Artilux, the renowned leader in CMOS SWIR optical sensing technology and GeSi (Germanium Silicon) photonics technology today announced Germanium-Silicon Avalanche Photodiode (GeSi APD) array technology, the next-gen 3D imaging and sensing technology that achieves the unique high gain and low dark current with mature CMOS-based production. When being used with Optical Phased Array (OPA) technology, an optimal Solid-State LiDAR system will be implemented to improve sensing and to truly fulfill the affordable safety in autonomous driving.

According to a market survey, the global automotive LiDAR sensors market is expected to grow by US$408 million during 2023-2027, accelerating at a CAGR of 16.79%. Since the LiDAR technology will determine the success of self-driving car development, the LiDAR market is critical. In light of safety and performance considerations, primary LiDAR system companies are all shifting towards SWIR as the main wavelength spectrum for sensing. Artilux’s core technology with high gain empowers SWIR capabilities with high integration, performance and cost-effectiveness, and has been certified by customers as the mainstream receiver technology.

On the transmitter side of a LiDAR, the scanning technology can generally be divided into three categories, including Mechanical, MEMS, Solid-State scanning. Among them, Solid-State LiDAR is recognized as being reliable, durable, compact, light and cost-effective, and is also gradually regarded as the key to the mass-adoption of future LiDAR applications. OPA technology is one of the ways to produce Solid-State LiDAR, and has advantages of size, speed, accuracy, and full-field scanning. OPA-based LiDAR is also less affected by vibration because there are no moving parts in the system. Industry pioneers such as Analog Photonics, Lumotive, Hon Hai Research Institute, and Quanergy have invested in OPA research and development because of its potential to be a mainstream application if successful in its mass production.

“Artilux has been empowering industry revolution with its cutting-edge global leadership in semiconductor, GeSi photonics and CMOS SWIR sensing technology, to expand innovative applications and market opportunities. The newly announced GeSi APD technology aims to not only enable a highly optimized SWIR LiDAR system for our current tier 1 partners in the US and Europe, but also fulfills the required intelligence and safety criteria for tomorrow’s autonomous driving. With our core technology announcement, we are expecting more industry leaders among diverse technology fields to join us to catalyze the future mobility with affordable safety,” said Tony Chiang, Sr. Director of Sales and Marketing Group at Artilux.

“The semiconductor industry is 5 years ahead of people’s lives, so innovation is the most critical,” further commented by Dr. Hao-Chung Kuo, Professor of Department of Photonics at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Director of Semiconductor Research Center at Hon Hai Research Institute. “It is great to see that Artilux has achieved a critical milestone in automotive LiDAR sensing technology development. With the OPA technology we are developing, we look forward to partnering with Artilux and other talented partners to build the SWIR application ecosystem, so that we may together accelerate the productization of autonomous driving and continue to bring whole new experiences and conveniences to people’s lives.”

Artilux’s latest GeSi APD photodetection technology not only has succeeded in an improvement of multiple orders in gain, but also has delivered industry-leading ultra-low dark current, which together greatly increase the signal-to-noise ratio and reduce background noise and power consumption. This APD technology operates at SWIR wavelength that is not interfered by ambient light and the sun, and can be integrated with large-scale and cost-effective CMOS production technology to realize longer sensing distance and superior eye safety. By incorporating Artilux’s APD sensors in the development of solid-state LiDAR, the high sensitivity, efficiency and economical LiDAR sensing platform for self-driving cars has taken another significant leap.

More information please visit www.artiluxtech.com

White paper “Artilux Phoenix™ GeSi APD Technology” can be found at https://www.artiluxtech.com/support/downloads