Laser sensor module

US10680411B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Holger Moench · Vaals, NL
• Alexander Marc Van Der Lee · Eindhoven, NL
• Stephan Gronenborn · Aachen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2015
• Grant date: Jun 9, 2020
• Expiry date: Aug 19, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/18386
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention describes a laser sensor module comprising at least one Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) and at least one driving circuit (120). The driving circuit (120) is adapted to provide electrical energy to the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) such that the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) emits laser pulses (345) with a pulse length (356) of less than 100 ns and a duty cycle of less than 5% in comparison to a continuous laser emission. The driving circuit (120) is further adapted to provide additional energy to the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) at least 100 ns prior to at least a part of the laser pulses (345) such that the part of the laser pulses (345) are emitted under defined optical conditions. The invention further describes a distance detection device comprising the laser sensor module and a method of driving the laser sensor module. The additional energy is preferably provided by means of a current pre-pulse (335) which is applied to the V(E)CSEL prior to preferably each laser pulse (345). The current pre-pulse is preferably arranged such that no laser light is emitted by means of the V(E)CSEL. The V(E)CSEL are enable…