Application · LiDAR & 3D Sensing

Detectors for LiDAR and 3D sensing

Advanced LiDAR systems benefit from sensitive, fast, and scalable photodetectors. SWIR and near-infrared operation can be attractive for eye safety, range, sunlight robustness, and performance in challenging environments — but detector cost and scalability remain bottlenecks.

Photon-counting LiDAR Structured point cloud — depth, shape, and reach reconstructed from single photons.

“Clearer depth perception when conventional imaging reaches its limits.”

Prototype · LiDAR

VisionOne — LiDAR detector prototype

VisionOne brings high SWIR sensitivity at 1550 nm to a CMOS-compatible Ge-on-Si SPAD platform — eye-safe operation, robustness in sunlight and difficult weather, and a clear path to scalable, large-format detector arrays.

All values are model-based target values — not yet demonstrated and not a qualified datasheet.

VisionOne

SPAD Array Platform

In development — TRL 3

A scalable SPAD array platform for automotive LiDAR and industrial sensing applications.

High performance and scalability

Weight & size efficient for versatile system integration

Room-temperature operation (target)

Semiconductor materials for LiDAR detectors

Ge-on-Si combines SWIR sensitivity with CMOS-compatible fabrication — well suited to scalable, industrial LiDAR detectors.

Daylight

Range

GeQD range ≈ 4× of Si (model-based target — not yet demonstrated)

Rain & Fog

GeQD range ≈ 3× of Si (model-based target — not yet demonstrated)

Cost

(lower = better)

GeQD ~10× cheaper than InGaAs and close to Si (model-based projection at scale — not yet validated)

* Model-based target values derived from laboratory measurement data; not yet demonstrated in field tests.

1550 nm vs. 905 nm

Same scene, two wavelengths

Identical traffic scene, two detectors. Left: GeQD's Ge-on-Si SPAD platform at 1550 nm. Right: a conventional silicon SPAD at 905 nm. Point-cloud density and reach change with conditions — the relative 1550 nm advantage persists.

Wavelength Advantage

Same scene, two detectors. 1550 nm Ge-SPADs return a denser point cloud and reach further than 905 nm silicon — across day, night, and adverse weather.

* Based on calculations from the laboratory demonstrator.

Eye-Safe

1550 nm is inherently eye-safe

Higher Range

Reaches further at eye-safe power

All-Weather

Better fog & rain penetration

Eye safety · 1550 nm

Why 1550 nm illumination is classified as eye-safer

Eye safety in laser standards is defined by the maximum permissible exposure (MPE). At 1550 nm, the optical path through the eye and the regulatory MPE differ fundamentally from those around 905 nm.

Water absorption

At 1550 nm, light is strongly absorbed by water in the cornea, aqueous and vitreous humour before reaching the retina.

No retinal focus

Because the radiation is absorbed in the anterior eye, it is not focused onto the retina — the most damage-sensitive tissue.

Higher MPE per IEC 60825-1

The maximum permissible exposure (MPE) at 1550 nm is roughly two orders of magnitude higher than at 905 nm under comparable pulse conditions.

More optical power available

The higher MPE allows greater pulse energy within Class 1 limits — useful for range, weather robustness and signal-to-noise.

Reference: IEC 60825-1 / ANSI Z136.1. Eye-safety classification depends on wavelength, pulse energy, repetition rate and beam geometry; system-level Class 1 compliance must be verified per device.

Detector requirements for LiDAR & ToF

High photon detection efficiency

More detected photons per emitted pulse means longer range, lower laser power, and better signal at low reflectivity targets.

Low dark count rate

Suppresses false detections and keeps the depth map clean, especially at long range or low signal.

Low timing jitter

Sub-100 ps jitter translates directly into centimetre-scale depth resolution in time-of-flight systems.

High count rate

Short dead time enables high pulse repetition and dense point clouds without saturation.

Scalable detector arrays

Megapixel-class SPAD arrays unlock flash and solid-state architectures beyond mechanical scanning.

Ambient-light robustness

SWIR operation around 1550 nm benefits from a solar irradiance dip and supports higher eye-safe optical power.

Manufacturable cost structure

CMOS-compatible processes are essential for the per-unit cost targets of automotive and industrial volumes.

GeQD's contribution

A germanium-on-silicon SPAD platform as a pathway toward scalable SWIR single-photon detection for future LiDAR architectures.

GeQD is developing a germanium-on-silicon SPAD platform that could enable scalable single-photon detection for future LiDAR and 3D sensing architectures — especially where SWIR sensitivity and semiconductor-scale array fabrication are important.

Note: This is a future application pathway. The LiDAR array (VisionOne) is at TRL 3. Automotive qualification is not claimed — it requires validation of dark count, array size, timing jitter, and packaging.

Discuss LiDAR detector requirements with GeQD.

We engage with LiDAR integrators, tier-1 suppliers, and research groups on detector specifications for future field-deployable 3D sensing.

Universität Stuttgart – Institut für Halbleitertechnik

Contact

Pfaffenwaldring 47

70569 Stuttgart, Deutschland

Tel: +49 711 68560896

info@geqd.de

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