NEWS & EVENTS

Solid-State LiDAR

Publisher:webmaster   Release time:2019-09-26   Browsing volume:5447


Solid-state LiDAR is LiDAR on a microchip.
For example: The computer microchip took all the separate transistors, resistors, and capacitors necessary for a working computer and integrated them into a single silicon chip.

Solid-state LiDAR does the same thing for LiDAR, integrating its separate mechanical parts into a single microchip.

How Solid-State LiDAR Works
In order to achieve a scan, solid-state LiDAR uses a concept not unlike phased array in radio.
In phased array, several transmitters emit in certain patterns and phases to create a directional broadcast.
The size, focus, and direction of this broadcast can be changed, without having to physically adjust the transmitters.
The very same concept is applied in solid-state LiDAR to achieve optical phased array (OPA): optical emitters send out bursts of photons in specific patterns and phases to create directional emission, of which the focus and size can be adjusted.
Once again, no physical adjustment to the optical emitters need to be made to achieve this, making it resilient to vibrations and more compact.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Solid-State LiDAR



In the future, solid-state, miniaturization, and low-cost will be the development trend of laser radar, but at present, mechanical laser radar is still the mainstream.



After years of development, the basic framework of solid-state lidar is clear, the following are the current mainstream three options:


1- Micro-ElectroMechanical System (MEMS)
Which uses micro-mirrors to directionally control emission and focus.
Though mirror to achieve vertical one-dimensional scanning, then horizontal rotating machine with 360 degree to complete horizontal scanning.


2- Optical Phased Array (OPA)
It mainly used multiple light sources to make an array, the main beam having a specific direction is synthesized by controlling the difference in illumination time of each light source.
With controlling, the main beam can scan the target in different directions.


3- Flash
The principle of Flash Lidar is also flashing. It does not scan like MEMS or OPA.
Instead, it directly emits a large laser that covers the detection area in a short time, and then completes the surrounding environment with a highly sensitive receiver, then drawing of images.



For more info please feel free to contact LPO!



References:

1- https://www.spar3d.com/blogs/the-other-dimension/vol13no50-solid-state-lidar-a-new-era-of-3d-scanning/
2- https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/solid-state-lidar-faster-cheaper-better/