Infineon develops new automotive-grade laser drives to add to the leading ToF portfolio

     Innovative car cockpits, seamless connectivity to new services and enhanced passive safety: 3D depth sensors play an important role in in-vehicle monitoring systems. They are essential to meet the requirements and safety levels of the Euro NCAP and to achieve differentiated comfort features.

     Infineon Technologies AG has developed the highly integrated IRS9103A VCSEL driver IC for automotive applications. Combined with Infineon's REAL3 image sensor, automotive-grade laser diode driver ics enable size, cost and performance optimization of 3D camera modules. A development sample of the new IRS9103A VCSEL driver IC is now available.

     Andreas Kopetz, Vice President of Environmental Sensing at Infineon, said: "Technologies that have become standard in consumer electronics are now available for automotive ToF applications. "Driving a laser lighting source requires four discrete key components, and only one is needed. This greatly simplifies the design and minimizes the material bill and module size, while improving performance and robustness."

     The driver IC integrates the LVDS receiver, gate driver, and switch assembly in a tiny AEC-Q100 2-stage 1.35mm x 1.35mm² wafer-level package. The IC can be fully powered from the existing 3.3V imager power supply, eliminating the need for an additional 5V rail for discrete gate drivers. The product supports 10A drive current and 14V laser diode voltage, and can drive up to two three-junction VCsels with modulation frequencies up to 130MHz. Built-in fail-safe mechanisms such as undervoltage and overtemperature protection and pulse width limiter, combined with the company's REAL3 image sensor, provide the best package for eye-safe 3D ToF camera modules.

     In addition to the small footprint, reducing four AEC-Q100 compliant key components to one offers other benefits, such as simplified design and reduced development effort. It also reduces component tolerances for more efficient and robust conversion of photoelectric performance and improves power supply reliability.