What Opto Diode does

Opto Diode Corporation, founded in 1981 and headquartered in Camarillo, California, designs and manufactures high-performance photonic components spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from soft X-ray and EUV (0.0124nm) through UV, visible, near-IR, to mid-IR (5.5μm). The company is a wholly-owned division of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), a Fortune 200 diversified industrial conglomerate, since August 2008. Its product portfolio is organized into emission (GaAlAs NIR LEDs spanning 700-1300nm, high-power LED arrays up to 1W, and thermal mid-IR emitters for NDIR gas sensing) and detection (AXUV windowless silicon photodiodes with 100% internal quantum efficiency for EUV/X-ray, SXUV radiation-hardened EUV photodiodes, UVG deep-UV detectors, PbS/PbSe lead-salt infrared detectors, silicon and InGaAs avalanche photodiodes, and segmented bi-cell/quad-cell detectors). Opto Diode also offers custom integration services including thin-film optical coatings, EUV filters, and fully bespoke optoelectronic designs.

Opto Diode manufactures in-house with wafer fabrication, Class 1,000-10,000 cleanrooms, and a thin-film coating lab at its Camarillo facility. Its spectral coverage was expanded through two strategic acquisitions: International Radiation Detectors (IRD) in 2011, which added UV/X-ray/high-energy particle detection, and Cal Sensors (CSI) in 2014, which added mid-IR detectors, emitters, and lead-salt components. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and ITAR registration, positioning it for defense and aerospace markets with export-controlled requirements.

The business model is sales-led with quote-based pricing and a $3,000 minimum on direct orders. Over 70% of revenue is generated from custom-engineered solutions tailored to specific customer requirements, with the remainder from standard catalog products sold both directly and via DigiKey distribution. Target verticals are semiconductor manufacturing and metrology, aerospace and defense (both primary), and medical diagnostics, fire/flame/gas monitoring, industrial sensing, and food analysis (secondary). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales, an online RFQ system with 1-2 business day response times, technical content marketing, and participation in industry events such as SPIE Defense + Security and SPIE Advanced Lithography & Patterning.

Name

Opto Diode

Legal name

Opto Diode Corp.

Website

https://optodiode.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optoelectronic Components

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (334419)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optical & Light Sensors (Photodiodes/ALS/Color/UV) (HDAHALAE), Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Photodiode manufacturing
• Infrared detectors
• EUV photodetectors
• Optoelectronic components
• LED emitters

Headquarters

HQ city

Camarillo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Standard Photodetectors and Emitters: Opto Diode generates revenue through the sale of standard catalog photodetectors including AXUV, SXUV, UVG silicon photodiodes, PbS and PbSe infrared detectors, APDs, and NIR/IR LED emitters. Products are sold through direct sales, distribution partners like DigiKey, and via request for quote system.
2. Custom-Engineered Solutions: Over 70% of Opto Diode's business is custom-engineered solutions. This includes custom photodiodes with specific active areas, spectral responses, and packaging; custom IR detectors; custom LEDs and IR emitters with tailored wavelengths, output powers, and beam angles; and custom EUV filters and optical coatings.
3. Thin-Film Coatings and Filters: Custom EUV filters and optical coatings for specific wavelength applications including semiconductor lithography (13.5nm), soft X-ray, and multi-wavelength biomedical detection. These are sold as standalone components or integrated with photodiodes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Opto Diode designs and manufactures high-performance photonics components spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from soft X-ray and EUV (0.0124 nm) through UV, visible, near-IR, to mid-IR (5.5 µm). The portfolio includes silicon photodiodes (AXUV, SXUV, UVG), lead-salt infrared detectors (PbS/PbSe), avalanche photodiodes (APDs), GaAlAs near-infrared LEDs, and mid-IR thermal emitters. More than 70% of business is custom-engineered solutions tailored to specific active area, spectral response, packaging, and cooling requirements.

Product overview

Opto Diode designs and manufactures high-performance photonics products spanning emission (light sources) and detection (photodetectors) across the electromagnetic spectrum from soft X-ray and EUV through UV, visible, near-infrared (NIR), to mid-wave infrared (MWIR). The product portfolio is organized into three main categories: Emission products (GaAlAs near-infrared LEDs, high-power NIR LEDs spanning 700–1300 nm, and thermal mid-IR emitters for gas sensing), Detection products (AXUV windowless silicon photodiodes for soft X-ray/EUV with 100% IQE, SXUV radiation-hardened EUV photodiodes, UVG UV-enhanced detectors, Blue/Red enhanced visible silicon photodiodes, PbS SWIR and PbSe MWIR lead-salt detectors, silicon and InGaAs avalanche photodiodes, and segmented bi-cell/quad-cell detectors), and Custom Integration services (custom EUV filters, thin-film optical coatings, and fully bespoke optoelectronic designs). The company operates as a division of ITW with in-house wafer fabrication in Camarillo, California, and holds ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AXUV: High-energy photon, electron, and X-ray detectors with 100% internal quantum efficiency, covering 0.0124nm to 190nm wavelength range.
• SXUV
• PbS Detectors
• PbSe Detectors

