Design of an integrated multi-line LiDAR analog front-end micromodule

Lin Yuanqi; Zhao Yiqiang; Ye Mao; Zheng Xiaoxiao; Du Jianyan

doi:10.12086/oee.2021.210080

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Lin Y Q, Zhao Y Q, Ye M, et al. Design of an integrated multi-line LiDAR analog front-end micromodule[J]. Opto-Electron Eng, 2021, 48(8): 210080. doi: 10.12086/oee.2021.210080

Citation:

Lin Y Q, Zhao Y Q, Ye M, et al. Design of an integrated multi-line LiDAR analog front-end micromodule[J]. Opto-Electron Eng, 2021, 48(8): 210080. doi: 10.12086/oee.2021.210080

Design of an integrated multi-line LiDAR analog front-end micromodule

1.
School of Microelectronics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
2.
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Imaging and Sensing Microelectronic Technology, Tianjin 300072, China

Fund Project: Tianjin New Generation Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology Major Project Fund (2019FBH-0021)

More Information

^*Corresponding author: Zhao Yiqiang, E-mail: yq_zhao@tju.edu.cn

Received Date 19 March 2021

Revised Date 19 July 2021

Published Date 15 August 2021

Abstract

Abstract

Multi-line LiDAR has a wide range of application demands, but the current detection and processing circuit of LiDAR is mostly composed of discrete components, and the detector is separated from the processing circuit, which brings high cost, poor reliability, and other problems. To solve the above problems, an integrated 16-element LiDAR analog front-end micromodule based on system-in-package technology is proposed, which has important practical significance for the research of multi-component LiDAR micromodule. This module integrates a 16-element avalanche photon diode array detector, a self-developed multi-channel LiDAR analog front-end readout circuit chip, a temperature sensor, and a thermoelectric cooler, etc., which can realize the integration of detection, processing and temperature control. The test results show that the thermostatic stability of the micromodule is 0.07 ℃, the bandwidth of the micromodule is up to 190 MHz, the noise level of the integrated micromodule is reduced by more than 32% compared with that of the non-integrated micromodule, and high speed detection of 5 ns laser narrow pulse is realized.
- LiDAR /
- APD array /
- integration /
- micromodule

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References

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Overview

Overview

Overview: LiDAR is an environmental sensing system based on laser ranging technology. Compared with the visual imaging system, it can directly obtain the 3D information of the targets, so as to improve the accuracy of rapid detection and recognition for the targets. LiDAR is widely used in autonomous driving, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, topographic mapping, meteorological monitoring and other fields. At present, the detection and processing circuit of LiDAR is mostly composed of discrete components, and the detector is separated from the processing circuit, which brings high cost, poor reliability, and other problems. To solve the above problems, an integrated 16-element LiDAR analog front-end micromodule based on system-in-package (SIP) technology is proposed, which has important practical significance for the research of multi-element LiDAR micromodule. This module integrates a 16-element APD array detector, a self-developed multi-channel LiDAR analog front-end readout integrated circuit (AFE ROIC) chip, a temperature sensor, and a thermoelectric cooler (TEC), etc., which can realize the integration of detection, processing, and temperature control. The substrate, 905 nm narrow-band filter parameter and vacuum tube are designed, and micromodule integration is completed. The integrated multi-channel AFE ROIC chip features with 200 MHz bandwidth, four adjustable gains of 65 dB, 80 dB, 90 dB and 100 dB. The size of the integrated ROIC is 2.5 mm ×2.0 mm. Compared with the multi-channel AFE readout circuit composed of discrete components, the integrated circuit chip is helpful to realize integration. Considering the heat dissipation of the chip and signal integrity, the aluminum substrate PCB with high thermal conductivity is adopted and the PCB routing is optimized. Considering that the wavelength of 905 nm semiconductor laser diode will drift due to the influence of temperature, the parameters of the filter are optimized. The vacuum shell adopts metal wall and ceramic insulator structure with excellent air tightness and reliability. The whole shell is composed of metal base, metal wall, ceramic insulation structure, double straight insert pins, copper exhaust pipe and top cover with a window. The installation position of the TEC is designed inside the shell. The TEC is a solid device without noise and vibration. It can realize cooling by passing positive current and heating by passing negative current. Therefore, the TEC can be controlled by an external TEC drive circuit to achieve a constant temperature inside the shell. An experiment is built to test the performance parameters of the 16-element LiDAR AFE micromodule such as the noise level and the response capability of laser pulse echoes. The thermostatic stability of the micromodule is 0.07 ℃, the bandwidth of the micromodule is up to 190 MHz, the noise level of the integrated micromodule is reduced by more than 32% compared with that of the non-integrated micromodule, and high speed detection of 5 ns laser narrow pulse is realized.