Circuit for supplying power to multiple laser devices, and lidar and vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed are a circuit for supplying power to multiple laser devices, and a LiDAR and a vehicle. The circuit comprises: a first capacitor connected to an anode of a first laser device; a second capacitor connected to an anode of a second laser device, wherein a cathode of the first laser device is connected to a cathode of the second laser device; a first charging circuit, which is connected between a first power supply terminal and the first capacitor, and is configured to charge the first capacitor during a first charging time; a second charging circuit, which is connected between a second power supply terminal and the second capacitor, and is configured to charge the second capacitor during a second charging time; a switching circuit, which is connected between the cathodes of the first laser device and the second laser device and a first signal terminal, and is configured to establish or break the connection between the cathodes of the first laser device and the second laser device and the first signal terminal; and a current branch connected between the cathodes of the first laser device and the second laser device and a second signal terminal. The present disclosure has the technical effects of improving the reliability of supplying power to laser devices and improving the detection performance of the LiDAR.

Description

Circuits, lidar, and carriers for powering multiple lasers.

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411839091.8, filed December 12, 2024, entitled "Circuit, LiDAR, and Vehicle for Powering Multiple Lasers"; Chinese Patent Application No. 202423084961.3, filed December 12, 2024, entitled "Circuit, LiDAR, and Vehicle for Powering Multiple Lasers"; and Chinese Patent Application No. 202411188081.2, filed August 27, 2024, entitled "Charging Circuit, Chip, and LiDAR", the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of optical detection technology, and more particularly to a circuit, charging circuit, chip, lidar, and carrier for powering multiple lasers. Background Technology

[0003] Optical detection technology uses light as a medium to detect objects. Compared to ordinary light sources, lasers possess characteristics such as monochromaticity and good directionality, making them widely used for object detection. For example, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses lasers to detect objects and has found applications in fields such as autonomous driving, industrial manufacturing, drones, robot recognition, geographic mapping, and environmental monitoring. However, LiDAR applications face the challenge of ensuring the reliability of the laser power supply.

[0004] Current charging circuits, when controlling the charging process, have limited precision due to the inherent timing constraints of the control elements. How to provide a charging circuit capable of precisely controlling the charging process remains a problem for those skilled in the art to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This disclosure provides a circuit, charging circuit, chip, lidar, and carrier for powering multiple lasers, which can improve the reliability of laser power supply or precisely control the charging process.

[0006] In a first aspect, a circuit is provided for powering a plurality of lasers, including a first laser and a second laser. The circuit includes: a first capacitor connected to the anode of the first laser; a second capacitor connected to the anode of the second laser, and the cathodes of the first laser and the second laser connected together; a first charging circuit connected between a first power supply terminal and the first capacitor, configured to charge the first capacitor during a first charging time; a second charging circuit connected between a second power supply terminal and the second capacitor, configured to charge the second capacitor during a second charging time; a switching circuit connected between the cathodes of the first laser and the second laser and a first signal terminal, configured to turn on or off the connection between the cathodes of the first laser and the second laser and the first signal terminal; and a current branch connected between the cathodes of the first laser and the second laser and the second signal terminal.

[0007] Optionally, the current branch includes a first resistor.

[0008] Optionally, at least one of the first signal terminal or the second signal terminal is grounded.

[0009] Optionally, the first charging circuit includes a first switch, a first inductor, a first diode, and a second diode; the first inductor is coupled to a first power supply terminal through the first switch, the first inductor and the first diode are connected in series between the first switch and the anode of the first laser, the cathode of the second diode is connected between the first inductor and the first switch, and the anode of the second diode is coupled to a third signal terminal; the second charging circuit includes a second switch, a second inductor, a third diode, and a fourth diode; the second inductor is coupled to a second power supply terminal through the second switch, the second inductor and the third diode are connected in series between the second switch and the anode of the second laser, the cathode of the fourth diode is connected between the second inductor and the second switch, and the anode of the fourth diode is coupled to a fourth signal terminal.

[0010] Optionally, at least one of the third or fourth signal terminals is grounded.

[0011] Optionally, the anode of the first laser is also coupled to a third power supply terminal; the anode of the second laser is also coupled to a fourth power supply terminal.

[0012] Optionally, it further includes: a first power consumption circuit connected between the first capacitor and the third power supply terminal; and a second power consumption circuit connected between the second capacitor and the fourth power supply terminal.

[0013] Optionally, the first power consumption circuit includes a second resistor; the second power consumption circuit includes a third resistor.

[0014] Optionally, it further includes: a fifth diode connected in series with the first power consumption circuit between the first capacitor and the third power supply terminal; and a sixth diode connected in series with the second power consumption circuit between the second capacitor and the fourth power supply terminal.

[0015] Optionally, the third and fourth power supply terminals are coupled to the first power supply voltage.

[0016] Optionally, the first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal are coupled to a second power supply voltage.

[0017] In a second aspect, an integrated circuit is provided, comprising: a current branch connected between a first node and a second signal terminal, the first node being configured to connect the cathode of a first laser and the cathode of a second laser; a first power consumption circuit connected between a third power supply terminal and the second node, the second node being configured to connect the anode of the first laser and a first capacitor; and a second power consumption circuit connected between a fourth power supply terminal and the third node, the third node being configured to connect the anode of the second laser and the second capacitor.

[0018] Optionally, the current branch includes a first resistor.

[0019] Optionally, the first power consumption circuit includes a second resistor, and the second power consumption circuit includes a third resistor.

[0020] Optionally, it further includes: a first diode, which is connected in series with the first power consumption circuit between the third power supply terminal and the second node; and a second diode, which is connected in series with the second power consumption circuit between the fourth power supply terminal and the third node.

[0021] Optionally, it also includes a switching circuit connected between the first node and the second signal terminal.

[0022] Thirdly, a circuit for emitting laser is provided, comprising: a plurality of lasers configured to emit laser; and a circuit as provided in the first aspect configured to supply power to the plurality of lasers.

[0023] Fourthly, a lidar includes: the circuit provided in the third aspect, configured to emit a laser; a laser receiving circuit, configured to receive the echo of the laser and convert the echo into an electrical signal, the electrical signal being used to generate echo data; and a processing circuit, configured to process the echo data.

[0024] Fifthly, a vehicle comprising a lidar as provided in the fourth aspect.

[0025] In a sixth aspect, a charging circuit is provided, comprising a switching circuit, a driving circuit, a co-control circuit, and an energy storage circuit; the switching circuit is coupled between a power source and the energy storage circuit, and is adapted to turn on or off the path between the power source and the energy storage circuit; the driving circuit is coupled to the co-control circuit and is adapted to output a driving signal; the co-control circuit is coupled to the power source, the driving circuit, and the switching circuit, and is configured to control the switching circuit to turn on or off based on the power source and the driving signal; the energy storage circuit is adapted to store energy.

[0026] Optionally, the switching circuit includes a field-effect transistor, with its first terminal coupled to the power supply, its second terminal coupled to the energy storage circuit, and its control terminal coupled to the co-control circuit.

[0027] Optionally, the field-effect transistor includes a PMOS transistor, with its source coupled to the power supply, its drain coupled to the energy storage circuit, and its gate coupled to the co-control circuit.

[0028] Optionally, the co-control circuit includes a first energy storage element and a regulating element; the first energy storage element is coupled to the drive circuit and the switching circuit and is adapted to store electrical energy; the regulating element is coupled to the first energy storage element and the switching circuit and is adapted to regulate the energy storage rate of the first energy storage element.

[0029] Optionally, the first energy storage element includes a first capacitor, and the regulating element includes a first resistor, wherein a first terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the driving circuit, and a second terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the switching circuit; a first terminal of the first resistor is coupled to one end of the switching circuit connected to the power supply, and a second terminal of the first resistor is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor.

[0030] Optionally, the energy storage circuit includes a second energy storage element and a third energy storage element; the second energy storage element is adapted to store magnetic energy; the third energy storage element is coupled to the second energy storage element and is adapted to store electrical energy; the second energy storage element and the third energy storage element are adapted to perform energy conversion.

[0031] Optionally, the second energy storage element includes an inductor, and the third energy storage element includes a second capacitor, wherein: a first end of the inductor is coupled to the switching circuit, and a second end of the inductor is coupled to the second capacitor.

[0032] Optionally, the energy storage circuit further includes a unidirectional conducting element; the unidirectional conducting element is coupled between the second energy storage element and the third storage element, and is adapted to unidirectionally conduct a path between the second energy storage element and the third storage element.

[0033] Optionally, the unidirectional conducting element includes a first diode.

