SUZHOU, Aug. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Zhiguang released the SQ100, a highly integrated large-area array SPAD-SoC that truly realizes flexible partitioning. The SQ100 is designed for applications such as ADAS front-end mass production, L4/5 autonomous driving, robotics, and industrial automation. The SQ100 is highly flexible and malleable, which can meet the requirements of pixel resolution, ranging range and accuracy in different application scenarios, and is committed to realizing the leap from "usable" to "easy to use" SPAD-SoC.
The Zhiguang team is always the back wall of the product. The core members of the Zhiguang team have the successful mass production experience of automotive-grade area array SPAD-SoC, and the core members are from the top Silicon Valley chip R&D team or international authoritative scientific research institutions, and have participated in the research and development of various AI-level computing power chip projects, and have full-stack independent research and development capabilities from core devices, analog, digital, algorithms to systems, which is the supporting force for realizing SQ100's high integration, high flexibility and 2D addressability; As a pioneer of VCSEL+SPAD LiDAR technology route, Zhiguang has formed a unique ability to define and optimize the SPAD-SoC chip architecture from the perspective of LiDAR system, ensuring that SQ100 starts from customer needs, effectively solves practical problems, and completes commercial implementation.
SQ100 chip physical image
The SQ100 has a SPAD resolution of 768 (H) x 576 (V) and has multiple binning modes such as 3x3, 6x6, 3xn, etc.; It can be partitioned by 4/8/16 pixels vertically and 8/16/32/48/64/.../256 pixels horizontally. The SQ100 provides an ultra-flexible partitioned 2D addressable solution that truly solves the industry's long-standing "high blooming" problem while maintaining high frame rates and long-ranging capabilities, removing the most important performance hurdles on the VCSEL+SPAD mass production route.
The point cloud measured by the existing 1D partition scanning scheme: the entire transverse 1D partition where the high anti-reflection plate is located has high anti-pollution
The measured point cloud of the 2D partition scanning scheme of Zhiguang is as follows: only the 2D partition covered by the high anti-reflection plate has high anti-pollution
Thanks to the smaller expansion range and the abundant point cloud feature data output by the SQ100, the difficulty of removing the expanded point cloud will be greatly reduced, and the removal accuracy will be greatly improved, and finally the point cloud data with high anti-pollution will be obtained.
The final point cloud effect
The flexible partitioning not only allows the SQ100 to be used as a receiver chip for all-solid-state LiDAR, but also for rotating mirror line scan solutions, and also helps customers achieve different ROI solutions.
Based on the self-developed all-chip technology, the unique SPAD-SoC series products integrate key modules such as high-performance BSI SPAD, high-precision clock sampling matrix (TDC), single-photon ranging engine (TCSPC), high-concurrency dToF perception algorithm accelerator (DSP), Lidar Controlling Master, and high-speed data interface into one chip. What Zhiguang provides is a complete on-chip LiDAR system that can realize the functions of high-speed acquisition and processing of on-chip massive data, LiDAR system control, and customized integration of external algorithms.
The SQ100's leading integration opens up a new 0-1 path for industry lidar/autonomous driving solutions: without the need for FPGA/MCU, the SQ100 SPAD-SoC can process lidar data on-chip and directly transmit it to the domain controller, realizing the upward shift of computing power, and the centralized processing of multi-sensor data by the domain controller.
We call this solution a satellite solution, which not only greatly reduces the cost and size of the whole lidar machine, but also has the advantages of improving the cost-effectiveness ratio, accelerating the pre-fusion of multi-sensor data, and optimizing the accuracy of the perception algorithm.
Schematic diagram of the satellite scheme
The satellite solution is one of the unique values that the SQ100 brings to customers, and it is based on its high level of integration.
First, SQ100 integrates the first Intelligent Ranging Engine (IRE), which has completed the on-chip acquisition and processing of massive raw data before the external output of data, providing a premise for direct transmission to domain control.
- IRE is based on TCSPC, DSP, and the advanced data path design and data processing algorithm patented by Zhiguang, which can collect and process thousands of pixels in parallel, and the data volume reaches tens of terabytes per second. All the collected data will be processed by the on-chip inherent algorithm to achieve high precision, high signal-to-noise ratio, anti-multi-machine and ambient light interference, etc.
- IRE also supports ping-pong memory operation, which enables continuous and uninterrupted histogram acquisition and synchronous parallel processing, which can significantly increase the frame rate or increase the detection distance under the same conditions. At the same time, the patented HIST compression technology of Zhiguang can allow the same data storage function to occupy a smaller chip area, thereby reducing the overall cost;
In addition, the SQ100 also integrates the Lidar Controlling Master (LCM), which contains control modules such as emission module, mechanical structure, temperature, cleaning, and defogging, and only a single chip of the SQ100 can provide LiDAR system functions.
Eventually, the replacement of FPGAs/MCUs was realized.
In line with other products, SQ100 still shows the rapid iteration of the development ability of Zhiguang, a tape-out and a light up, at present, Zhiguang has started the production of relevant prototypes with key customers, and has been widely praised by customers. Zhiguang will open the test suite in the future, and will also provide RX solutions and other related technical support according to customer needs, so stay tuned.