Guide
Infrared LED bare die vs packaged emitters
MANULED is a U.S. manufacturer of AlGaAs infrared LED bare die—not a catalog of finished through-hole or SMD IR bulbs. Use this guide to decide whether bare die is the right procurement path for your program.
| Topic | Bare die (MANULED) | Packaged IR LED |
|---|---|---|
| What you receive | Unpackaged semiconductor die; you wire-bond and package in your assembly | Die inside a lead frame, ceramic, or plastic package with defined optics |
| Best for | Custom illuminator modules, chip-on-board (COB), high-volume OEM with in-house packaging | Prototypes, low-volume products, standard beam shapes from vendor optics |
| Optical design | You control lens, reflector, and beam; die size and placement are flexible | Beam angle and height fixed by package; faster but less customizable |
| Supply chain | Semiconductor fab + die bank; MANULED focuses on U.S.-made bare die with ~3-week lead times | Often distributor stock (Digi-Key, Mouser); wider catalog, less die-level control |