[0034] Optionally, the charging circuit further includes a freewheeling circuit coupled to the second energy storage element and adapted to provide a current flow path.

[0035] Optionally, the freewheeling circuit includes a second diode, with its first terminal coupled to the switching circuit and its second terminal grounded.

[0036] Optionally, the charging circuit further includes a voltage limiting circuit, which is coupled to the co-control circuit and the switching circuit.

[0037] Optionally, the voltage limiting circuit includes a third diode, the first end of which is coupled to one end of the switching circuit connected to the power supply, and the second end of which is coupled to the co-control circuit.

[0038] In a seventh aspect, a chip is provided, including the charging circuit provided in the sixth aspect.

[0039] Eighthly, a lidar is provided, including the charging circuit provided in the sixth aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be introduced as examples below. The accompanying drawings described below are merely embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort. The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of this disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this disclosure to explain this disclosure and do not constitute a limitation of this disclosure.

[0041] Figure 1 shows a structural example of a lidar consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a structural example of a laser circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a structural example of a circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0044] Figure 4 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0045] Figure 5 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0046] Figure 6 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0047] Figure 7 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0048] Figure 8 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0049] Figure 9 shows an example structural diagram of an integrated circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0050] Figure 10 shows an example diagram of another integrated circuit structure consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0051] Figure 11 shows a structural example of another integrated circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0052] Figure 12 shows a structural example of a circuit for emitting lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0053] Figure 13 shows a structural example of a lidar consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0054] Figure 14 shows a schematic diagram of a charging circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0055] Figure 15 shows a schematic diagram of a switching circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0056] Figure 16 shows a schematic diagram of a co-control circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0057] Figure 17 shows a schematic diagram of a co-control circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0058] Figure 18 shows a schematic diagram of an energy storage circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0059] Figure 19 shows a schematic diagram of an energy storage circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0060] Figure 20 shows a schematic diagram of another charging circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0061] Figure 21 shows a schematic diagram of a freewheeling circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0062] Figure 22 shows a schematic diagram of another charging circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0063] Figure 23 shows a schematic diagram of a voltage limiting circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0064] Figure 24 shows a schematic diagram of a drive circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0065] Figure 25 shows a schematic diagram of a charging circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0066] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the specific implementation methods of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings or embodiments can be obtained based on these drawings or embodiments without creative effort. Adjustments and improvements made without departing from the concept of this disclosure are all within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0067] To keep the drawings simple, each figure only schematically shows the parts relevant to the embodiment, and they do not represent the actual structure of the product. In addition, for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding, only some structures or parts are schematically shown, and there may be more or fewer similar structures or parts in reality.

[0068] LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses laser light as a medium for object detection and has found applications in many fields. For example, LiDAR can be used in autonomous driving, industrial manufacturing, drones, robot recognition, geographic mapping, and environmental monitoring. Autonomous driving, also known as automated driving or assisted driving, includes any level of automated driving (e.g., L1-L5). In applications, LiDAR can be mounted on vehicles to provide them with perception data (e.g., point cloud data), enabling the vehicles to perform one or more functions such as analysis, decision-making, or control. Vehicles can include, but are not limited to, vehicles, manufacturing terminals, ships, aircraft (e.g., flying vehicles or drones), robots (e.g., industrial robots or home robots), or surveying equipment.

[0069] Figure 1 shows a structural example of a lidar consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to Figure 1, the lidar 100 includes a laser emitting system 110, a laser receiving system 120, and a control and processing system 130. In some embodiments, the lidar 100 may further include a scanning system 140, for example, a mechanical lidar or a semi-solid-state lidar may also include a scanning system 140. The scanning system 140 may include a scanner and a driving device, which can drive the scanner to perform movements such as rotation, oscillation, or vibration, so that the laser can scan at least one field of view in the vertical or horizontal field of view. For example, the laser is emitted through the scanner, and the movement of the scanner can change the emission path of the laser. Furthermore, the laser echo can be incident on the scanner and guided to the light receiving path. Embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the type of scanner; for example, the scanner may include, but is not limited to, rotating mirrors, tilting mirrors, galvanometers, or other devices that can direct the laser to different directions in the environment. For example, the scanning system 140 may include a rotating platform, and one or more electrical devices, circuits or optical elements such as a laser emitting system or a laser receiving system may be mounted on the rotating platform and, as the rotating platform rotates, achieve scanning of at least one field of view in the vertical or horizontal field of view.

[0070] The laser emitting system 110 can emit lasers. When the laser encounters an object 10, it is reflected back to the lidar 100; this reflected light is called an echo. The laser receiving system 120 can receive the echo and convert it into an electrical signal. This electrical signal is pre-processed to obtain echo data. The echo data is provided to the control and processing system 130. The control and processing system 130 processes the echo data to obtain sensing data (e.g., point cloud data). The control and processing system 130 can send the sensing data to the vehicle's control platform, which uses the sensing data to perform one or more functions such as analysis, decision-making, or control.

[0071] The laser emitting system 110 may include a laser emitting circuit and emitting optical elements. The laser emitting circuit may include a laser and a driving circuit. The laser emits laser light under the drive of the driving circuit, and the laser light exits through the emitting optical elements. The type of laser includes, but is not limited to, semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, or other types of lasers. Semiconductor lasers may include, but are not limited to, one or more of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), edge emitting lasers (EELs), distributed feedback lasers (DFBs), or similar devices.

[0072] The laser receiving system 120 may include receiving optical elements and a laser receiving circuit. The laser receiving circuit may include a detector and a readout circuit. The receiving optical elements can focus the echo reflected from an object onto the photosensitive surface of the detector. The detector uses the photoelectric effect to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal. The readout circuit is used to read out the electrical signal converted by the detector. In some embodiments, the laser receiving circuit may also include a gating circuit. The gating circuit can be used to selectively activate some or all of the detectors. The gated detector is in a state that can respond to the optical signal and can convert the echo into an electrical signal. The detector may be one or more of the following: a PIN photodiode (PINPD), an avalanche photodiode (APD), a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD), a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), or similar devices.

[0073] The emitting optical element, located along the laser emission path, can shape the emitted laser light and adjust its exit path. The receiving optical element, located along the laser reception path, can collect the echo reflected from the object 10 and converge the echo onto the photosensitive surface of the detector. For example, the emitting optical element includes, but is not limited to, one or more optical elements such as an emitting lens, a mirror, a homogenizer, or a beam splitter (e.g., a beam splitter). For example, the receiving optical element includes, but is not limited to, one or more optical elements such as a receiving lens, a mirror, a filter, or a beam splitter (e.g., a beam splitter). The emitting and receiving optical elements can be independent, partially multiplexed, or fully multiplexed.

[0074] The preprocessing circuit may include one or more of amplification circuits, filtering circuits, or sampling circuits to perform one or more preprocessing operations such as amplification, filtering, or sampling. The preprocessing circuit may be part of or independent of the laser receiving circuit. The amplification circuit may include an amplifier that amplifies the electrical signal converted by the detector. The filtering circuit may include a filter that removes noise or interference. The sampling circuit may include one or more of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a time-to-digital converter (TDC). For example, an ADC can convert an analog electrical signal into a digital signal representing the echo waveform by periodically sampling the detector output signal, thus obtaining echo data. Similarly, a TDC can measure the arrival time of the echo by sampling the time of the detector output signal, thus obtaining echo data. For instance, the current signal output by the detector can be converted into a voltage signal, which can be compared with a reference voltage to generate an over-threshold signal. The TDC measures the over-threshold time of the signal based on the received over-threshold signal, achieving time sampling and obtaining echo data. The echo data may include data reflecting one or more parameters such as echo time or echo intensity.

[0075] The control and processing system 130 can process the echo data to obtain sensing data. In some embodiments, the control and processing system 130 can also send control signals to the drive circuit to control the drive circuit to drive the laser to emit light. When the lidar 100 includes a scanning system 140, the control and processing system 130 can also control the scanning system 140. In some embodiments, the control and processing system 130 may include one or more processors. The processor includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), hardware circuit implemented by a programmable logic device (PLD), microcontroller unit (MCU), microprocessor unit (MPU), digital signal processor (DSP), or central processing unit (CPU). Hardware circuit implemented by a PLD includes, but is not limited to, field-programmable gate array (FPGA). When the control and processing system 130 includes multiple processors, the types of processors can be the same or different. For example, the control and processing system 130 may include an MCU and an FPGA. Another example is that the control and processing system 130 may include an MCU, an FPGA, and a DSP. For example, the control and processing system 130 may include a CPU and an FPGA. When the control and processing system 130 includes multiple processors, these processors may be configured separately, partially integrated, or fully integrated. In some embodiments, the control and processing system 130 may be implemented as a system-on-chip (SOC) or an ASIC.

