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    Application Note: PIC Enabled Lidar

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    m_heck
    The document discusses how photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can enable lidar systems by providing integrated laser sources, beam steering using optical phased arrays, and potential for fully integrated single-chip lidars. PICs offer opportunities to lower costs and miniaturize lidar systems compared to traditional bulky and expensive components. Current PIC technology is mature but requires adaptation for automotive and lidar applications conditions.

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    Application Note: PIC Enabled Lidar

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    m_heck
    19 views2 pages
    The document discusses how photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can enable lidar systems by providing integrated laser sources, beam steering using optical phased arrays, and potential for fully integrated single-chip lidars. PICs offer opportunities to lower costs and miniaturize lidar systems compared to traditional bulky and expensive components. Current PIC technology is mature but requires adaptation for automotive and lidar applications conditions.

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    opportunities for indium phosphide based photonic integrated circuits for lidar

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    JEPPIX_AppNote_Lidar_V00

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    The document discusses how photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can enable lidar systems by providing integrated laser sources, beam steering using optical phased arrays, and potential for fully integrated single-chip lidars. PICs offer opportunities to lower costs and miniaturize lidar systems compared to traditional bulky and expensive components. Current PIC technology is mature but requires adaptation for automotive and lidar applications conditions.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    19 views2 pages

    Application Note: PIC Enabled Lidar

    Uploaded by

    m_heck
    The document discusses how photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can enable lidar systems by providing integrated laser sources, beam steering using optical phased arrays, and potential for fully integrated single-chip lidars. PICs offer opportunities to lower costs and miniaturize lidar systems compared to traditional bulky and expensive components. Current PIC technology is mature but requires adaptation for automotive and lidar applications conditions.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    Application Note

    Photonic Integrated Circuits for Lidar

    PIC enabled Lidar


    by more than an order of magnitude. Solid-state
    Lidars are promising in bringing the cost down by

    Lidar, short for light detection and ranging or “light another order of magnitude. Moreover, these Lidars

    radar”, is used to measure distances with high are more robust, with no moving parts, and compact.

    resolution and precision. This is achieved by The opportunity for photonic integration
    illuminating the object with a scanning laser beam, PICs offer some very concrete opportunities for
    and consequently measuring the reflections. Lidar. In solid-state Lidars, PICs can be used as the
    Complete three-dimensional mappings can be made. laser source. When combined with the on-chip
    Various techniques are used, such as pulsed, flash components typically used in communications
    and frequency-modulated Lidar. technology, pulsed lasers and frequency-modulated
    The opportunities for using Lidar are plenty, most lasers can be realized. As an example, Blackmore 1
    notably in automotive, where it is used in advanced is bringing a frequency-modulated continuous-wave
    driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and in (FMCW) Lidar to the market, based on PICs. Such a
    autonomous driving, providing a better resolution Lidar provides both range and velocity
    than radar. It is furthermore used in wind farms, to measurements, through the Doppler effect. Coherent
    monitor wind speeds, and in remote sensing, detection allows for highly-sensitive measurements,
    mapping the environment and atmosphere. with high dynamic range. An added advantage is that
    A Lidar consists of a laser source, a laser beam PICs are designed for operation around wavelengths
    scanner, and the detection optics. Traditionally, such of 1550 nm, which is a sweet spot for Lidar due to
    systems were bulky and costly (see figure below). eye-safety requirements. This allows the range to be
    Over the last decade, pushed by the automotive extended significantly, to over 200 m, as argued by,
    market, the price of Lidar systems has come down e.g., Luminar 2.

    InP Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs)


    Optical chips or PICs can contain tens to hundreds of optical components. While electronic integrated circuits
    (EICs) consist of transistors, capacitors, and resistors, a PIC consists of, for example, lasers, modulators,
    photodetectors, and filters, all integrated on a single substrate. Several application fields, such as data- and
    telecom, sensing, and lidar are already using or are considering the use of PICs for their products. This PIC
    technology is accessible to users without a cleanroom, through so-called multi-project wafer runs and open
    access foundries. InP based technology is commercially available through SMART Photonics and Fraunhofer
    Heinrich-Hertz-Institut. Access is individually coordinated by JePPIX.

    1 https://blackmoreinc.com/ 2 https://www.luminartech.com/

    Updated: 2021-02-28 Joint European Platform for Photonic Integrated Components and Circuits jeppix.eu

    1
    Figure 1: Evolution of the Lidar cost, including forecast. Figure 2: Schematic of an optical phased array, using
    Source data: Velodyne, Quanergy and Massachusetts optical phase control (left) and wavelength control (right)
    Institute of Technology. for beam steering3.

    PICs can also be used to replace the beam-steering require a different design approach, but the basic
    part of the Lidar, through the use of optical phased building blacks are available through our
    arrays, as shown in the figure to the right. Much like manufacturing-grade process design kits (PDKs).
    phased-array antennas in wireless communications, There are application-specific operational
    such optical phased arrays can shape the laser parameters that are different from the
    beam and steer it fast for video-rate three- communications field. For example, for automotive
    dimensional imaging 3. The system has no moving applications, a target operating temperature range of
    components, as compared to using mechanical and −40 °C to 125 °C is often required. The PICs need to
    micro-mechanical (MEMS) scanning devices, be designed for that, with adequate on-chip controls.
    making it robust, and is lens-free. Laboratory-based Packaging of the PIC with electronics and,
    implementations have already shown the feasibility, potentially, with fiber or free-space coupling, is
    and the technology is now moving to the market, eased by the availability of the packaging Pilot Line
    Analog Photonics 4 is pushing a silicon photonics PIXapp. 5. Specifically for optical phased arrays, the
    approach, but such implementations can also be electronics for fast beam-steering into the 10s of
    achieved in InP based PICs. Sources and detectors MHz range, with many closely-integrated channels,
    can be integrated on the PIC, with the potential of require specific attention. Side-lobe suppression and
    realizing a fully integrated, single-chip Lidar, and beam width are design trade-offs for optical phased
    allowing unprecedented high volumes at low cost. arrays 3.
    Moreover, this technology allows for close Discuss your application with us
    integration with electronics. If you are interested in knowing more about the
    Current technical developments capabilities and use of InP PIC technology for AI
    The PIC and overall system need to be carefully applications, contact JePPIX. The JePPIX Pilot Line
    designed for the target application. The PIC provides low entrance-threshold to mature-
    technology platforms are mature now, accessible, for manufacturing, enabling high-TRL development in a
    example, through our Pilot Line at high technology scalable design kit driven process, taking open
    readiness level, but they have been developed access InP PICs from proof of concept to industrial
    mostly for telecom and datacom applications. Lidars prototyping levels.

    3 https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2015-0152 5 http://pixapp.eu/
    4 http://www.analogphotonics.com/

    Updated: 2021-02-28 Joint European Platform for Photonic Integrated Components and Circuits jeppix.eu

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