SPL PL90 Laser Diode Rangefinders

ams OSRAM's laser diodes set the standard for automotive time-of-flight (ToF)-based sensors in automotive applications such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and to support adaptive cruise control (ACC). Modern applications include indoor and outdoor robots, drones, and parking lot monitoring. These applications need a cost- and data-efficient method to determine if there are objects in a certain range or a specific object in a particular direction.

By using different optic setups, either a very large field of view in proximity to the laser or a distant object in a specific direction can be sampled and scanned. A distance of up to 1 km or 3,300 ft is possible with the right set-up.

In order to increase accuracy, a very short but powerful light pulse must be produced. An optimal value is 75 W laser light output in a few nanoseconds. A fast and silent power supply must be used as close to the laser diode as possible. A proof-of-concept with step-by-step instructions is available to be downloaded for the SPL PL90_3. These instructions apply to the SPL PL90 as well, for less power demanding applications.

The laser SPL LL90_3 is for wide-range, short distance sensing and it includes a driver circuit close to the laser diode to enable a very short and powerful pulse with relatively simple power electronics. More instructions can be downloaded from the application notes listed below:

SPL PL90_3 Proof of Concept Rangefinder