Low voltage sub-nanosecond pulsed current driver IC for high-resolution LIDAR applications

Eli Abramov, Michael Evzelman, Or Kirshenboim, Tom Urkin, Mor Mordechai Peretz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper introduces a new low voltage sub-nanosecond monolithic pulsed current driver for light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications. Unique architecture based on a controlled current source and Vernier activation sequence, combined with a monolithic implementation that allows operation with low input voltage levels, high-resolution pulse width and sub-nanosecond rise and fall times. An on-chip low voltage pulsed driver sub-nanosecond prototype has been implemented in a TS 0.18-μm 5V-gated power management process. It incorporates an integrated wide range sesnseFET based current sensor and a rail-to-rail comparator for current regulation. To characterize the avalanche capabilities of the integrated lateral MOSFET power devices required for the driver IC, a separate line of investigation has been carried out. Several lateral diffused MOS (LDMOS) power devices have been custom designed and experimentally evaluated for a life-cycle performance characterization. Post-layout analysis of the power driver IC is in a good agreement with the theoretical predictions. For a 5V input voltage, rise and fall times of the laser pulse light output are on the order of hundreds of picoseconds, with currents up to 5A. To validate the concept of high-resolution pulse width generation and short fall time, a discrete prototype has been constructed and experimentally tested.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAPEC 2018 - 33rd Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Pages708-715
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781538611807
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Apr 2018
Event33rd Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2018 - San Antonio, United States
Duration: 4 Mar 20188 Mar 2018

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition - APEC
Volume2018-March

Conference

Conference33rd Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Antonio
Period4/03/188/03/18

Keywords

  • Controlled current source IC
  • Current pulse
  • Driver IC
  • LIDAR
  • Laser diode
  • Power MOSFET
  • Pulse circuits on-chip

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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