ICs & Semiconductors

Autonomous vehicles increasing rely on lidar systems but the mechanical components in lidar systems can add cost and occupy valuable space. Toshiba has developed a high resolution, long range light receiving technology for use in solid state lidar systems which does not rely on mechanical components and which is compact, low-cost and simple to install, says the company.

The technology is based on Toshiba’s proprietary compact, high-efficiency silicon photo-multiplier (SiPM). The company says that by removing the need for bulky mechanical components, the technology realises cost and space savings and enhances operational reliability.

In general, SiPM are suitable for long range measurement as they are highly light sensitive. SiPM’s light-receiving cells however, require recovery time after being triggered, and in strong ambient light condition they also need a large number of cells, as reserve cells are needed to react to reflected laser light.

Toshiba’s SiPM applies a transistor circuit that reboots the cells to reduce the recovery time. The cells function more efficiently and fewer are needed. The higher resolution SiPM array maintains high sensitivity, reports Toshiba.

Conventional lidar systems require mechanical components to continuously rotate the laser emitters and their accompanying optical detection devices. Field trials show that the solid state lidar, using commercially available lenses, from wide-angle to telephoto lenses, have demonstrated the system’s effectiveness over a maximum distance of 200m. This range effectively quadruples the capabilities of currently available solid state lidar systems without sacrificing high resolution, says the company.

Toshiba’s lidar system can be built with commercial lenses, which eliminates complex customisation, for application in a variety of self driving vehicles. The compact nature of the technology allows it to be placed in multiple locations on vehicles that had previously presented a major challenge and will also broaden the appeal and feasibility of lidar outside of the automotive sector.

Toshiba says it will continue R&D to further extend lidar measuring range, raise resolution and advance miniaturisation, and is aiming for a practical use of the SiPM to be available in 2022.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/worldwide

Autonomous vehicles increasing rely on lidar systems but the mechanical components in lidar systems can add cost and occupy valuable space. Toshiba has developed a high resolution, long range light receiving technology for use in solid state lidar systems which does not rely on mechanical components and which is compact, low-cost and simple to install, says the company.

The technology is based on Toshiba’s proprietary compact, high-efficiency silicon photo-multiplier (SiPM). The company says that by removing the need for bulky mechanical components, the technology realises cost and space savings and enhances operational reliability.

In general, SiPM are suitable for long range measurement as they are highly light sensitive. SiPM’s light-receiving cells however, require recovery time after being triggered, and in strong ambient light condition they also need a large number of cells, as reserve cells are needed to react to reflected laser light.

Toshiba’s SiPM applies a transistor circuit that reboots the cells to reduce the recovery time. The cells function more efficiently and fewer are needed. The higher resolution SiPM array maintains high sensitivity, reports Toshiba.

Conventional lidar systems require mechanical components to continuously rotate the laser emitters and their accompanying optical detection devices. Field trials show that the solid state lidar, using commercially available lenses, from wide-angle to telephoto lenses, have demonstrated the system’s effectiveness over a maximum distance of 200m. This range effectively quadruples the capabilities of currently available solid state lidar systems without sacrificing high resolution, says the company.

Toshiba’s lidar system can be built with commercial lenses, which eliminates complex customisation, for application in a variety of self driving vehicles. The compact nature of the technology allows it to be placed in multiple locations on vehicles that had previously presented a major challenge and will also broaden the appeal and feasibility of lidar outside of the automotive sector.

Toshiba says it will continue R&D to further extend lidar measuring range, raise resolution and advance miniaturisation, and is aiming for a practical use of the SiPM to be available in 2022.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/worldwide

A wireless M-Bus (wM-Bus) software stack leverages the integrated sub-GHz radio and multiple modulation schemes supported by STMicroelectronics’ STM32WL microcontrollers in smart metering systems.

According to ST it reduces the bill of materials costs for smart metering. The wM-Bus stack has been developed by Stackforce to comply with most of EN 13757-3/-7, covering the upper layers of the Wireless M-Bus protocol stack, as well as the lower layers (EN 13757-4) and its wM-Bus modes S, T, and C used throughout Europe in the 868MHz band. The mode N for operation at 169MHz is also an option. Other metering standards, including the most common Open Metering System (OMS) specification, as well as more specific standards like Dutch Smart Meter Requirements (DSMR) or CIG Italian Gas Committee specifications, are also met, adds ST.

Hakim Jaafar, marketing manager, STM32 Wireless products at STMicroelectronics said: “Thanks to our collaboration with Stackforce, STM32WL is reaching a new level of multi-protocol compatibility. With this wireless wM-Bus stack, the STM32WL can become the key product for a wide range of smart metering applications such as electricity, gas and water metering”.

Supported by the STM32 development ecosystem, STM32WL microcontrollers are low power devices incorporate a sub-GHz radio with a wide linear frequency range, dual power output. It can satisfy EN 300 220, FCC CFR 47 Part 15, ARIB T108, and other radio-equipment regulations, including China regulatory requirements. It also has an integrated switched-mode power supply (SMPS) and hardware cryptographic accelerators.

STM32WL devices with up to 256kbyte flash and a BGA73 package are in production now and are supported by ST’s 10-year product-longevity commitment

David Rahusen, managing director at Stackforce, said: “We will shortly add a wM-Bus over LoRaWAN stack that utilises . . . STM32WL features to merge the benefits of wM-Bus for seamless integration into metering infrastructure with the long-range capability of LoRaWAN urgently needed for metering applications”.

The Stackforce wM-Bus stack is available immediately. The wM-Bus over LoRaWAN stack will be available at the end of July 2020.

http://www.st.com