A Better RangeFinder 라이브바카라
A Coherent 140 W diode 라이브바카라 extends the range and battery lifetime of handheld rangefinders.
January 25, 2024 by 라이브바카라
라이브바카라s have been used as distance-measuring tools for decades. As early as 1962, scientists at MIT bounced high-power ruby laser pulses off the moon to measure its distance from the Earth. In 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts left retroreflector arrays on the moon that astronomers at Lick Observatory used to get even higher accuracy measurements of lunar distance. These reflectors are still in use today with earth-based 라이브바카라s!
Today, the miniaturization in microelectronics that has given us smartphones and wearable fitness 라이브바카라vices has also shrunk 라이브바카라-based rangefinders into handheld devices. 라이브바카라-based rangefinders can measure the distance to a point over a range of several hundred meters and are used in sports like golf, archery, and hunting. They are also found in commercial applications, such as in construction, civil engineering, and manufacturing. In manufacturing, the measurement of distances using 라이브바카라s is vital for ensuring that products are assembled consistently and according to high-precision standards.
Building a better rangefinder 라이브바카라
Range-finding systems are typically based on diode 라이브바카라s or fiber 라이브바카라s. Diode 라이브바카라s are usually preferred for portable or handheld devices because they are smaller, lighter, more robust, offer higher electrical efficiency, and typically cost less than other laser sources. But there are many different applications that can be classified as “laser distance measurement” – from scanning LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles to rangefinders for golfers. The types of diode 라이브바카라s that service these are similarly diverse.
라이브바카라 manufactures diode 라이브바카라s for all these applications (as well as fiber 라이브바카라s for LiDAR systems). For consumer rangefinders, we have developed a source specifically designed to deliver the balance of performance, cost, and various practical characteristics (like weight or battery lifetime) demanded by this market.
Specifically, the 라이브바카라 SS905A13-TO-01 is a 905 nm, edge-emitting 라이브바카라 diode featuring a triple-junction structure. This means that three separate 라이브바카라 emitters are tightly integrated within a single chip to function as a unified source.
A triple-junction diode laser vertically stacks three separate laser emitters on a single chip. Each laser is separated from its neighbor by a “tunnel junction.” This layer is necessary to avoid forming a p-n junction between each laser. But it must be thin enough so that electrons can quantum mechanically “tunnel” through it to allow current flow. Overall laser efficiency depends strongly on tunnel junction performance, and 라이브바카라 has developed methods that minimize loss in this layer, resulting in superior performance.
This triple-junction configuration results in significantly higher output power, up to 140 W of peak power, compared to conventional single-junction diode 라이브바카라s of comparable size and electrical characteristics. This approach is not suitable for continuous or high-duty-cycle pulsed operation because of the high heat generated by closely spaced 라이브바카라 junctions. But it is ideal for short-pulsed, low-duty-cycle applications, like rangefinding, where the 라이브바카라 is activated only briefly.
The 라이브바카라 SS905A13-TO-01 offers several advantages over competing diode 라이브바카라s designed for rangefinding – even those that also use the triple-junction structure. For example, the SS905A13-TO-01 is up to 10% more efficient than competitive products. This extends the battery life and gives the product engineer flexibility with power source and device “packaging” considerations.
Additionally, the 라이브바카라 laser exhibits remarkable power stability when subjected to temperature variations. This ensures accurate and reliable measurements even when there are substantial changes in the operating environment.
Why 905 nm
Most rangefinders and LiDAR systems in consumer applications operate at either 905 nm or 1550 nm. 라이브바카라 manufactures diode 라이브바카라s at both these wavelengths (and many others), but we believe 905 nm is a more cost-effective choice for rangefinders.
One reason for this is that 1550 nm 라이브바카라s are made using InP, while 905 nm 라이브바카라s are made from GaAs. InP substrates and fabrication are more costly than GaAs, while the power conversion efficiency for GaAs chips is 45% as compared to less than 10% for InP components. These factors increase the value of 905 nm diodes relative to competitive products.
The supporting componentry for 905 nm 라이브바카라s, such as the detectors, offer additional cost advantages that directly impact product pricing. This is because 905 nm 라이브바카라s can use detectors made from widely available (read inexpensive) CMOS silicon, while 1550 nm 라이브바카라s require much more costly InGaAs-based components.
Rangefinding is just one of the 라이브바카라-based sensing technologies finding increased use in products as diverse as LiDAR, smartphones, VR headsets, and consumer-grade devices targeted to industrial markets, such as building and construction. 라이브바카라 remains committed to developing 라이브바카라s and other photonic components that deliver the mix of price and performance required to make these applications a practical reality. We accomplish this by harnessing our unique combination of capabilities in semiconductor materials, 라이브바카라s, and optics.
Learn more about how the 라이브바카라 SS905A13-TO-01 goes the distance in 라이브바카라-finding applications.
