Rohm, the Japan-based semiconductor company and the industry’s largest producer of laser diodes, has recently come out with a new and exciting contribution: the RLD8BQAB3 infrared laser diode. This new laser diode, designed for high precision and long-range sensing, is poised to enhance applications such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous vehicles, and drones.
Key Innovations of the RLD8BQAB3 Laser Diode:
300-Micrometer Uniform Emission Width: Each emission area in the diode maintains consistent intensity across its width, minimizing the intensity drop between channels. The result? No more annoying blind spots and more reliable sensing, especially at longer distances. It’s a game-changer for clearer, sharper lidar mapping.
8-Channel Array Design: Think bigger power and better flexibility. Each channel delivers 125W, and when combined, they create a powerful 1kW output. This setup not only boosts range but also improves resolution. Plus, it allows the diode to handle both independent and simultaneous emissions, giving designers more options for customizing their lidar systems.
Clear Glass Cap: Unlike traditional resin-encapsulated designs prone to scratches, the glass cap prevents light scattering and maintains beam quality over time, preventing light scattering that could affect detection accuracy. A scratch-free solution means long-lasting, top-notch performance.
Compact Surface-Mount Form Factor: The RLD8BQAB3 measures just 3.3mm × 5.6mm, packing serious power into a tiny footprint. This space-saving design allows it to fit neatly into smaller lidar modules, perfect for today’s sleek and sophisticated systems.
Low Wavelength Temperature Dependence: With a dependence of only 0.1nm/°C (compared to 0.26–0.28nm/°C for standard diodes), it ensures stable performance across varying temperatures, critical for automotive and outdoor applications.
Minimized Ambient Light Interference: A built-in bandpass filter enhances signal clarity by allowing only signals within a specific wavelength range to pass through, blocking ambient light outside this range that can cause additional reflections or noise in the lidar sensor’s detector. This ensures cleaner, more accurate data in a wider range of environments.
With these improvements, this diode is poised to transform sensing technology in self-driving vehicles. Enhanced range, precision, and reliability are essential for the future of autonomous driving, and Rohm is stepping up to deliver it.
Learn more about how Rohm’s innovative laser diode HERE
Want to check out some other cool diodes? HERE is a Lidar News Article about the Avalanche Photodiode
