Automotive qualified SiPM array product for LiDAR applications

ON Semiconductor has released the new RDM-Series silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array that increases the LiDAR sensor capabilities to its wide portfolio of intelligent sensing solutions. The ArrayRDM-0112A20-QFN is claimed to be the first automotive-qualified SiPM product in the market, set for the increasing demands in LiDAR applications for the automotive industry and beyond.

The device is a monolithic 1x12 array of SiPM pixels based on the company’s RDM process, which allows high sensitivity to NIR light to deliver industry-leading 18.5% photon detection efficiency (PDE)(1) at 905nm. The high internal gain of the SiPM provides sensitivity down to the single-photon level, a feature that, together with the high PDE, facilitates detecting the faintest return signals. This results in the capability to range to greater distances even with low reflective targets.

Benefiting from the high PDE of the device, LiDAR systems supporting these functions have been proven to range over 300m in distance. More distance gives more time for the vehicle to react to unexpected obstacles.

“The high-resolution depth data provided by LiDAR enables instantaneous and accurate object identification in challenging low light conditions. As the first automotive qualified SiPM, the ArrayRDM-0112A20-QFN will enable long-range, cost-effective LiDAR solutions for the next level of safety and autonomy,” commented Wade Appelman, senior director Automotive Sensing Division at ON Semiconductor. “We are continuously enhancing our sensor portfolio by offering diverse and complementary sensing modalities that pave the way to higher levels of ADAS and autonomous driving.”

“At Yole Développement (Yole), we see LiDAR as a critical component on the route to full autonomy in automotive, with functionality required to reach level 2+ and above. Producing sensors that pass automotive qualification and with a sufficient level of performance will be a key enabler to the mass adoption of LiDAR for automotive applications, which, based on current trends, is expected to show a +144% CAGR between 2019 and 2025(2),” explained Pierrick Boulay, Technology and Market Analyst at Yole.

The device is AEC-Q102 qualified and developed in accordance with IATF 16949.