Integrated VCSEL SPAD LIDAR Sensor Merging Emitters and Detectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LIDAR sensors for autonomous vehicles are technologically complex and costly, making them unsuitable for mass-market adoption due to high manufacturing costs and reliability issues related to the number of separate components and precision alignment requirements.
Innovation Solution
The use of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) as illumination sources and single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, integrated using standard CMOS processes, along with optical components like lenses, filters, and an aperture layer, to simplify manufacturing and reduce component count, enabling simultaneous measurements and improved reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple separate laser emitter and photodiode detector pairs are used to provide sufficient coverage and resolution for autonomous vehicles, then measurement precision and field of view are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser emitter pairs and photodiode detector pairs into a single integrated LIDAR sensor unit. The emitters are mounted on a first circuit board and detectors on a second circuit board, with both boards integrated into one housing with shared optical components (lenses, filters, aperture layer), eliminating the need for separate sensor units for each emitter-detector pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal optical path that serves multiple emitter-detector pairs simultaneously. A single aperture layer and filter structure handle light from all emitters, and a common optical path collects reflected light for all detectors, allowing one optical system to perform multiple measurement functions at once.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate laser emitter and photodiode detector pairs are used to achieve sufficient resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple emitter-detector pairs into a single manufactured unit. By integrating all emitters, detectors, and optical components into one sensor assembly, the patent enables batch manufacturing of complete LIDAR sensors rather than assembling multiple separate sensors, significantly reducing per-unit manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing approach from producing multiple separate sensor units to producing a single integrated sensor unit with multiple functional pairs. This parameter change in the manufacturing process allows for economies of scale and reduced assembly complexity, lowering overall manufacturing costs while maintaining high resolution.
3Measurement precision
If precision alignment of multiple separate components is required, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all alignment-critical components (emitters, detectors, aperture layer, filters) into a single integrated assembly with common mounting structures. This eliminates the need for precision alignment between multiple separate sensor units, reducing the number of potential failure points while maintaining measurement precision through the integrated design.
4Ease of manufacture
If fewer laser emitter and photodiode detector pairs are used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but measurement precision and resolution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple emitter-detector pairs into a single cost-effective unit. By sharing optical components and using a common housing and circuit board structure, the patent achieves the functionality of multiple sensors at the cost of one integrated unit, improving resolution without proportionally increasing manufacturing cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces manufacturing costs and increases reliability, allowing for the development of LIDAR sensors with sufficient resolution and range for autonomous vehicles at a price point that enables wide adoption in mass-market vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
Each sense channel includes a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) that emits a laser beam
Implementation Method 2
LIDAR systems measure distance to a target by illuminating the target with a pulsed laser light and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor. Time-of-flight measurements can then be used to make a digital 3D-representation of the target
Implementation Method 3
an array of single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors that detect photons reflected from the target
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system for collecting distance information within a field is provided. The optical system may include lenses for collecting photons from a field and may include lenses for distributing photons to a field. The optical system may include lenses that collimate photons passed by an aperture, optical filters that reject normally incident light outside of the operating wavelength, and pixels that detect incident photons. The optical system may further include illumination sources that output photons at an operating wavelength.