New automotive-grade laser driver added to leading ToF portfolio

Innovative car cockpits, seamless connectivity with new services and enhanced passive safety: 3D depth sensors play an important role in in-vehicle monitoring systems. They are crucial for meeting the European NCAP's requirements and safety ratings and implementing differentiating comfort features. Infineon Technologies AG has developed the highly integrated IRS9103A VCSEL driver IC for automotive applications. In combination with itsInfineon's REAL3 image sensor, the automotive-grade laser diode driver IC allows size, cost and performance-optimised designs of 3D camera modules.

"What is already standard in consumer electronics is now available for automotive ToF applications," said Andreas Kopetz, vice president Ambient Sensing at Infineon. "Instead of four discrete key components needed to drive the laser illumination source, only one is required. This greatly simplifies the design and minimises the bill of materials and module size, while improving performance and robustness."

The driver IC integrates an LVDS receiver, gate driver and switching components in a single tiny AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified 1.35mm x 1.35mm² wafer-level package. The IC can be fully powered from the existing 3.3V imager supply, eliminating the need for an additional 5V rail for a discrete gate driver. With support for 10A driver current and 14V laser diode voltage, the product can drive up to two triple-junction VCSELs at a modulation frequency of up to 130MHz. Built-in fail-safe mechanisms such as under-voltage and over-temperature protection and a pulse-width limiter combined with the company's REAL3 image sensor provide an optimal package for an eye-safe 3D ToF camera module.

In addition to the small footprint, reducing from four AEC-Q100 qualified key components to one offers other benefits, such as simplified design and decreased development effort. It also lowers component tolerances for more efficient and robust conversion of electrical to optical performance and increases supply reliability.

Development samples of the new IRS9103A VCSEL driver IC are now available.