US 12,230,940 B2
Mechanically free LIDAR system
André Srowig, Heidelberg (DE); and Bernold Rix, Iserlohn (DE)
Assigned to Elmos Semiconductor SE, Dortmund (DE)
Filed by Elmos Semiconductor SE, Dortmund (DE)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/582,307.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 005 574.8 (DE), filed on Jan. 25, 2021; application No. 10 2021 101 584.7 (DE), filed on Jan. 25, 2021; and application No. 10 2021 128 923.8 (DE), filed on Nov. 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0285910 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. H01S 5/42 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); H01S 5/042 (2006.01); G01S 17/88 (2006.01)
CPC H01S 5/0428 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4815 (2013.01); H01S 5/42 (2013.01); G01S 17/88 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laser submodule comprising:
a linear laser array of n lasers (D1 to Dn);
n capacitors (C1 to Cn);
a control switch (Tdis);
n charging circuits (B1 to Bn);
a control circuit (CTR); and
a driver IC;
wherein:
n is a positive integer greater than 2;
the driver IC is a monolithic integrated circuit;
the driver IC comprises the control circuit (CTR) and the control switch (Tdis) and the n charging circuits (B1 to Bn);
each capacitor of the n capacitors (C1 to Cn) has a respective first terminal and a respective second terminal;
each charging circuit of the n charging circuits (B1 to Bn) selectively charges one of the n capacitors (C1 to Cn), hereinafter referred to as the capacitor associated with the charging circuit;
the control circuit (CTR) controls the charging circuits (B1 to Bn);
each laser of the n lasers (D1 to Dn) is associated with a respective capacitor of the n capacitors (C1 to Cn);
the control circuit (CTR) controls the control switch (Tdis);
the control switch (Tdis) discharges the capacitor of the n capacitors (C1 to Cn), which is charged via the laser associated with the respective capacitor;
the associated laser emits a laser pulse in each case only when the capacitor associated with the laser was charged and the control switch (Tdis) connects a cathode of the laser to a reference potential (GND);
the laser submodule includes at least one photodetector;
the laser associated with the capacitor is optically coupled to the at least one photodetector via an optical path;
the at least one photodetector generates a received signal with a value pattern over time as a function of an amplitude pattern over time of a light pulse generation of the laser optically coupled to the at least one photodetector;
the control circuit (CTR) determines a parameter of the value pattern over time of the received signal from the value pattern over time of the received signal;
the control circuit (CTR) controls and/or monitors a light pulse generation of the laser associated with the capacitor as a function of the parameter;
the driver IC comprises the at least one photodetector; and
the n lasers (D1 to Dn) of the linear laser array of n lasers (D1 to Dn) are made on a common crystal;
and further wherein:
an underside of the common crystal forms a common cathode of the n lasers (D1 to Dn);
the common cathode of the n lasers (D1 to Dn) is electrically connected to the control switch (Tdis) as a first star point (DISC);
the common cathode is located on an active surface of the common crystal; and
the underside of the common crystal with the common cathode is placed on the first star point (DISC).