IN Brief:
- FirePower Octane combines Silanna's SL2120 eight-channel gate driver with its SL2130 GaN transistor array.
- The matched architecture supports peak switching power above 200 W per channel, sub-nanosecond pulses, and typical 400 ps switching transitions.
- Independent pulse programming and eight-channel expansion support larger LiDAR arrays, while commercial availability is being arranged through authorised distributors.
Silanna has introduced FirePower Octane, a matched laser-driver chipset combining an eight-channel gate driver with an eight-channel gallium nitride transistor array. The devices are designed for LiDAR and time-of-flight ranging systems that require short, high-power electrical pulses to drive multiple laser emitters.
The chipset pairs the SL2120 gate driver with the SL2130 GaN switching array. Silanna specifies peak switching power exceeding 200 W per channel, sub-nanosecond pulse capability, and typical rise and fall times of approximately 400 picoseconds for the matched arrangement.
The architecture can be expanded in groups of eight channels to support larger transmitter arrays, including configurations containing 64 or 128 channels. The company is targeting both solid-state and scanning LiDAR systems using vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers or edge-emitting lasers.
LiDAR measures distance by transmitting light and analysing signals returned after that light interacts with surrounding objects. In pulsed time-of-flight systems, the interval between transmission and reception provides the information needed to calculate the distance travelled by the light.
The timing characteristics of the transmitted optical pulse influence the measurements that can be extracted from the received signal. Pulse width, peak power, repetition rate, and timing consistency must therefore be considered alongside the sensitivity and signal-processing characteristics of the receiver.
Generating a very short laser pulse requires the electrical drive circuit to deliver a rapidly changing current. The switching transistor, gate driver, supply arrangement, and connections to the laser package all affect the resulting waveform.
At sub-nanosecond timescales, parasitic inductance and capacitance can significantly alter switching behaviour. The physical layout of the current path becomes an important part of the design, since electrical connections that are acceptable at lower switching speeds may introduce unwanted voltage disturbances and pulse distortion.
Silanna has developed the SL2120 and SL2130 as a matched pair with corresponding channel spacing. This arrangement allows the driver outputs to align with the transistor array, reducing some of the routing complexity involved in constructing an eight-channel laser transmitter.
The SL2130 contains eight GaN transistors in a 36-ball wafer-level chip-scale package measuring 3.39 × 2.1 mm. Its 250 µm channel pitch is intended to support compact connections to multi-channel laser arrays.
Gallium nitride transistors support rapid switching transitions, while their electrical characteristics can help reduce losses in circuits operating with short, high-current pulses. The achieved performance depends on the transistor, gate drive, supply impedance, and the wider transmitter architecture.
The SL2130 has an 80 V rating and can be used with compatible VCSEL and edge-emitting laser arrangements. Device selection still requires assessment of voltage transients, peak current, thermal behaviour, and the electrical characteristics of the connected laser array.
The SL2120 provides eight low-side gate-driver channels in a 2.15 × 1.94 mm wafer-level chip-scale package. Silanna specifies a minimum pulse width of 1 ns and typical propagation delay below 5 ns, with the driver also suitable for use with selected silicon transistors.
Propagation delay describes the interval between a control input and the resulting driver response. In a multi-channel system, the relationship between channel delays can influence the timing of emitted optical pulses and the way returned signals are interpreted.
FirePower Octane provides independent control of pulse timing, peak power, repetition frequency, and pulse-train generation. The ability to assign different pulse patterns to individual channels creates options for coordinating emissions across an array.
In a ranging system, the transmitted pattern can be used as part of the process for identifying the corresponding received signal. Correlation-based detection and waveform classification are examples of techniques that can use controlled pulse characteristics to help distinguish expected returns from interference or other unwanted signals.
These functions require suitable receiver hardware and signal-processing algorithms. Programmable transmitter pulses alone do not guarantee that a LiDAR system can reject interference or avoid false detections under every operating condition.
Scaling the architecture to more channels increases the demands placed on the supporting electronics. Power distribution, pulse scheduling, thermal management, and control interfaces must accommodate the additional emitters without allowing unwanted interactions between neighbouring channels.
Laser-array integration also requires attention to the optical arrangement. The position of emitters, beam geometry, operating wavelength, and intended measurement range influence how the transmitter is configured and how its output is used by the receiving system.
Silanna claims the matched chipset can reduce transmitter size by up to 70% and cost by more than 30% compared with traditional implementations. These figures are manufacturer estimates associated with its proposed architecture, rather than independently established savings across all LiDAR designs.
A smaller transistor and gate-driver arrangement can reduce circuit-board requirements, but the final transmitter dimensions also depend on the laser array, optics, energy storage, power supply, and mechanical enclosure.
Laser safety is another part of the finished system design. Optical pulse energy, wavelength, repetition rate, and exposure conditions must be considered when evaluating the safety classification of a LiDAR product.
Silanna is preparing FirePower Octane and its individual SL2120 and SL2130 devices for distribution through authorised partners. Technical information and sample enquiries are available through its FirePower product programme, with no specific volume production shipment date disclosed.
