Velodyne Lidar, Inc.
Multi-channel LIDAR illumination driver

Abstract:

LIDAR measurement systems employing a multiple channel, GaN based illumination driver integrated circuit (IC) are described herein. In one aspect, the multiple channel, GaN based illumination driver IC selectively couples each illumination source associated with each measurement channel to a source of electrical power to generate a measurement pulse of illumination light. In one aspect, each pulse trigger signal associated with each measurement channel is received on a separate node of the IC. In another aspect, additional control signals are received on separate nodes of the IC and communicated to all of the measurement channels. In another aspect, the multiple channel, GaN based illumination driver IC includes a power regulation module that supplies regulated voltage to various elements of each measurement channel only when any pulse trigger signal is in a state that triggers the firing of an illumination pulse.