Products and services

• AXUV Series
• SXUV Series
• UVG Series
• Blue & Red Enhanced Silicon Photodiodes
• PbS Detectors
• PbSe Detectors
• Avalanche Photodiode (APD) Series
• Near-Infrared LEDs (GaAlAs)
• NIR High-Power LEDs
• IR Emitters & Controllers
• Custom EUV Filters and Optical Coatings
• BXT2 Series (Two-Stage Cooled PbSe)
• AXUV Large-Area and Multi-Element Detectors
• ODA Photodiode-Preamplifier Hybrids
• Bi-Cell and Quad-Cell Segmented Detectors
• Custom Optoelectronic Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years of experience delivering photonics solutions
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cal Sensors (CSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014In 2014, Opto Diode acquired Cal Sensors (CSI), a Santa Rosa-based leader in mid-infrared (mid-IR) detectors, emitters, and lead-salt components. This acquisition bolstered Opto Diode's ability to support gas sensing, thermal analysis, and flame detection markets with extended MWIR coverage.
• International Radiation Detectors (IRD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011In 2011, Opto Diode acquired International Radiation Detectors (IRD), a California-based innovator in UV, X-ray, and high-energy particle detection. IRD, founded by Dr. Raj Korde and Dr. Dejan Jovanovic, was renowned for radiation-hard photodiodes and detectors for space, scientific, and industrial applications. This acquisition expanded Opto Diode's spectral reach into soft X-ray and EUV detection.
• DigiKeyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigiKey serves as an authorized distributor for Opto Diode's standard catalog products including photodiodes, LEDs, APDs, and IR detectors. This partnership enables easier procurement for smaller orders and provides online access to Opto Diode products.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hamamatsu Photonics: Japan-based global leader in photodetectors, silicon photodiodes, APDs, and EUV/X-ray detectors. Direct overlap with Opto Diode across AXUV/SXUV equivalents, APDs, and IR detectors, serving the same semiconductor, defense, and scientific markets.
• Teledyne Judson Technologies: U.S. manufacturer of infrared detectors including PbS, PbSe, InGaAs, and MCT. Direct competitor to Opto Diode's lead-salt and IR detector portfolio for gas sensing, defense, and spectroscopy.
• OSI Optoelectronics (Excelitas Technologies): U.S.-based manufacturer of silicon photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes, and X-ray detectors. Closely comparable to Opto Diode in catalog and custom photodiodes for medical, industrial, and defense applications.
• First Sensor (ams OSRAM): German-based photodiode and optoelectronic sensor manufacturer acquired by ams OSRAM. Competes with Opto Diode in silicon and InGaAs photodiodes, APDs, and custom sensor solutions for industrial and medical markets.
• VIGO Photonics (Sony Semiconductor Solutions): Poland-based (now part of Sony) specialist in MCT and InGaAs IR detectors. Comparable to Opto Diode's mid-IR detector portfolio for gas analysis, defense, and scientific applications.
• Laser Components: European manufacturer and distributor of photodiodes, IR detectors (including PbS/PbSe), and pulsed IR emitters. Direct overlap with Opto Diode's IR detector, emitter, and APD product lines.
• Thorlabs: U.S.-based photonics components vendor with broad silicon photodiode, APD, and detector offerings. Overlaps with Opto Diode in catalog photodiodes, bi-cell/quad-cell detectors, and custom OEM photonics.

Broad incumbents

• Edmund Optics: Large global supplier of optical components including photodiodes, filters, and detectors. Overlaps with Opto Diode in standard silicon photodiodes and optical coatings but offers a much broader optics catalog rather than a detector specialization.

Emerging players

• International Light Technologies: U.S. manufacturer of photodetectors, light measurement instrumentation, and calibration sources. Adjacent to Opto Diode in photodiode-based sensing for industrial, medical, and scientific applications.
• New England Photoconductor (NEP): U.S. niche manufacturer of lead-salt (PbS, PbSe) photoconductive IR detectors. Direct niche overlap with Opto Diode's Cal Sensors product line for SWIR/MWIR detection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Opto Diode