TOSHIBA By removing the need for bulky mechanical components, the technology realizes cost and space savings and enhances operational reliability. At its heart is Toshiba's proprietary compact, high-efficiency silicon photo-multiplier (SiPM).
In general, SiPM are suitable for long-range measurement as they are highly light sensitive. However, the light-receiving cells composed on SiPM require recovery time after being triggered, and in strong ambient light condition they also need a large number of cells, since they must have reserve cells to react to reflected laser light.
Furthermore, Toshiba's LiDAR system can easily be built with commercial lenses, which eliminates complex customization and allows it to be applied in a wide variety of self-driving vehicles. The technology's inherent compactness allows placement in multiple locations on vehicles that had previously presented a major challenge and it will also broaden LiDAR applications outside of the automotive sector.
Toshiba will continue R&D to further extend LiDAR measuring range, raise resolution and advance miniaturization, with the target of practical use of the SiPM in FY2022.
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