VECSEL for 3D LiDAR applications

Markus Herper; Stephan Gronenborn; Xi Gu; Johanna Kolb; Michael Miller; Holger Moench

doi:10.1117/12.2507740

4 March 2019 VECSEL for 3D LiDAR applications

Markus Herper, Stephan Gronenborn, Xi Gu, Johanna Kolb, Michael Miller, Holger Moench

Proceedings Volume 10901, Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) IX; 109010N (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2507740
Event: SPIE LASE, 2019, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Upcoming applications like indoor navigation, 3D object recognition or autonomously driving vehicles have increased the demand for high-resolution 3D LIDAR systems. The time of flight (TOF) technique for distance measurement in combination with a scanning system requires a beam source with low divergence and high peak power in pulse operation. The detailed application and its operating distance define the output peak power. Furthermore, the needed distance and lateral resolution leads to a maximum pulse length and beam divergence of the light source. Parameters like wavelength, pulse shapes and repetition rates can be derived from the interaction between source, receiver and environmental conditions of the LIDAR system. For a scanning 3D-LIDAR system for consumer or autonomous applications with a working distance of 1-200m, a diffraction-limited beam with pulses in the nanosecond regime is needed. The external cavity of VECSELs allows decreasing the divergence and simultaneously increasing the active area and as a result, the maximum output power. By using electrically pumped VECSELs in a modulated operation, one can achieve the demanded pulse conditions. Low duty-cycle operation allows using significant higher peak current pulses and generating much higher optical peak pulses by pushing the thermal rollover point to higher currents. The external cavity as well as the combination between electronic driver and VECSEL design shows a significant influence on pulse shape and limits the overall performance. This paper will show a first prototype of electrically pumped VECSEL for LIDAR applications and different measurements and investigations of electrically pumped VECSELs in short pulse operations by electrical modulation.

Citation Download Citation

Markus Herper, Stephan Gronenborn, Xi Gu, Johanna Kolb, Michael Miller, and Holger Moench "VECSEL for 3D LiDAR applications", Proc. SPIE 10901, Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) IX, 109010N (4 March 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2507740

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
11 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Mirrors

LIDAR

Resonators

Distance measurement

Laser sources

Prototyping

Pulsed laser operation

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years