ams launches time-to-digital converter for high-precision optical distance measurement and 3D scanning

ams TDCs can measure time intervals as short as 5ns with an accuracy of 10ps . The AS6500 is based on ams’ existing TDC-GPX2 and offers up to 10ps resolution on four channels with a sampling rate of up to 1.5Ms/s.

With high accuracy and high sampling rates, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and optical ranging systems in cars, drones and robots can make extremely detailed and precise distance measurements over a wide field of view, enabling them to perform accurate object detection and avoidance. In virtual and augmented reality applications, high sampling rates and up to 1 cm accuracy enable real-time 3D images.

The AS6500 TDC is optimized for space, power consumption and cost. Like the TDC-GPX2, it is an integrated four-channel converter IC that provides single-shot measurement resolution of up to 20psrms per channel and 20ns pulse spacing in normal mode. When operating in dual-channel high-resolution mode, a maximum resolution of 10psrms and 5ns pulse spacing can be achieved.

The AS6500 is available in a new small 40-pin QFN package measuring just 6mm x 6mm, 56% smaller than the TDC-GPX2. The highly integrated design includes a 2MHz-12.5MHz reference clock input, meaning that virtually no external components are required.

The AS6500 operates from a 3.3V power supply and consumes only 60mW in normal operation and 60µA in standby mode. It supports a CMOS interface to the host system and provides its calibrated output as a digital signal via a standard serial peripheral interface (SPI) for easy data processing in a host controller or processor.

The AS6500 is ideal for optical applications including general purpose laser distance measurement in 1D, 2D and 3D, speed control, vehicle/truck scanning, object recognition, time-of-flight spectroscopy, automatic test equipment (ATE), and biomedical technology and analysis.

ams offers a development kit, the AS6500-QF_DK, which includes a programmer and GUI software for a PC, enabling the user to configure and connect its start and stop signals and start sampling time measurements within minutes.

The AS6500 is currently in mass production. Please contact ams for pricing information. For more technical information, please visit click Read the original article .

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