[0076] Multiple lasers can be installed within a lidar system. In some embodiments, multiple lasers can share a driving circuit to reduce the cost and size of the lidar. However, sharing the driving circuit may cause a degradation in laser performance, or even laser malfunction.

[0077] For example, Figure 2 shows a structural example of a laser circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to Figure 2, the circuit 200 may include power supply branches 211-21n, lasers LD1-LDn, and a driving circuit 220. Here, n is the number of power supply branches (e.g., a power supply branch may include one or more lasers) or lasers, and n is a positive integer greater than 1. The driving circuit 220 includes a control circuit 221 and a switching circuit 222. The control circuit 221 can control the switching circuit 222 to be on or off. For example, the switching circuit 222 may include any type of switching device (e.g., a semiconductor switching device), which may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. The first electrode is a control terminal, connected to the control circuit 221, and receives control signals from the control circuit 221 to control the on or off state between the second and third electrodes. Types of semiconductor switching devices include, but are not limited to, metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors, bipolar transistors, or gallium nitride (GaN) transistors. Power supply branch 21i is connected between the power supply terminal Vs and the anode of laser LDi, where i∈[1,n]. Laser LD1-LDn uses a multiplexed drive circuit 220. Switching circuit 222 is connected between the cathode connection and ground terminal of laser LD1-LDn. Switching circuit 222 can turn the connection between laser LD1-LDn and the ground terminal on or off.

[0078] An energy storage element (e.g., a capacitor) is provided in the power supply branch 21i. During the power supply of laser LD1, the connection between the energy storage element in power supply branch 211 and the power supply terminal Vs is turned on, and the power supply terminal Vs charges the energy storage element. This energy storage element provides a positive voltage to the anode of laser LD1. During the emission time of laser LD1, control circuit 221 controls switch circuit 222 to close, a positive voltage exists at the anode of laser LD1, the cathode is grounded, and laser LD1 is turned on to emit light. At this time, the anodes of other lasers are not provided with a positive voltage by the power supply branch. Therefore, although the cathodes of other lasers are grounded, they cannot emit light. This achieves the effect of multiplexing the drive circuit for multiple lasers. The power supply and emission process for other lasers is similar to that of laser LD1.

[0079] Referring again to Figure 2, after the energy storage element in power supply branch 21i is charged and before switching circuit 222 is turned on, the cathode of laser LDi has a high voltage. This voltage acts on the cathodes of other lasers, effectively applying a reverse voltage to them. Taking laser LD1 as an example, assuming that the anode of laser LD1 has a voltage V1 under the action of power supply branch 211, then the cathode of LD1 has a voltage V1 before switching circuit 222 is turned on. Voltage V1 acts on the cathodes of other lasers (e.g., the cathodes of lasers LD2-LDn), resulting in a reverse voltage V1 between the cathode and anode of lasers LD2-LDn. The presence of this reverse voltage affects the performance of other lasers, especially when the laser's withstand voltage is low, potentially causing reverse breakdown and affecting the reliability of the laser emission system of the laser radar.

[0080] This disclosure provides a circuit, a lidar, and a vehicle for powering multiple lasers. The aim is to reduce the impact of drive circuit reuse on laser performance and improve circuit reliability through circuit design, so that the lidar using the circuit has more stable detection performance and the vehicle using the lidar has more reliable sensing performance.

[0081] Figure 3 shows a structural example of a circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to Figure 3, the circuit 300 includes a capacitor C1 (which may be referred to as a first capacitor for distinction), a capacitor C2 (which may be referred to as a second capacitor for distinction), a charging circuit 311 (which may be referred to as a first charging circuit for distinction), and a charging circuit 312 (which may be referred to as a second charging circuit for distinction), a switching circuit 320, and a current branch 330. Capacitor C1 is connected to the anode of laser LD1 (which may be referred to as a first laser for distinction). Capacitor C2 is connected to the anode of laser LD2 (which may be referred to as a second laser for distinction). The cathodes of laser LD1 and laser LD2 are connected. Charging circuit 311 is connected between a first power supply terminal Vs1 and capacitor C1 and is configured to charge capacitor C1 during a first charging time. Charging circuit 312 is connected between a second power supply terminal Vs2 and capacitor C2 and is configured to charge capacitor C2 during a second charging time. Switching circuit 320 is connected between the cathodes of lasers LD1 and LD2 and the first signal terminal S1, and is configured to turn on or off the connection between the cathodes of lasers LD1 and LD2 and the first signal terminal S1. Current branch 330 is connected between the cathodes of lasers LD1 and LD2 and the second signal terminal S2.

[0082] For ease of understanding and description, the circuit 300 described above is an example of powering two lasers, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. Circuit 300 may include two or more charging circuits and capacitors to power two or more lasers.

[0083] The first signal terminal S1 can be coupled to a first signal, which may include, for example, a positive voltage signal, a ground signal, or a negative voltage signal. This disclosure does not limit the magnitude of the first signal, as long as it is smaller than the voltage that the capacitor connected to the laser anode can provide to the laser, sufficient to create a forward bias across the laser terminals to excite the laser to emit light. For example, the magnitude of the positive voltage signal can be determined based on the forward voltage drop of the laser to ensure that the laser meets the emission conditions. In some embodiments, the first signal terminal S1 may include a ground terminal. This simplifies circuit implementation, reduces the number of signal sources required, reduces signal interference, and lowers circuit cost.

[0084] The second signal terminal S2 can be coupled to a second signal, which may include, for example, a positive voltage signal, a ground signal, or a negative voltage signal. This disclosure does not limit the magnitude of the second signal, as long as it is less than the voltage of the laser cathode, allowing current to flow from the laser cathode to the second signal terminal. In some embodiments, the second signal terminal S2 may include a ground terminal. This simplifies circuit implementation, reduces the number of signal sources required, decreases signal interference, and lowers circuit cost.

[0085] The switching circuit 320 can be controlled by the control circuit of the drive circuit. The description of the drive circuit can be found in the description of the above embodiments.

[0086] The first power supply terminal Vs1 and the second power supply terminal Vs2 can provide the same or different power supply voltages. For example, the first power supply terminal Vs1 and the second power supply terminal Vs2 can be the same or different power supply terminals. For example, in some embodiments, the first power supply terminal Vs1 and the second power supply terminal Vs2 are coupled to the same power supply voltage (for distinction, they can be referred to as the second power supply voltage). When the first power supply terminal Vs1 and the second power supply terminal Vs2 use the same power supply terminal or are coupled to the same power supply voltage, the implementation of the circuit can be simplified, the number of power supply terminals required for the circuit can be reduced, interference with the power supply signal can be reduced, and the cost of the circuit can be reduced.

[0087] When circuit 300 supplies power to laser LD1, charging circuit 311 charges capacitor C1, and switching circuit 320 is not turned on. After charging capacitor C1, its energy storage function can be used to provide a positive voltage to laser LD1. The charging time for capacitor C1 can be called the first charging time. The control and processing system of the lidar can control charging circuit 311 to complete charging of capacitor C1 before the emission time of laser LD1, i.e., the emission time of laser LD1 is after the first charging time. When the emission time of laser LD1 arrives, the control circuit of the drive circuit can control switching circuit 320 to turn on, and laser LD1 emits light under the excitation of the positive voltage. Similarly, when supplying power to laser LD2, charging circuit 312 charges capacitor C2, and switching circuit 320 is not turned on. After charging capacitor C2, its energy storage function can be used to provide a positive voltage to laser LD2. The charging time for capacitor C2 can be called the second charging time. The control and processing system of the lidar can control the charging circuit 312 to complete the charging of capacitor C2 before the emission time of laser LD2, that is, the emission time of laser LD2 is after the second charging time. When the emission time of laser LD2 arrives, the control circuit of the drive circuit can control the switching circuit 320 to turn on, and laser LD2 emits light under the excitation of a positive voltage.

[0088] This disclosure does not limit the duration of the first charging time and the second charging time. The first charging time and the second charging time can be the same or different. The capacitance values ​​of capacitors C1 and C2 can be the same or different. In some embodiments, lasers LD1 and LD2 can be the same type of laser, and capacitors C1 and C2 can be the same type of capacitor. This reduces circuit complexity and improves the emission consistency of the lidar. In some embodiments, lasers LD1 and LD2 can be different types of lasers, or capacitors C1 and C2 can be different types of capacitors.

