Osram introduces a new short-range infrared laser

     How close are we to autonomous driving? There are still legal and technical issues that need to be resolved in the coming years to achieve widespread use of autonomous driving. As automakers and mobility service providers strive to realize this vision, autonomous vehicles will need to detect their surroundings more comprehensively and reliably. This means that the number and placement of sensors such as LiDAR (light detection and ranging) becomes particularly critical.

     As the market leader in LiDAR, OSram Opto Semiconductors has been committed to innovation in this field through advanced technologies. Osram has launched a new infrared laser SPL DP90_3, developed specifically for the high-resolution near-field detection of liDAR systems, one step closer to autonomous driving.

     With regard to autonomous driving, there is a broad consensus that only sensors that incorporate lidar, radar, and camera systems can provide sufficient safety for fully autonomous driving. Each of these technologies has advantages and disadvantages in different scenarios, but in general, the better these technologies are integrated, the safer the vehicle will be in traffic. Take LiDAR systems as an example, which can generate high-resolution three-dimensional information in real time during driving.

     Long-range lidar is used to detect objects from about 250 meters away from the vehicle, while the real-time environment around the car must be captured by short - and medium-range lidar. Short - and medium-range liDAR can cover a range of about 90 meters from the car, so it includes the driving conditions on the highway and urban traffic conditions.

     The SPL DP90_3 is a new single-channel pulsed laser with a greatly improved beam quality and a size of only 0.3 mm x 0.6 mm, which facilitates the compact design of system manufacturers. The component has an output power of 65 watts and an output power of 20a, with an efficiency of approximately 30%, helping to reduce the overall cost of system operation. Not only that, the component is suitable for taking pictures of the car's surroundings, providing high-resolution images for subsequent system analysis.

     Jorg Strauss, General Manager and Vice President of OSram Opto Semiconductor Visualization & Laser, said: "We are currently doing some groundbreaking research and decision-making on which components will be applied to which systems for autonomous driving. Osram has many years of experience in the development and production of infrared lasers for LiDAR systems, and thanks to the high trust of our customers, we will continue to further consolidate our market position in the field of autonomous driving with excellent product quality. The SPL DP90_3 component provides customers with more options to help realize their vision of autonomous driving."