Rohm's 120W laser diode for LiDAR: measures distance and spatial recognition
Date: 29/11/2023
Japan-based semiconductor and electronics component leader Rohm has made available its new high-power laser diode targeting LiDAR-employing industrial equipment and consumer applications requiring distance measurement and spatial recognition.
With this new device launch, Rohm is addressing growing market of LiDAR adoption in a wide range of robotic applications that require automation - including AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), robot vacuums, and autonomous vehicles to measure distance and recognize space. Rohm is improving it's laser diode device performance as per market trends in this area.
The new 120 Watt laser diode - the RLD90QZW8 is a 120W infrared high output laser diode developed for LiDAR used in distance measurement and spatial recognition in 3D ToF systems. Original device development technology allows ROHM to reduce the temperature dependence of the laser wavelength by 66% over general products, to just ?11.6nm (Ave. 0.10nm/°C). This makes it possible to narrow the bandpass filter while extending the detection range of LiDAR. At the same time, a uniform light intensity of 97% is achieved over the industry's smallest class of emission width of 270µm, representing a range of 264µm that contributes to higher resolution. Additional features that include high power-to-light conversion efficiency (PCE) enables efficient optical output that contributes to lower power consumption in LiDAR applications.
ROHM said it has established original patented technology to achieve a narrower emission width that contributes to longer range and higher accuracy in LiDAR applications. In 2019, ROHM released a 25W laser diode RLD90QZW5 followed by a 75W laser diode RLD90QZW3 in 2021. In response to the growing market demand for even higher output, ROHM developed a new 120W laser diode.
Rohm is supporting develoment of products using this device by providing support materials necessary for integrating and evaluating the new product.
In order to drive laser diodes with high nano-second order speed required for LiDAR applications, ROHM developed a reference design available now that combines ROHM’s 150V EcoGaN HEMT and gate drivers.
Reference Designs
Reference designs for LiDAR incorporating these new products together with ROHM’s 150V EcoGaN™ and high-speed gate driver (BD2311NVX series) are now available on ROHM’s website.
Reference Design Part Nos.
REFLD002-1
(120W High Power Laser Diode [RLD90QZW8] built-in)
at:https://www.rohm.com/reference-designs/refld002
REFLD002-2
(75W High Power Laser Diode [RLD90QZW3] built-in)
at: https://www.rohm.com/reference-designs/refld002
ROHM has also acquired certification under the IATF 16949 automotive quality management standard for both front-end and back-end processes at its manufacturing facilities. As a result, product development of laser diodes for automotive applications (AEC-Q102 compliant) is underway, with commercialization planned by the end of 2024.
Suggested application Examples: Consumer: Robot vacuums, Laser rangefinders; Industrial: AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), service robots, 3D monitoring systems (sensors for human/object detection).
A broad range of design data is available on ROHM’s website free of charge, including simulation (SPICE) models, board development data, and application notes on drive circuit design necessary for integration and evaluation that supports quick market introduction.
Click on the URL below for more information.
RLD90QZW8 Product Page:
https://www.rohm.com/products/laser-diodes/high-power-lasers/rld90qzw8-product#productDetail
Sales Launch Date: September 2023
Pricing: $30.0/unit (samples, excluding tax)
Online Distributors: DigiKey, Mouser and Farnell
The product will be offered at other online distributors as they become available.
Target Product: RLD90QZW8-00A