[0089] Referring again to Figure 3, a current branch 330 is provided between the cathodes of lasers LD1 and LD2 and the second signal terminal S2. The current branch 330 provides a path for current flow during the charging process of capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) by charging circuit 311 (or charging circuit 312). The presence of the current branch reduces the voltage at the cathode of laser LD1 (or laser LD2). This reduces the magnitude of the reverse voltage acting on laser LD2 (or laser LD1), lowering the likelihood of reverse breakdown of laser LD2 (or laser LD1). The circuit for powering multiple lasers provided in this disclosure not only enables the reuse of drive circuits during laser power supply but also ensures laser performance stability and reduces the risk of reverse breakdown of the lasers.

[0090] In some embodiments, the switching circuit 320 may include a switching device. Similar to the description of the above embodiments, the switching device may include a semiconductor switching device. For example, a semiconductor switching device includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following devices: an N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor, an NPN transistor, an N-channel GaN transistor, a P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS), a PNP transistor, or a P-channel GaN transistor.

[0091] In some embodiments, the second signal terminal may be coupled to a positive voltage signal. The magnitude of this positive voltage signal is denoted as V2. The voltage provided by capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) is denoted as V1, where V1 is greater than V2, and the difference between V1 and V2 causes the current flowing through laser LD1 (or laser LD2) to be less than or equal to a preset current. This disclosure does not limit the magnitude of the preset current, as long as the preset current is sufficient to prevent laser LD1 (or laser LD2) from emitting light. For example, the preset current may be in the range of hundreds of microamps, such as 50uA, 100uA, 150uA, 200uA, or greater.

[0092] In some embodiments, a resistor may be included in the current branch 330. This resistor not only makes the current flowing through the laser more stable, but also improves the consistency of light output from different lasers.

[0093] Figure 4 shows an example structural diagram of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to Figure 4, the circuit 400 includes capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 411 and 412, a switching circuit 420, and a current branch 430. The descriptions of capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 411 and 412, and the switching circuit 420 are similar to those shown in the embodiment of Figure 3. The current branch 430 includes a resistor R1 (which may be referred to as the first resistor for distinction).

[0094] Resistor R1 provides a current path for laser LD1 (or laser LD2) during either the first or second charging time. This current creates a voltage drop across resistor R1, thereby reducing the voltage at the cathode of laser LD1 (or laser LD2). This reduces the reverse voltage acting on the cathode of laser LD2 (or laser LD1), lowering the likelihood of reverse breakdown in laser LD2 (or laser LD1). Choosing a resistor R1 with an appropriate value, such that the current in laser LD1 (or laser LD2) is less than the current required for laser emission, can reduce or prevent unintended emission of laser LD1 (or laser LD2) during either the first or second charging time. For example, during either the first or second charging time, the current flowing through laser LD1 (or laser LD2) is approximately I ≈ HV / R1, where HV represents the voltage supplied by capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2). If the threshold current for laser LD1 (or laser LD2) to emit light is Ith, then by selecting a resistor R1 with an appropriate resistance value so that I < Ith, it is possible to avoid unintended emission of laser LD1 (or laser LD2) during the first charging time or the second charging time.

[0095] This disclosure does not limit the size of resistor R1, as long as the current flowing through laser LD1 (or LD2) is less than or equal to a preset current (e.g., threshold current Ith). The description of the preset current can be referred to the description of the above embodiments.

[0096] Besides reducing the reverse voltage applied to the laser cathode, resistor R1 also provides a discharge path for capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2). During the charging intervals of capacitor C1 (or C2), the stored charge is released, ensuring that both charging cycles of the same capacitor have the same starting voltage, or that different capacitors have the same starting voltage. This allows the energy stored in the same capacitor to be the same or close, or the energy stored in different capacitors to be close or the same. Therefore, capacitor C1 (or C2) can provide the same or close forward voltage to their respective lasers, resulting in similar luminous intensities from different lasers and improving the consistency of the lidar's output light.

[0097] In addition, when the current branch includes resistor R1, the resistance value of resistor R1 is less affected by temperature and remains almost unchanged under different temperature conditions. This makes the current flowing through the laser more stable during the first charging time or the second charging time, which is beneficial to the stability of the circuit.

[0098] Figure 5 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to Figure 5, the circuit 500 includes capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 511 and 512, a switching circuit 520, and a current branch 530. The descriptions of capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 511 and 512, switching circuit 520, and current branch 530 are similar to those in the embodiments described above.

[0099] Charging circuit 511 may include switch M1 (referred to as the first switch for distinction). Charging circuit 512 may include switch M2 (referred to as the second switch for distinction). Switch M1 enables conduction control from the first power supply terminal to capacitor C1, and switch M2 enables conduction control from the second power supply terminal to capacitor C2. Charging circuits 511 and 512 may share the same or different power supply terminals Vs. Switches M1 and M2 can activate different charging circuits at different charging times. This simplifies circuit design, reduces the number of power supply terminals, and lowers circuit cost.

[0100] Charging circuit 511 may further include inductor L1 (referred to as the first inductor for distinction). Charging circuit 512 may further include inductor L2 (referred to as the second inductor for distinction). Charging circuit 511 may further include diode D2 (referred to as the second diode for distinction). Charging circuit 512 may further include diode D4 (referred to as the fourth diode for distinction). By configuring inductor L1 (or inductor L2) and the second diode D2 (or the fourth diode D4), a boost circuit can be formed with capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2), making the voltage of capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) greater than the voltage supplied by the power supply terminal Vs. The second diode D2 (or the fourth diode D4) provides a freewheeling path for current in inductor L1 (or inductor L2) during charging. In some embodiments, a switching transistor (e.g., a field-effect transistor or a bipolar transistor) can be used instead of the second diode D2 (or the fourth diode D4) to provide a freewheeling path for current in inductor L1 (or inductor L2).

[0101] Charging circuit 511 may also include diode D1 (which may be referred to as the first diode for distinction). Charging circuit 512 may also include diode D3 (which may be referred to as the third diode for distinction). Diode D1 (or diode D3) can prevent current from flowing in reverse, avoiding current flowing in reverse to the power supply terminal Vs after the voltage of capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) rises.

[0102] Referring to Figure 5, in some embodiments, inductor L1 can be coupled to a first power supply terminal (e.g., power supply terminal Vs) via switch M1. Inductor L1 and diode D1 are connected in series and between switch M1 and the anode of laser LD1. The cathode of diode D2 is connected between inductor L1 and switch M1, and the anode of diode D2 is coupled to a third signal terminal S3. Similarly, inductor L2 can be coupled to a second power supply terminal (e.g., power supply terminal Vs2) via switch M2. Inductor L2 and diode D3 are connected in series and between switch M2 and the anode of laser LD2. The cathode of diode D4 is connected between inductor L2 and switch M2, and the anode of diode D4 is coupled to a fourth signal terminal S4.

[0103] In the circuit 500 above, during the first charging time, switch circuit 520 is off, switch M1 is on, and the power supply terminal Vs charges capacitor C1 through charging circuit 511. After a period of time, switch M1 is off, diode D2 provides a freewheeling path for inductor L1, continuing to charge capacitor C1 until the current in inductor L1 drops to zero, and the voltage of capacitor C1 reaches its maximum. During the emission time of laser LD1, control switch circuit 520 is on, and capacitor C1 can provide a forward bias voltage to laser LD1, causing laser LD1 to emit light. During the second charging time, switch circuit 520 is off, switch M2 is on, and the power supply terminal Vs charges capacitor C2 through charging circuit 512. After a period of time, switch M2 is off, diode D4 provides a freewheeling path for inductor L2, continuing to charge capacitor C2 until the current in inductor L2 drops to zero, and the voltage of capacitor C2 reaches its maximum. During the emission time of laser LD2, control switch circuit 520 is turned on, and capacitor C2 provides a forward bias voltage to laser LD2, causing laser LD2 to emit light. The charging process of other charging circuits and the emission process of the laser are similar to the above.

