LASER COMPONENTS announces that the first of its products has achieved qualification for use in the automotive industry. Pulsed Laser Diodes (PLD) with a wavelength of 905 nm are key components for the LiDAR technology (Light Detection and Ranging) used in autonomous driving.

905nm PLD (Image: LASER COMPONENTS)

In the interests of safety and technological excellence, the automotive industry demands the highest quality standards from their suppliers – including those delivering electronic components. Manufacturers are required to deliver a detailed Production Parts Approval Process Report documenting and qualifying their entire production line. To qualify, companies must demonstrate compliance to the reliability and environmental standards of the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC). Car companies also push the boundaries when it comes to functionality in extreme surrounding conditions.

While other industries take the temperatures inside a manufacturing plant as a reference, car electronics must also prove their reliably in arctic or tropical climates and are therefore tested at a range of temperatures from -40°C to 105°C (-40°F to 221°F). Similar standards are applied for humidity and mechanical shocks.

“So far, our PLDs have been very successful in laser scanning applications. Thanks to research areas like automotive driving, there is an increasing number of requests from the automotive industry”, says Winfried Reeb, Head of Business Unit Active Components at LASER COMPONENTS. “This first successful qualification proves that we are prepared for this promising yet demanding market.”