Osram launches new generation of LiDAR infrared laser

On February 3, Osram announced the launch of a new lidar infrared laser that can reduce wavelength deviation to 10 nanometers, making surrounding images clearer.

LiDAR is a key technology for self-driving cars, which can be combined with radar and camera systems to act as the car's visual sense to capture information about the surrounding environment. LiDAR uses infrared light to create an accurate, three-dimensional map of the environment. The higher the quality of the visual information obtained, the easier it is for the back-end system to process the information. However, so far, the infrared lasers used for LiDAR have deviations in wavelength stability, and the deviation can reach 40 nanometers as the temperature of the components increases.

Image source: OSRAM

Thanks to the new chip design, the wavelength stability of edge-emitting lasers can match or even exceed that of VCSELs (vertical cavity surface emitting lasers) at operating temperatures of up to 125°C. This marks a new stage in the development of infrared laser technology and also means that it is now possible to use smaller filters on the detectors, thereby significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Its technological advancement has been tested and proven by "triple junction" structural elements (such as three light-emitting surfaces stacked on top of each other). In the future, this technology will be fully applied to all OSRAM infrared lasers, which will also bring huge advantages to LiDAR system manufacturers.