Powerful Laser Diode Matrixes based on AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures for Active Vision Systems

The powerful laser diode matrixes (LDM) based on the AlGaAs/GaAs quantum heterostructures are used as illumination sources in the Active Vision Systems (AVS). The LDM lasing wavelength is in the range 790-880 nm (the... [ view full abstract ]

The powerful laser diode matrixes (LDM) based on the AlGaAs/GaAs quantum heterostructures are used as illumination sources in the Active Vision Systems (AVS). The LDM lasing wavelength is in the range 790-880 nm (the atmosphere transparency spectral region), total optical output pulse power 6 kW. Achievement of AVS’s high efficiency is connected with a high average power of illumination, which depends on the pulse duration and pulse repetition rate along with peak optical power. Effective realization of the principle of range gated active vision supposes usage of short light pulses. The LDM radiation pulse duration must be about 10-300 ns for the application in the AVS which are used for the distances from 100 m up to 10 km. To achieve such pulse duration (about 30 ns) and high pulse repetition rate (up to 100 kHz) values as well as requirements of AVS compactness special electric scheme and geometry of power supply is needed.
Another problem related to using laser diode matrixes as illumination sources in AVS is LDM active layer heating as well as the LDM radiation divergence (and its concordance with objective field of view). The LDM passive cooling and method of radiation divergence control are also discussed.