[0104] This disclosure does not limit the connection order of inductor L1 and diode D1. For example, one end of inductor L1 can be connected to one end of switch M1, the other end of inductor L1 can be connected to the anode of diode D1, and the cathode of diode D1 can be connected to capacitor C1. Alternatively, the anode of diode D1 can be connected to one end of switch M1, the cathode of diode D1 can be connected to one end of inductor L1, and the other end of inductor L1 can be connected to capacitor C1. Similarly, this disclosure does not limit the connection order of inductor L2 and diode D3. For example, one end of inductor L2 can be connected to one end of switch M2, the other end of inductor L2 can be connected to the anode of diode D3, and the cathode of diode D3 can be connected to capacitor C2. Alternatively, the anode of diode D3 can be connected to one end of switch M2, the cathode of diode D3 can be connected to one end of inductor L2, and the other end of inductor L2 can be connected to capacitor C2. Diode D4 is connected in parallel with inductor L2.

[0105] In some embodiments, at least one of the third signal terminal S3 or the fourth signal terminal S4 is grounded. Similar to the embodiments described above, grounding design simplifies circuit implementation, reduces the number of signal sources required, lowers signal interference, and reduces circuit cost. In some embodiments, at least one of the third signal terminal S3 or the fourth signal terminal S4 is connected to a positive voltage, which is insufficient to turn on the laser and emit light. For example, connecting the third signal terminal S3 to a positive voltage can provide a positive voltage to the anode of laser LD1, thereby increasing the reverse voltage that the cathode of laser LD1 can withstand. Similarly, connecting the fourth signal terminal S4 to a positive voltage can provide a positive voltage to the anode of laser LD2, thereby increasing the reverse voltage that the cathode of laser LD2 can withstand. This further reduces the possibility of the laser being reverse-biased.

[0106] Figure 6 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to Figure 6, the circuit 600 includes capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 611 and 612, a switching circuit 620, and a current branch 630. The descriptions of capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 611 and 612, switching circuit 620, and current branch 630 are similar to those in the embodiments described above. The anode of laser LD1 is also coupled to a third power supply terminal Vs3, and the anode of laser LD2 is also coupled to a fourth power supply terminal Vs4. The third power supply terminal Vs3 can provide a positive voltage Vb1 to laser LD1, making the voltage (i.e., the reverse bias voltage) Vb1 across laser LD1... LD1 =V C2 -ΔV LD2 -Vb1 is used to further reduce the reverse bias voltage of laser LD1, protecting it from breakdown. Where V... C2 The voltage ΔV supplied by capacitor C2 to laser LD2 LD2This represents the voltage drop across the laser LD2. Similarly, the fourth power supply terminal Vs4 can provide a positive voltage Vb2 to the laser LD2, making the voltage (i.e., the reverse bias voltage) across the laser LD2 Vb2 equal to the voltage drop across the laser LD2. LD2 =V C1 -ΔV LD1 -Vb2 is used to further reduce the reverse bias voltage of laser LD2, protecting it from breakdown. Where V... C1 The voltage ΔV supplied by capacitor C1 to laser LD1 LD1 This represents the voltage drop across the laser LD1.

[0107] Referring again to Figures 5 and 6, the laser (e.g., laser LD1 or LD2) may possess parasitic inductance. Laser emission can cause the voltage of a capacitor (e.g., capacitor C1 or C2) to change from positive to negative. The potential of the third power supply terminal Vs3 is higher than that of capacitor C1. Vs3 charges capacitor C1 through diode D2, inductor L1, and diode D1, increasing the voltage of capacitor C1. This can cause laser LD1 to emit light unexpectedly, affecting the detection performance of the lidar. For example, laser LD1 may also emit light during the emission time of laser LD2. Similarly, the potential of the fourth power supply terminal Vs4 will also be higher than that of capacitor C2. Vs4 charges capacitor C2 through diode D4, inductor L2, and diode D3, increasing the voltage of capacitor C2. This can also cause laser LD2 to emit light unexpectedly, affecting the detection performance of the lidar.

[0108] In some embodiments, a power consumption circuit can be provided between capacitor C1 and the third power supply terminal Vs3, and a power consumption circuit can also be provided between capacitor C2 and the fourth power supply terminal Vs4, in order to reduce the generation of unexpected light emission and improve the detection performance of lidar.

[0109] Figure 7 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to Figure 7, the circuit 700 includes capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 711 and 712, a switching circuit 720, and a current branch 730. The descriptions of capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 711 and 712, switching circuit 720, and current branch 730 are similar to those in the embodiments described above. The circuit 700 may further include a power consumption circuit 741 (which may be referred to as a first power consumption circuit for distinction) and a power consumption circuit 742 (which may be referred to as a second power consumption circuit for distinction), wherein power consumption circuit 741 is connected between capacitor C1 and a third power supply terminal Vs3, and power consumption circuit 742 is connected between capacitor C2 and a fourth power supply terminal Vs4.

[0110] The power consumption circuit can dissipate the energy supplied to capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) by power supply terminal Vs3 (or power supply terminal Vs4), so that part of the energy supplied by power supply terminal Vs3 (or power supply terminal Vs4) is wasted in the form of heat in the power consumption circuit. This can reduce the voltage reached by capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) after laser LD1 (or laser LD2) emits light, and reduce the possibility of laser LD1 (or laser LD2) emitting light unexpectedly. Taking power consumption circuit 741 as an example, after laser LD1 emits light, assume that the voltage of capacitor C1 changes from HV1 to -HV2. At this time, the potential of the third signal terminal S3 is higher than the potential of capacitor C1, and the third signal terminal S3 can charge capacitor C1 through diode D2, inductor L1 and diode D1. At the same time, the third power supply terminal Vs3 charges capacitor C1 through power consumption circuit 741. In this process, some energy is consumed in the form of heat in power consumption circuit 741. This allows the voltage across capacitor C1 to be less than HV2. This lowers the anode voltage of laser LD1, reducing the risk of unintended emission from laser LD1 and improving the detection performance of the lidar. Similarly, the power consumption circuit 742 can dissipate the energy across capacitor C2, reducing unintended emission from laser LD2 and improving the detection performance of the lidar.

[0111] This disclosure does not limit the type of devices or circuit structure included in the power consumption circuit. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the power consumption circuit may include resistors, which is simple to implement and low in cost. For example, FIG8 shows a structural example of another circuit for powering multiple lasers, consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to FIG8, the circuit 800 includes capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 811 and 812, a switching circuit 820, and a current branch 830. The descriptions of capacitors C1 and C2, charging circuits 811 and 812, switching circuit 820, and current branch 830 are similar to those in the embodiments above. The first power consumption circuit may include resistor R2 (which may be referred to as the second resistor for distinction). The second power consumption circuit may include resistor R3 (which may be referred to as the third resistor for distinction). This disclosure does not limit the resistance value of resistor R2 (or resistor R3), as long as the energy consumed by the resistance is sufficient to make the voltage provided by capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) less than the turn-on voltage of laser LD1 (or laser LD2).

[0112] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring further to FIG8, circuit 800 may further include diode D5 (which may be referred to as the fifth diode for distinction) and diode D6 (which may be referred to as the sixth diode for distinction). Diode D5 is connected in series with the first power consumption circuit (e.g., resistor R2) between capacitor C1 and the third power supply terminal Vs3. Diode D6 is connected in series with the second power consumption circuit (e.g., resistor R3) between capacitor C2 and the fourth power supply terminal Vs4. Diode D5 or diode D6 can prevent capacitor C1 (or C2) from charging the third power supply terminal Vs3 or the fourth power supply terminal Vs4 after capacitor C1 (or C2) has finished charging, thereby avoiding affecting the light emission of laser LD1 (or LD2) and preventing damage to the third power supply terminal Vs3 or the fourth power supply terminal Vs4.

[0113] This disclosure does not limit the connection location of the diodes and power-dissipating circuits. For example, diode D5 and the first power-dissipating circuit (e.g., resistor R2) can be connected between the cathode of laser LD1 and the third signal terminal Vs3. Alternatively, diode D5 and the first power-dissipating circuit (e.g., resistor R2) can be connected between the anode of diode D1 and the third signal terminal Vs3. Similarly, diode D6 and the second power-dissipating circuit (e.g., resistor R3) can be connected between the cathode of laser LD2 and the fourth signal terminal Vs4; or, diode D6 and the second power-dissipating circuit (e.g., resistor R3) can be connected between the anode of diode D3 and the fourth signal terminal Vs4.

[0114] Furthermore, this disclosure does not limit the connection order and method of the diodes and power-consuming circuits. For example, the cathode of diode D5 is connected to the anode of laser LD1. The anode of diode D5 is connected to the third power supply terminal Vs3 through resistor R2. As another example, resistor R2 is connected to the anode of laser LD1. The cathode of diode D5 is connected to resistor R2, and the anode of diode D5 is connected to the third power supply terminal Vs3. Similarly, the cathode of diode D6 is connected to the anode of laser LD2, and the anode of diode D6 is connected to the fourth power supply terminal Vs4 through resistor R3. Alternatively, resistor R3 is connected to the anode of laser LD2, the cathode of diode D6 is connected to resistor R3, and the anode of diode D6 is connected to the fourth power supply terminal Vs4.

