In recent years, the adoption of LiDAR has been increasing in various applications requiring automation, such as ADAS for automobiles, AGVs, drones, and robotic vacuum cleaners, facilitating precise distance measurement and spatial recognition. To detect information at greater distances with greater accuracy, laser diodes are needed to serve as light sources, achieving high-kW output while allowing multiple light sources to emit light at close intervals.
ROHM has established its own patented technology that achieves the fine emission width of lasers, improving long-range, high-precision LiDAR, starting with the commercialization of the 25W output RLD90QZW5 in 2019 and the high-power 120W RLD90QZW8 in 2023. Based on these successes, we have developed a new 125W, 8-channel array-type product (1kW class) that meets the demand for a high-output, high-performance laser diode.
The RLD8BQAB3 is an ultra-compact, high-power, 125 W × 8-channel surface-mount infrared laser diode for LiDAR applications using 3D ToF systems for distance measurement and spatial recognition. The optimized design features eight emission areas (each 300 µm wide) per element, mounted on a submount attached to a high-heat-dissipation substrate.
The emission surface of the encapsulated laser incorporates a transparent glass cap—an industry first for a surface-mount laser diode—which eliminates the risk of light scattering caused by scratches during die-cutting, a common issue with resin-encapsulated products, ensuring high beam quality. Each emission zone is wired with a common cathode, allowing for selection of the irradiation method based on application requirements: from individual emission, which increases the number of light-emitting points, to industry-leading* simultaneous emission with ultra-high power levels of 1 kW.
The new product retains the key characteristics of ROHM's conventional laser diodes, including uniform emission intensity across the entire emission bandwidth and a low wavelength-temperature dependence of 0.1 nm/°C (compared to 0.26 to 0.28 nm/°C for standard products). Furthermore, the array configuration narrows the regions of reduced emission intensity between channels, while the bandpass filter minimizes the effects of ambient light noise from the sun and other sources, contributing to long-range detection and high-definition LiDAR.
Samples are available from August 2024 (please contact a sales representative or visit the contact page on the ROHM website).
Range of high-power laser diodes for LiDAR
Examples of applications
: Automotive: ADAS;
Consumer: Drones, robotic vacuum cleaners, golf rangefinders, etc.;
Industry: AGVs, service robots, 3D monitoring systems (sensors for detecting people/objects), etc.
