News: Optoelectronics
17 November 2021
Lumentum launches multi-junction addressable VCSEL arrays for long-range LiDAR
Lumentum Holdings Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which designs and makes photonics products for optical networks and lasers for industrial and consumer markets) has expanded its multi-junction vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-based range to include high-performance 1D and 2D addressable arrays for advanced automotive, consumer and industrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 3D sensing applications.
Due to their proven reliability and ability to be manufactured at scale, VCSEL arrays have become the preferred laser illumination source for short-range 3D sensing applications such as biometric security and world-facing LiDAR in consumer mobile devices. Lumentum says that its multi-junction VCSEL arrays provide a solution to delivering the significantly higher peak optical power densities and efficiencies required for longer-range applications by decreasing the electrical current needed and simplifying electrical driver and package design. The addition of array addressability to Lumentum’s VCSEL arrays enables a more compact, reliable, robust and fully solid-state LiDAR solution with no moving parts.
“On-chip array addressability can eliminate the need for mechanical beam scanning, which opens a new world of possibilities for autonomous vehicles and emerging 3D sensing systems and will help accelerate LiDAR adoption across a wide range of customer applications,” says Matt Everett, product line director of 3D Sensing.
Lumentum’s high-power multi-junction addressable VCSEL arrays emit at 905nm and 940nm and are built upon the manufacturing foundation developed over the past several years of high-volume VCSEL array shipments serving the consumer electronics market. The higher peak power, addressability, thermal stability and narrow wavelength range of these sources is said to open up new potential for all-solid-state short-, medium- and long-range LiDAR systems.
Lumentum’s high-performance multi-junction addressable VCSEL array products are expected to be available starting in fourth-quarter 2022.
Lumentum launches five-and six-junction 940nm and 905nm VCSEL arrays