[0115] In some embodiments, the third power supply terminal Vs3 and the fourth power supply terminal Vs4 can be coupled to the same power supply voltage (which can be referred to as the first power supply voltage for clarity). This simplifies circuit design, reduces the number of power supply signals, and allows for a basically consistent power supply design for different lasers using a simple circuit design, thereby improving the consistency of laser output.

[0116] The switches shown in Figures 5-8 above are merely examples, and this disclosure does not limit the type of semiconductor switching device used. Furthermore, in any of the above embodiments, the other end of capacitor C1 or capacitor C2 can be grounded to simplify circuit design. In some other embodiments, the other end of capacitor C1 or capacitor C2 can also be coupled to a positive or negative voltage signal, and this disclosure is not limiting.

[0117] This disclosure also provides an integrated circuit. For example, FIG9 shows a structural example diagram of an integrated circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. The integrated circuit 900 may include a current branch 910, a power consumption circuit 920, and a power consumption circuit 930. The current branch 910 is connected between a first node J11 and a signal terminal J12. The first node J11 may be connected to the cathodes of lasers LD1 and LD2. The power consumption circuit 920 is connected between a power supply terminal J22 and a second node J21, and the second node J21 may be connected to the anode of laser LD1 and capacitor C1. The power consumption circuit 930 is connected between a power supply terminal J32 and a third node J31, and the third node J32 may be connected to the anode of laser LD2 and capacitor C2.

[0118] Signal terminal J12 may include, for example, the second signal terminal S2 in the above embodiments; power supply terminal J22 may include, for example, the third power supply terminal Vs3 in the above embodiments; and power supply terminal J32 may include, for example, the fourth power supply terminal Vs4 in the above embodiments.

[0119] In some embodiments, the current branch 910 may include a resistor R1.

[0120] In some embodiments, the power consumption circuit 920 may include resistor R2, and the power consumption circuit 920 may include resistor R3.

[0121] Figure 10 shows an example structural diagram of another integrated circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit 1000 further includes diodes D5 and D6. Diode D5 is connected in series with resistor R2 between power supply terminal J22 and second node J21; diode D6 is connected in series with resistor R3 between power supply terminal J32 and third node J31.

[0122] Figure 11 shows a structural example of another integrated circuit consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit 1100 further includes a switching circuit 1110; the switching circuit 1110 is connected between the first node J11 and the signal terminal J4. The switching circuit 1110 can turn on or off the connection between the first node J11 and the signal terminal J4. The signal terminal J4 may, for example, include the first signal terminal S1 in the above embodiments.

[0123] This disclosure also provides a circuit for emitting lasers. For example, FIG12 shows a structural example diagram of a circuit for emitting lasers consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. The circuit 1200 includes: a plurality of lasers LD1-LDN and a circuit 1210, where N is the number of lasers and is a positive integer greater than 1. Lasers LD1-LDN can emit lasers; circuit 1210 can supply power to lasers LD1-LDN.

[0124] This disclosure also provides a lidar. For example, FIG13 shows a structural example of a lidar consistent with some embodiments of this disclosure. Referring to FIG13, the lidar 1300 includes: a circuit 1310 for emitting laser, a laser receiving circuit 1320, and a processing circuit 1330 as provided in the above embodiments. The circuit 1310 can emit laser. The laser receiving circuit 1320 can receive the laser echo and convert the echo into an electrical signal, which is used to generate echo data. The processing circuit 1330 can process the echo data.

[0125] Some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a charging circuit. Referring to Figure 14, a schematic diagram of a charging circuit in some embodiments of this disclosure is shown. The charging circuit A includes a switching circuit A1, a co-control circuit A2, a driving circuit A3, and an energy storage circuit A4.

[0126] The switching circuit A1 is coupled between the power supply HV and the energy storage circuit A4, and is adapted to turn on or off the path between the power supply HV and the energy storage circuit A4.

[0127] The driving circuit A3 is coupled to the co-control circuit A2 and is adapted to output a driving signal.

[0128] The co-control circuit A2 is coupled to the power supply HV, the drive circuit A3 and the switch circuit A1, and can control the opening or closing of the switch circuit A1 based on the power supply HV and the drive signal.

[0129] The energy storage circuit A4 is suitable for storing energy.

[0130] By coupling a switching circuit between the power supply and the energy storage circuit to turn the path between them on or off, and through a co-control circuit and a drive circuit working in conjunction with the power supply to control the switching circuit's opening and closing, precise control of the charging process is achieved. This charging circuit reduces the impact of dead time on the charging circuit, allowing for faster control speeds to turn the switching circuit on or off, increasing the overall circuit's operating frequency and expanding its application range. By adjusting the drive signal frequency output by the drive circuit, it can be flexibly adapted to the operating requirements of various devices.

[0131] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the switching circuit may include a field-effect transistor, with its first terminal coupled to the power supply, its second terminal coupled to the energy storage circuit, and its control terminal coupled to the co-control circuit.

[0132] Field-effect transistors (FETs) have a fast response speed, allowing them to quickly turn the power supply and energy storage circuit on or off. FETs also have a long lifespan, which contributes to stable circuit operation. Furthermore, FETs are relatively inexpensive, thus reducing the overall circuit cost and facilitating mass production.

[0133] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to the schematic diagram of a switching circuit shown in FIG15, the switching circuit A1 may include a PMOS transistor P0, whose source S is coupled to the power supply HV, whose drain D is coupled to the energy storage circuit A4, and whose gate G is coupled to the co-control circuit A2.

[0134] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the switching circuit A1 may include an NMOS transistor, the source of which is coupled to a power supply, the drain of which is coupled to an energy storage circuit, and the gate of which is coupled to a co-control circuit A2.

[0135] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of a co-control circuit shown in FIG16, the co-control circuit A2 may include a first energy storage element A21 and an adjustment element A22, wherein the first energy storage element A21 is adapted to store electrical energy.

[0136] In some embodiments, referring to FIG16, the first energy storage element A21 is coupled to the drive circuit A3 and the switch circuit A1.

[0137] In some embodiments, the regulating element A22 is coupled to the first energy storage element A21 and the switching circuit A1, and is adapted to regulate the energy storage rate of the first energy storage element A21.

[0138] In some embodiments, referring to FIG16, the regulating element A22 is coupled to the first energy storage element A21 and the switching circuit A1, respectively.

[0139] The first energy storage element stores electrical energy supplied by the power source. The drive signal output by the drive circuit acts on the switching circuit through the first energy storage element, realizing the switching circuit's opening or closing. The regulating element is coupled to the switching circuit, providing accurate control over the switching circuit's closing, thus enabling precise control of the charging process. The regulating element, coupled to the first energy storage element, can adjust the energy storage rate of the first energy storage element, allowing the drive signal output by the drive circuit to accurately control the opening of the switching circuit through the first energy storage element, thereby precisely controlling the charging process. By setting the first energy storage element and the regulating element, the drive circuit can use a drive signal lower than the power supply voltage to control the opening or closing of the switching circuit. Furthermore, the control logic of the co-control circuit is simple, reducing the probability of failure and improving the reliability of the charging circuit.

[0140] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of a co-control circuit shown in FIG17, the co-control circuit A2 may include a first capacitor C1 and a first resistor R1.

[0141] The first terminal of the first capacitor C1 is coupled to the driving circuit A3, and its second terminal is coupled to the switching circuit A1;

[0142] The first resistor R1 has its first end coupled to the end of the switching circuit A1 connected to the power supply HV, and its second end coupled to the second end of the first capacitor C1.

[0143] The switching circuit can be precisely controlled to turn on or off by adjusting the first capacitor C1 and the first resistor R1. By setting the first capacitor C1 and the first resistor R1, the drive circuit can use a drive signal lower than the power supply voltage to control the switching circuit to turn on or off. The charging circuit in the above embodiment has a simple structure, good circuit stability, and low cost, and can be flexibly applied to various electronic devices.

[0144] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of an energy storage circuit shown in FIG18, the energy storage circuit A4 may include a second energy storage element A41 and a third energy storage element A42.

[0145] The second energy storage element A41 is suitable for storing magnetic energy.

[0146] In some embodiments, referring to FIG18, the second energy storage element A41 is coupled to the switching circuit A1 and is coupled to the power supply HV through the switching circuit A1. When the switching circuit A1 is turned on, the second energy storage element A41 can obtain electrical energy from the power supply HV and store it in the form of magnetic energy.

