News: Optoelectronics
5 August 2024
ams OSRAM to launch 8-channel 915nm SMT pulsed laser
ams OSRAM GmbH of Premstätten, Austria and Munich, Germany says that, this fall, it will launch the SPL S8L91A_3 A01, a high-performance 915nm infrared SMT pulsed laser with a monolithically integrated 8-channel design in a QFN (quad flat no leads) package. By simplifying the system design and boosting the performance, the laser is said to increase the effectiveness and reliability of long-range, high-resolution LiDAR systems.
The SPL S8L91A_3 A01 is said to enable a significant upgrade of high-resolution LiDAR systems for wide-area applications in autonomous driving. With what is claimed to be the world’s first AEC-Q102-qualified 8-channel edge-emitting laser (EEL) in a QFN package, system developers can now choose from a wider range of infrared components from ams OSRAM. The new product offers 1000W of peak optical power at an efficiency of about 30%.
The SPL S8L91A_3 A01’s configuration achieves an output of 125W per laser channel, which corresponds to a total peak optical power of 1000W, and thus dramatically increases the performance of LiDAR systems for long-range applications, which are essential for autonomous driving on highways. The laser has four individually addressable anodes, with each anode connected to two laser channels operating in parallel. This addressability gives maximum flexibility in the design of the final product.
The use of only one laser housing enables a more compact and efficient design. Alignment between multiple components is no longer necessary, simplifying the design and manufacturing process. This integration not only shortens development and production times but also significantly increases the reliability and performance of the final product. The design of the laser includes ams OSRAM’s proprietary wavelength stabilization technology, which minimizes wavelength shifts due to temperature changes, improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and extending the detection range.
Due to its design, the SPL S8L91A_3 A01 exceeds the AEC-Q qualification standards and is therefore suitable for automotive applications. Also, the QFN package enables a robust design: a long-lasting solution that meets the challenges in the automotive environment. The new laser can hence be integrated into LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles, such as passenger cars, trucks and self-driving taxis (robo-taxis), for which it should improve their operation, navigation and data-processing capabilities.
The new laser is also suitable for increasing the performance of industrial applications, such as robotics, surveillance, smart cities and delivery solutions for the last leg of the journey to the customer.
ams OSRAM launches compact surface-mount edge-emitting laser with narrow 110µm aperture
