NEW MDS-5 system with a compact optical cell that incorporates an LED and a photodiode with a special glass covering. It includes all the needed circuitry for quick setup: LED driver, photodiode preamplifier, synchronous detector.

NEW MDS-4 methane sensor module – a low-cost “on-board” system with very low power consumption that includes a compact optical cell and electronics for LED power supply and PD signal amplification all-in-one.

COMING SOON CDS-5 system with a compact optical cell that incorporates an LED and a photodiode with a special glass covering. It includes all the needed circuitry for quick setup: LED driver, photodiode preamplifier, synchronous detector.

COMING SOON СDS-4 carbon dioxide sensor module – a low-cost “on-board” system with very low power consumption that includes a compact optical cell and electronics for LED power supply and PD signal amplification all-in-one.

NEW LA-1t LED Analyser a device oriented for the initial experiments with different liquid (and other) substances, enables defining the absorption properties of the analyzed sample in the spectral range 1.3 – 2.3 µm.
LA-1t’s optical module includes:
- 8-element LED array with peak emission wavelengths about 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 µm;
- Wideband photodiode with a cut-off wavelength about 2.4 µm and 2 mm sensitive area diameter;
- ZigBee/Bluetooth wireless data transmission module for fast data transfer to a data control center;
- Battery power supply for autonomous operation.

Download the brochure