ON Semiconducto introduces the world's first vehicle-sized silicon photomultiplier tube (SiPM) array

     ON Semiconductor has announced a new RDM series of silicon photomultiplier tube (SiPM) arrays, extending LiDAR sensor capabilities to its broad lineup of intelligent sensing solutions. The ArrayRDM-0112A20-QFN is the first vehicle compliant SiPM product on the market, responding to the growing demand for LiDAR applications in the automotive industry and beyond.

     Arrayldm-0112a20-qfn is a monolithic 1×12 SiPM pixel array based on On Semiconductor's market-leading RDM process that achieves high sensitivity to near-infrared (NIR) light, resulting in an industry-leading photon detection efficiency (PDE) of 18.5% at 905 nanometers (nm) (1). SiPM's high internal gain allows it to reach the single-photon level of sensitivity, which, when combined with a high PDE, can detect the faintest return signal. As a result, even low-reflection targets can detect longer distances.

     SiPM technology has gained momentum in recent years and has become the sensor of choice for depth sensing applications in a broad market due to its unique feature set. SiPM provides the best SNR performance for long distance ranging in bright sunlight conditions. Other advantages include lower power bias and lower sensitivity to temperature changes, making it an ideal upgrade for systems using conventional avalanche photodiodes (APDs). SiPM is produced using a high-volume CMOS process that allows for the lowest detector cost, enabling LiDAR solutions for a broad market.

     The use of lasers to measure the distance of objects has spanned automotive, consumer and industrial applications. In the automotive sector, LiDAR can be used to enhance safety and driver assistance systems (ADAS) by complementing and providing redundancy with other sensing modes to assist functions such as lane keeping and traffic congestion assistance. LiDAR is being commonly used in fully autonomous driving use cases, such as robotic transportation, to safely navigate environments in real time. Benefiting from the ArrayRDM-0112A20-QFN's high PDE, LiDAR systems that support these capabilities have been proven to range over distances of 300 meters. The greater distance gives the vehicle more time to respond to unexpected obstacles.

     Wade Appelman, Senior Director of ON Semiconductor's Automotive Perception Division, said: "The high-resolution depth data provided by LiDAR enables instant and accurate identification of objects in challenging low-light conditions. The ArrayRDM-0112A20-QFN is the first vehicle-compliant SiPM and will provide a long-range, cost-effective LiDAR solution for the next level of safety and autonomy. We are continuously enhancing our sensor portfolio to provide diverse and complementary sensing modes, paving the way for higher levels of ADAS and autonomous driving."

     Pierrick Boulay, Technology and Market Analyst at Yole, said: "Yole Developpement (Yole) sees LiDAR as a key component in making cars fully autonomous, with features that must reach 2+ and above. The production of sensors that meet vehicle regulations and have sufficient levels of performance will be a key driver for the mass adoption of LiDAR in automotive applications, with a compound annual growth rate of + 144% expected between 2019 and 2025(2) based on current trends."