Lidar (Light detection and ranging)

See Farther • See Faster • See Better

Lidar is a method for measuring distance using pulsed lasers. The information gained from the time-of-flight lidar system can be used to create a three-dimensional image. Lidar technology allows for high accuracy, larger coverage areas, and increased speed and efficiency of data collection.

eGaN^® FETs and ICs are the logical choice to use for firing a laser because the FETs can be triggered to create high-current pulses with extremely short pulse widths. The short pulse width leads to higher resolution, and the higher pulse current allows lidar systems to see farther. These two characteristics, along with their extremely small size, make GaN ideal for lidar.

Thus, lidar systems with GaN can see farther, faster, and better.

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How to Build an Ultra-Fast High-Power Laser Driver

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Lidar Reference Designs

All EPC Laser Driver Demo Boards are shipped in a particular configuration, i.e. resonant discharge for Direct Time of Flight (DToF) or standard pulse for Indirect Time of Flight (IToF), so that they are usable for the target application right out of the box. However, the lidar industry is still changing rapid and the demo boards are designed to be flexible so that they can accommodate a much broader set of requirements. Please review the schematics, the layout files, and the Quick Start Guides for further information.

Part Number	Default Configuration	Description	V_BUS (max)	V_INPUT (max)	T_Pin (min)	Max Pulse (A)	Featured Product	Gerber
EPC9144	IToF	High Current Pulsed Laser Diode Driver Demo Board	12	5	1 ns	28	EPC2216	EPC9144 EPC9989	Buy Now
EPC9154	IToF	High Current Pulsed Laser Diode Driver Demo Board	30	5	2 ns	10	EPC21601	EPC9154	Buy Now
EPC9156	IToF	High Current Pulsed Laser Diode Driver Demo Board	30	5	2 ns	10	EPC21603	EPC9156	Buy Now
EPC9126	Resonant Pulse DToF	High Current Pulsed Laser Diode Driver Demo Board	80	5	6 ns	75	EPC2212	EPC9126 EPC9989	Buy Now
EPC9126HC	Resonant Pulse DToF	High Current Pulsed Laser Diode Driver Demo Board	80	5	6 ns	150	EPC2001C	EPC9126 EPC9989	Buy Now
EPC9150	Resonant Pulse DToF	High Current Pulsed Laser Diode Driver Demo Board	160	5	1 ns	220	EPC2034C	EPC9150 EPC9989	Buy Now

Vendor	Part Number	Description	Max Pulse (A)	Pulse Width	Featured eGaN Product	Vendor Link
Texas Instruments	LMG1020EVM-006	Lidar Evaluation Module	40	1 ns - 2 ns	EPC2019	LMG1020EVM-006
Texas Instruments	TIDA-01573	Nanosecond Laser Driver Reference Design for Lidar	60	1 ns	EPC2019	TIDA-01573

eToF™ Laser Driver ICs for Lidar Designs

	Part Number	Configuration	Function	V_PWR (V)	I_OUT (A)	Peak I_OUT (A)	V_DD (V)	Input Logic	MAX Frequency (MHz)	UVLO (V)	Package (mm)	Development Board
	EPC21601	Single	eToF™ Laser Driver	40	3.4	10	5	3.3 V	200	0	BGA 1 x 1.5	EPC9154
	EPC21603	Single	eToF™ Laser Driver	40	3.7	10	5	LVDS	200	0	BGA 1 x 1.5	EPC9156

Recommended Devices for Lidar Designs

Part Number	Configuration	V_DS	Max R_DS(ON) (mΩ) (V_GS = 5 V)	Q_G typ (nC)	Q_GS typ (nC)	Q_GD typ (nC)	Q_OSS typ (nC)	Max. Peak Pulsed I_D(A) (25°C, Tpulse = 300µs)	Package (mm)	Half-Bridge Development Boards
EPC2216	Single	15	26	0.87	0.21	0.13	0.53	28	BGA 0.85 x 1.2	N/A
EPC2040	Single	15	30	0.745	0.23	0.14	0.42	28	BGA 0.85 x 1.2	N/A
EPC2055	Single	40	3.6	6.6	2.3	0.7	13	161	LGA 2.5 x 1.5	EPC90132
EPC2014C	Single	40	16	2	0.70	0.30	4	60	LGA 1.7 x 1.1	EPC9005C
EPC8004	Single	40	110	0.37	0.120	0.047	0.63	7.5	LGA 2.1 x 0.85	EPC9066
EPC2035	Single	60	45	0.88	0.3	0.2	3	24	BGA 0.9 x 0.9	EPC9049
EPC8009	Single	65	130	0.37	0.120	0.055	0.94	7.5	LGA 2.1 x 0.85	EPC9067
EPC2219	AEC-Q101 Single with Gate Diode	65	3300	0.044	0.02	0.004	0.104	0.5	BGA 0.9 x 0.9	N/A
EPC2202	Single (AEC-Q101)	80	17	3.2	1	0.55	18	75	LGA 2.1 x 1.6	N/A
EPC2214	Single (AEC-Q101)	80	20	1.8	0.5	0.3	8	47	BGA 1.35 x 1.35	N/A
EPC2039	Single	80	25	2.4	0.76	0.42	7.6	50	BGA 1.35 x 1.35	EPC9057
EPC2203	Single (AEC-Q101)	80	80	0.67	0.22	0.12	3.6	17	BGA 0.9 x 0.9	N/A
EPC2218	Single	100	3.2	10.5	3.2	1.5	46	231	LGA 3.5 x 1.95	EPC2204
EPC2053	Single	100	3.8	12	4.1	1.5	45	246	BGA 3.5 x 2	EPC9093
EPC2204	Single	100	6	5.7	1.8	0.8	25	125	LGA 2.5 x 1.5	EPC90123
EPC2045	Single	100	7	5.2	1.7	1.1	21	130	BGA 2.5 x 1.5	EPC9078
EPC2001C	Single	100	7	7.5	2.4	1.2	31	150	LGA 4.1 x 1.6	EPC9002C
EPC2212	Single (AEC-Q101)	100	13.5	3.2	0.9	0.6	18	75	LGA 2.1 x 1.6	N/A
EPC2052	Single	100	13.5	3.6	1.5	0.5	13	74	BGA 1.5 x 1.5	EPC9092
EPC2016C	Single	100	16	3.4	1.1	0.55	16	75	LGA 2.1 x 1.6	EPC9010C
EPC2051	Single	100	25	1.8	0.6	0.3	7.2	37	BGA 1.3 x 0.85	EPC9091
EPC2007C	Single	100	30	1.6	0.6	0.3	8.3	40	LGA 1.7 x 1.1	EPC9006C
EPC2036	Single	100	65	0.7	0.17	0.14	3.9	18	BGA 0.9 x 0.9	EPC9050
EPC8010	Single	100	160	0.36	0.130	0.060	2.2	7.5	LGA 2.1 x 0.85	EPC9068
EPC2037	Single	100	550	0.115	0.032	0.025	0.6	2.4	BGA 0.9 x 0.9	EPC9051
EPC2038	Single	100	3300	0.044	0.020	0.004	0.134	0.5	BGA 0.9 x 0.9	EPC9507
EPC2054	Single	200	43	2.9	0.9	0.3	15	32	BGA 1.3 x 1.3	EPC9094