[0147] The third energy storage element A42 is coupled to the second energy storage element A41 and is suitable for storing electrical energy.

[0148] The second energy storage element and the third energy storage element are adapted to perform energy conversion.

[0149] By converting energy between a second energy storage element suitable for storing magnetic energy and a third energy storage element suitable for storing electrical energy, efficient, stable, and rapid charging of the third energy storage element can be achieved.

[0150] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of an energy storage circuit shown in FIG19, the energy storage circuit A4 may include an inductor L and a second capacitor C2.

[0151] The first end of the inductor L is coupled to the switching circuit A1, and its second end is coupled to the second capacitor C2.

[0152] By constructing an LC resonant charging circuit using an inductor and a second capacitor, an efficient, stable, and fast charging process can be achieved.

[0153] In some embodiments of this disclosure, continuing to refer to FIG18, the energy storage circuit A4 may further include a unidirectional conducting element A43.

[0154] A unidirectional conducting element A43 is coupled between the second energy storage element A41 and the third energy storage element A42, and is adapted to unidirectionally conduct the path between the second energy storage element A41 and the third energy storage element A42.

[0155] By using a unidirectional conducting element to unidirectionally conduct the path between the second energy storage element and the third energy storage element, the voltage on the third energy storage element can be maintained after the third energy storage element has completed energy storage.

[0156] In some embodiments of this disclosure, continuing to refer to FIG19, the energy storage circuit A4 further includes a first diode D1.

[0157] The circuit uses a diode to unidirectionally conduct the path between the second energy storage element and the third energy storage element, which is low in cost and has a simple structure, thus improving the stability of the charging circuit.

[0158] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of another charging circuit shown in FIG20, the charging circuit A further includes a freewheeling circuit A5. The freewheeling circuit A5 is coupled to the second energy storage element A41 and is adapted to provide a current flow path.

[0159] When the switching circuit is turned off, the freewheeling circuit can maintain the current flow in the second energy storage element, thereby ensuring the stability of the circuit and reducing the charging efficiency loss caused by current interruption, thus improving the charging efficiency.

[0160] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of a freewheeling circuit shown in FIG21, the freewheeling circuit A5 may include a second diode D2, the first end of which is coupled to the switching circuit A1, and the second end of which is grounded.

[0161] Using a second diode for freewheeling offers high reliability and stability. Furthermore, the diode has a lower cost, which helps reduce the overall cost of the charging circuit.

[0162] In some embodiments of this disclosure, continuing to refer to FIG21, the freewheeling circuit A5 may further include a second resistor R2. The first terminal of the second resistor R2 is coupled to the switching circuit A1, and its second terminal is grounded.

[0163] By setting a second resistor in the freewheeling circuit, a ground potential can be provided to the switching circuit when the second diode is turned off after the freewheeling circuit has completed its freewheeling operation, so that the devices in the switching circuit can work normally.

[0164] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of another charging circuit shown in FIG22, the charging circuit A may further include a voltage limiting circuit A6. The voltage limiting circuit A6 is coupled to the co-control circuit A2 and the switching circuit A1.

[0165] By setting a voltage limiting circuit between the co-control circuit and the switching circuit, the voltage difference between the control terminal connected to the switching circuit and the input terminal connected to the power supply can be limited. After the charging circuit is powered on, the drive signal output by the drive circuit can normally control the switching circuit to open through the co-control circuit, and can also protect the switching circuit to improve the stability of the charging circuit.

[0166] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of a voltage limiting circuit shown in FIG23, the voltage limiting circuit A6 may include a third diode D3. The first terminal of the third diode D3 is coupled to the end of the switching circuit A1 connected to the power supply HV, and its second terminal is coupled to the co-control circuit A2.

[0167] Because diodes have a clamping function, they can limit the peak voltage in the control circuit. Therefore, the voltage applied to the switching circuit can be effectively stabilized through the third diode, so that the switching circuit can be turned on normally and controlled after the charging circuit is powered on. It can also protect the safety of the devices in the switching circuit. Moreover, its structure is simple and its cost is low.

[0168] In some embodiments of this disclosure, referring to a schematic diagram of a driving circuit shown in FIG24, the driving circuit A3 may include a signal generating element A31. The signal generating element A31 is adapted to output a control signal.

[0169] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the control signal may include a pulse signal.

[0170] In some embodiments, the control signal may include a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal.

[0171] The signal execution element A32 is coupled to the signal generation element A31 and is adapted to output a drive signal based on the control signal.

[0172] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the signal actuation element may include a gate driver.

[0173] In some embodiments, the signal execution element may include an amplifier.

[0174] The present disclosure does not limit the combination relationship between different embodiments of the circuits, and different embodiments of different circuits can be arbitrarily combined.

[0175] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand and implement the embodiments of this disclosure, the charging process of the charging circuit described in the above embodiments is illustrated below through specific examples.

[0176] Referring to Figure 25, a schematic diagram of a charging circuit in some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The charging circuit includes a switching circuit A1, a co-control circuit A2, a driving circuit A3, an energy storage circuit A4, a freewheeling circuit A5, a voltage limiting circuit A6, and a power supply HV.

[0177] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the switching circuit A1 includes a PMOS transistor P0. The source S of the PMOS transistor P0 is coupled to the power supply HV, its drain D is coupled to the energy storage circuit A4, and its gate G is coupled to the co-control circuit A2.

[0178] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the co-control circuit A2 may include a capacitor C1 and a resistor R1. A first terminal of capacitor C1 is coupled to the drive circuit A3. A second terminal of capacitor C1 is coupled to the switching circuit A1. A first terminal of resistor R1 is coupled to the source S of the PMOS transistor P0. A second terminal of resistor R1 is coupled to the second terminal of capacitor C1.

[0179] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the driving circuit A3 may include a pulse signal generator Vp and a gate driver Gd. The pulse signal generator Vp may be coupled to the gate driver Gd.

[0180] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the energy storage circuit A4 may include an inductor L, a diode D1, and a capacitor C2. Diode D1 may be coupled between inductor L and capacitor C2. A first terminal of inductor L may be coupled to the switching circuit A1.

[0181] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the freewheeling circuit A5 may include a diode D2 and a resistor R2. The first terminal of diode D2 may be coupled to the switching circuit A1. The second terminal of diode D2 may be grounded. The first terminal of resistor R2 may be coupled to the drain D of the PMOS transistor P0. The second terminal of resistor R2 may be grounded.

[0182] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the voltage limiting circuit A6 may include a diode D3. The first terminal of diode D3 may be coupled to the end of the PMOS transistor P0 connected to the power supply HV. The second terminal of diode D3 may be coupled to the co-control circuit A2.

[0183] In some embodiments, the pulse signal generator Vp is coupled to the gate driver Gd. The first terminal of capacitor C1 is coupled to the gate driver Gd. The second terminal of capacitor C1 is coupled to the gate G of PMOS transistor P0. The first terminal of resistor R1 is coupled to the power supply HV. The second terminal of resistor R1 is coupled to the second terminal of capacitor C1. The first terminal of diode D3 is coupled to the source S of PMOS transistor P0. The second terminal of diode D3 is coupled to the second terminal of capacitor C1. The source S of PMOS transistor P0 is coupled to the power supply HV. The drain D of PMOS transistor P0 is coupled to the first terminal of diode D2. The second terminal of diode D2 is grounded. The first terminal of inductor L is coupled to the drain D of PMOS transistor P0. The second terminal of inductor L is coupled to capacitor C2. The first terminal of resistor R2 is coupled to inductor L. The second terminal of resistor R2 is grounded. Diode D2 is coupled between inductor L and capacitor C2.

[0184] When the charging circuit is powered on, before the pulse signal generator Vp outputs the control signal, resistor R1 makes the gate voltage of PMOS transistor P0 equal to the source voltage, and PMOS transistor P0 remains in the off state.

[0185] When the charging circuit starts operating, the pulse signal generator Vp outputs a high level, causing the gate driver Gd to output a high level, for example, a high level with an amplitude of 5V. Due to the presence of diode D3, the voltage on the right side of capacitor C1 rises to HV + Vdiode, where Vdiode is the forward voltage drop of diode D3. The presence of diode D3 reduces the possibility of damage to the PMOS transistor P0 due to excessive gate voltage.

