A peek inside Intel's RealSense LiDAR camera

At the end of 2019, chip giant Intel released a new RealSense Lidar camera L515. According to Intel, this is the world's smallest and most energy-efficient high-resolution Lidar camera. In terms of size, the RealSense L515 is only 61 mm in diameter, 26 mm thick, and weighs only 100 grams. It is extremely small and can be integrated into smart hardware or installed on handheld devices for mobile use.

It has a 1920×1080p/30fps RGB sensor, a 1024×768/30fps ToF depth sensor, and a Bosch BMI085 inertial measurement unit (accelerometer + gyroscope). It has a working range of 0.25-9 meters and can capture more than 23 million depth point information per second. The RGB field of view range is 70±3. ×43±2., and the depth field of view range is 70±2. ×55±2. It is calibrated before leaving the factory and does not need to be recalibrated in daily use.

In addition, the photon-to-depth latency is only 4 milliseconds, which provides extremely fast response speed for autonomous applications. The visual processor is used to eliminate motion blur and afterimages as much as possible, allowing high-speed scenes to be captured quickly and accurately.

Despite its powerful performance, its power consumption is less than 3.5W, and it is equipped with Intel's self-developed MEMS micro-vibration mirror system, which allows the laser to scan at a lower power. In terms of price, it is only $349. Unlike other products targeting the automotive market, Intel's LiDAR mainly focuses on logistics and warehouse management, 3D scanning, healthcare, retail, robotics and other fields.

Recently, TechInsight disassembled Intel's lidar, allowing us to take a peek at its internal details.

Techinsights says the Intel RealSense L515 is rated for indoor use and provides depth measurements from 0.25 m to 9 m with a field of view of 70° x 55°. Its LiDAR unit consists of an IR (860 nm) laser and an IR photodiode that reflects off a scanning MEMS mirror. It also has an RGB camera that provides 1080p resolution at 30 fps.

Their RealSense L515 is housed in a compact and lightweight “puck” enclosure (61 mm x 26 mm / 100 g) that is ideal for robotics applications as it can be more easily integrated into products.

Once opened, we can identify the sources of the main components of this radar. As shown in the figure below, the Intel RealSense L515 LiDAR camera is based on two main ICs from Intel, the RealSense Vision Processor and the MEMS Controller. The power management chip is provided by Analog Devices.

In addition, OmniVision delivered a 2 MP camera with an OV2740 image sensor that can also be used as a color sensor. The device also contains an infrared laser projector EEL operating at 860 nm. These optics use advanced stereo depth algorithms for accurate depth perception at long distances (9 m).

It is worth mentioning that this device does not contain an internal power supply. It is powered by the USB Type-C port. Of particular interest is the MEMS mirror used in this LiDAR camera. This component will be further explored in the next section.

As shown in the figure below, the optical board hosts the two main components of LiDAR: edge-emitting lasers and MEMS mirrors mounted between four permanent magnets.

TechInsights was able to remove the complete STMicroelectronics PM56A chip from the laser scanning module. The chip measures 3.53 mm x 2.8 mm.

Compared to TechInsights' previous PM54A, the mirror found in Intel RealSense L515 does not have a static frame, but rather all static parts (such as PADs, trace metal, anchors) are located within the maximum in-plane extension defined by the Lorentz coil. Although Intel reports a high field of view of 70° x 55°, this solution can still enable a more compact design.

Our costing experts have assembled the following cost breakdown for the L515. As shown below, the main cost contribution of the integrated circuit is in line with expectations at $16.45, totaling just over $35. The retail price of the L515 is $349.

In summary, MEMS-based laser scanning LiDAR cameras can provide an effective way to reduce the cost of electronic devices while improving the overall reliability of these devices. The inclusion of these technologies in the RealSense L515 allows Intel to enter the logistics and robotics markets, where more expensive and more fragile technologies may not be widely adopted.