This reference design offers a robust and scalable solution for LiDAR receiver front-end development, with a particular focus on automotive applications but with the versatility to be adapted for other industries.
The Quad-Channel LiDAR Receiver Front-End plays a crucial role in advanced light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems, which are increasingly essential in applications such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, and precision mapping. This technology enables the simultaneous capture of multiple data channels, significantly enhancing the resolution and accuracy of distance measurements. By integrating four independent channels, the receiver front-end ensures faster processing and better signal integrity, which is vital for creating detailed 3D environmental maps. As the demand for high-precision sensing grows, the Quad-Channel LiDAR Receiver Front-End becomes indispensable in pushing the boundaries of what LiDAR systems can achieve.
Analog Devices has developed a reference design MAXREFDESLiDAR1 that integrates critical components for a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) receiver front end. This design utilises the First Sensor 4-channel APD (avalanche photodiode) array, the Maxim quad TIA (transimpedance amplifier) with multiplexer MAX40662, and the Maxim single fast comparator MAX40026. These components ensure accurate signal detection and processing in LiDAR systems, which are increasingly essential in automotive, industrial, and commercial applications. It demonstrates the ease with which these three critical components can be interfaced when designing the front end of a LiDAR receiver. The MAX40662 and MAX40026, both AEC-Q100 qualified, make this design particularly suitable for automotive applications, where reliability and performance are paramount.
The flexibility of these components also makes them ideal for a wide range of industrial and commercial LiDAR systems, where high precision and fast response times are necessary. The design not only illustrates the integration of these components but also offers practical tips and recommendations for extending the design to systems with a higher channel count. This scalability is vital for applications requiring more extensive detection capabilities, as it allows for the seamless expansion of the LiDAR system to accommodate additional channels. The design has 4-channel APD array from First Sensor, specifically designed for near-infrared (NIR) detection. The APD array is housed in a non-hermetic SMD (surface-mount device) package with a ceramic carrier and an AR-coated (anti-reflective) glass window.
This configuration ensures that the APD array can efficiently detect NIR light while maintaining the robustness and reliability required in demanding environments. The MAX40662, a quad-channel TIA with an integrated multiplexer, interfaces directly with the APD array. This setup allows for efficient signal amplification and multiplexing, enabling the system to handle multiple input channels from the APD array. Additionally, the Analog Devices MAX40026, a single fast comparator, is used to provide precise signal comparison, which is critical for accurately determining object distance in LiDAR applications. It has inclusion of test points, which allow engineers to verify the performance of each component on the board independently. This diagnostic capability is invaluable during the design and testing phases, ensuring that each part of the system operates as expected.
Anlog devices has validated this reference design, which includes a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, assembly drawing, PCB layout, and other essential resources. Additional information about the reference design is available on the company’s website. For further details, click here.