[0186] When the output signal of the pulse signal generator Vp switches from a high level to a low level, the gate driver Gd also outputs a low level, for example, from a high level with an amplitude of 5V to a low level with an amplitude of 0V. This pulls the potential of the gate G of the PMOS transistor P0 to HV+Vdiode-5V, at which point the channel of the PMOS transistor P0 is turned on, and the inductor L and capacitor C2 begin to charge. The power supply HV charges the capacitor C1 through the resistor R1. To prevent the voltage on the right side of capacitor C1 from rising and causing the PMOS transistor P0 to turn off before the output signal of the pulse signal generator Vp switches to a high level, an appropriate value for R1 can be selected so that the RC time constant of the resistor R1 and capacitor C1 is greater than the switching period of the pulse signal generator Vp.

[0187] When the output signal of the pulse signal generator Vp switches from low to high, the gate driver Gd also outputs a high level. For example, switching from a low level with an amplitude of 0V to a high level with an amplitude of 5V, the potential of the gate G of PMOS transistor P0 is clamped to a voltage amplitude of HV+Vdiode by diode D3. Diode D3 prevents damage to PMOS transistor P0 due to an excessive voltage difference between the gate G and the source S. At this time, the channel of PMOS transistor P0 is closed, and inductor L begins to freewheel through capacitor C2 and diode D2. The voltage of capacitor C2 will further increase until the current of inductor L becomes 0A. When the voltage of capacitor C2 reaches its maximum value, charging is complete. Diode D1 is reverse-biased and cut off. After this, a fixed potential can be given to the drain D of PMOS transistor P0 through resistor R2.

[0188] The switching circuit can use a single field-effect transistor (e.g., a gallium nitride field-effect transistor) to implement the charging process, resulting in lower circuit costs. Because it can use a single field-effect transistor, compared to charging circuits with half-bridge or full-bridge drive circuits, the charging circuit disclosed herein has no dead time, allowing for more precise control of the charging process, improved efficiency, and the ability to use higher frequencies for the drive signal, thus expanding its application range.

[0189] This disclosure also provides a chip in some embodiments, on which any of the charging circuits described in the foregoing embodiments can be integrated.

[0190] The chip described in the above embodiments can be easily integrated into various devices. Since the charging circuit can precisely control the charging process and has a high operating frequency, it can reduce energy loss during the charging process and improve charging efficiency. In addition, it can also reduce the complexity of the device and reduce costs.

[0191] For example, the chip can be integrated into mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, portable audio devices, etc., to improve the charging efficiency of the device and thus extend the lifespan of the mobile device.

[0192] For example, the chip can be integrated into an autonomous driving system to provide stable voltage and current for various sensing devices in the system, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the sensing devices. At the same time, due to the high charging efficiency of the chip, the lifespan of the sensing devices can be extended.

[0193] It is understood that the above application scenarios are only illustrative examples, and the present disclosure does not impose specific limitations on the application scenarios of the chip.

[0194] This disclosure also provides a lidar, including the charging circuit described in any of the above embodiments.

[0195] The lidar described in the above embodiments offers several advantages. First, the charging circuit can precisely control the charging process and operates at a high frequency, thus reducing energy loss during charging, improving charging efficiency, and extending the lidar's lifespan while lowering operating costs. Second, the charging circuit provides stable voltage and current to the lidar, ensuring its accurate operation. In this disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, ordinal numbers, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish and describe related objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying the relative importance or order between related objects. Furthermore, ordinal numbers do not represent the number of related objects. For example, "first lidar" may include one lidar or multiple lidars.

[0196] "Multiple" includes two or more, and other classifiers are similar.

[0197] The terms "or" and "and / or" in this disclosure are used to describe relationships between related objects, indicating a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, "A and / or B" and "A or B" can both include: "A alone," "B alone," or "A and B," where "A" and "B" can include a single object or multiple objects. Similarly, "A, B and / or C," "A, B or C," and "A, B and C" can both include: "A alone," "B alone," "C alone," "A and B," "A and C," "B and C," or "A, B and C," where "A," "B," and "C" can include a single object or multiple objects. Additionally, the " / " in this disclosure is used to indicate an "or" relationship between related objects. The meanings of "at least one of A or B" and "one or more of A and B" in this disclosure are the same as the meaning of "A or B" above. The meanings of "one or more of A, B, and C" and "at least one of A, B, or C" are the same as the meaning of "A, B, or C" above. The meaning of "one or more of A, B, and C" is the same as the meaning of "A, B, or C" above.

[0198] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "coupled" should be interpreted broadly, for example, as electrical, communication, or mechanical connections; they can be direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0199] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis. Parts not described in detail or in a particular embodiment can be referred to in the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. Furthermore, the above embodiments can be freely combined as needed.

Claims

1. A circuit for powering a plurality of lasers, the plurality of lasers including a first laser and a second laser, the circuit comprising: The first capacitor is connected to the anode of the first laser; The second capacitor is connected to the anode of the second laser, and the cathode of the first laser is connected to the cathode of the second laser; A first charging circuit is connected between a first power supply terminal and the first capacitor and is configured to charge the first capacitor during a first charging time. The second charging circuit is connected between the second power supply terminal and the second capacitor and is configured to charge the second capacitor during the second charging time. A switching circuit, connected between the cathodes of the first laser and the second laser and the first signal terminal, is configured to turn on or off the connection between the cathodes of the first laser and the second laser and the first signal terminal; The current branch is connected between the cathodes of the first laser and the second laser and the second signal terminal.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The current branch includes a first resistor.

3. The circuit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one of the first signal terminal or the second signal terminal is grounded.

4. The circuit according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The first charging circuit includes a first switch, a first inductor, a first diode, and a second diode; the first inductor is coupled to the first power supply terminal through the first switch, the first inductor and the first diode are connected in series between the first switch and the anode of the first laser, the cathode of the second diode is connected between the first inductor and the first switch, and the anode of the second diode is coupled to a third signal terminal; The second charging circuit includes a second switch, a second inductor, a third diode, and a fourth diode; the second inductor is coupled to the second power supply terminal through the second switch, the second inductor and the third diode are connected in series between the second switch and the anode of the second laser, the cathode of the fourth diode is connected between the second inductor and the second switch, and the anode of the fourth diode is coupled to the fourth signal terminal.

5. The circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that, At least one of the third signal terminal or the fourth signal terminal is grounded.

6. The circuit according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The anode of the first laser is also coupled to a third power supply terminal; the anode of the second laser is also coupled to a fourth power supply terminal.

7. The circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: A first power consumption circuit is connected between the first capacitor and the third power supply terminal; The second power consumption circuit is connected between the second capacitor and the fourth power supply terminal.

8. The circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first power consumption circuit includes a second resistor; the second power consumption circuit includes a third resistor.

9. The circuit according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, Also includes: The fifth diode is connected in series with the first power consumption circuit between the first capacitor and the third power supply terminal; The sixth diode is connected in series with the second power consumption circuit between the second capacitor and the fourth power supply terminal.

10. The circuit according to any one of claims 6-9, characterized in that, The third power supply terminal and the fourth power supply terminal are coupled to the first power supply voltage.

11. The circuit according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal are coupled to the second power supply voltage.

12. An integrated circuit, comprising: A current branch is connected between a first node and a second signal terminal, wherein the first node is configured to connect the cathode of a first laser and the cathode of a second laser. A first power consumption circuit is connected between a third power supply terminal and a second node, wherein the second node is configured to connect the anode of the first laser and a first capacitor; A second power consumption circuit is connected between a fourth power supply terminal and a third node, wherein the third node is configured to connect the anode of the second laser and the second capacitor.

13. The integrated circuit according to claim 12, characterized in that, The current branch includes a first resistor.

14. The integrated circuit according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The first power consumption circuit includes a second resistor, and the second power consumption circuit includes a third resistor.

15. The integrated circuit according to any one of claims 12-14, characterized in that, Also includes: The first diode is connected in series with the first power consumption circuit between the third power supply terminal and the second node; The second diode is connected in series with the second power consumption circuit between the fourth power supply terminal and the third node.

16. The integrated circuit according to any one of claims 12-15, characterized in that, Also includes: A switching circuit is connected between the first node and the second signal terminal.

17. A circuit for emitting laser light, comprising: Multiple lasers are configured to emit lasers; The circuit as described in any one of claims 1-11 is configured to supply power to the plurality of lasers.

18. A lidar, comprising: The circuit as described in claim 17 is configured to emit a laser; A laser receiving circuit is configured to receive the echo of the laser and convert the echo into an electrical signal, the electrical signal being used to generate echo data; The processing circuit is configured to process the echo data.

19. A vehicle, characterized in that, Including the lidar as described in claim 18.

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