Lighting module, distance measuring device, movable body, and light source drive circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11563304-B2
Application number	US-202117305606-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2021
Priority date	Jul 29, 2020
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

Abstract

A lighting module includes a voltage-current controller to control power externally supplied, a capacitor charged with power supplied from the voltage-current controller, a laser light source to emit laser light driven by a current from the capacitor, first and second FETs electrically connected in series to the laser light source, and circuitry that controls a first voltage value applied to the first FET and a second voltage value applied to the second FET, to control a resistance value of the second FET. The first FET controls a pulse width of the current flowing through the laser light source in accordance with the first voltage value applied to a gate thereof. The second FET changes in resistance value in accordance with the second voltage value applied to a gate thereof and controls, with the resistance value, a peak value of the current flowing through the laser light source.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting module comprising:
a voltage-current controller configured to control a voltage value and a current value of power supplied from an external power supply;
a capacitor to be charged with power supplied from the voltage-current controller;
a laser light source configured to emit laser light, driven by a current supplied from the capacitor;
a first field effect transistor electrically connected in series to the laser light source,
the first field effect transistor being configured to control a pulse width of the current flowing through the laser light source in accordance with a first voltage value applied to a gate of the first field effect transistor;
a second field effect transistor electrically connected in series to the laser light source,
the second field effect transistor being configured to:
change in resistance value in accordance with a second voltage value applied to a gate of the second field effect transistor; and
control, with the resistance value, a peak value of the current flowing through the laser light source; and

circuitry configured to:
control the first voltage value applied to the first field effect transistor; and
control the second voltage value applied to the second field effect transistor, to control the resistance value of the second field effect transistor.

2. The lighting module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second field effect transistor includes a material having a bandgap equal to or greater than 3 eV.

3. The lighting module according to claim 1 , further comprising a light-receiving element configured to detect an intensity of the laser light emitted from the laser light source,
wherein the circuitry controls the second voltage value applied to the second field effect transistor in accordance with the intensity of the laser light detected by the light-receiving element.

4. The lighting module according to claim 1 , further comprising a radiator disposed in contact with a surface of at least one of the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor, to radiate heat of the at least one of the first field effect transistor.

5. The lighting module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the laser light source is a surface-emitting laser.

6. The lighting module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the laser light source is an edge-emitting laser.

7. The lighting module according to claim 1 , further comprising a diode connected in parallel with the laser light source.

8. The lighting module according to claim 1 , further comprising a third field effect transistor connected in parallel with the laser light source.

9. The lighting module according to claim 1 , further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel with the first field effect transistor.

10. The lighting module according to claim 1 , further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel with the second field effect transistor.

11. A distance measuring device comprising the lighting module according to claim 1 .

12. A movable body comprising the distance measuring device according to claim 11 .

13. A light source drive circuit configured to drive a laser light source, the light source drive circuit comprising:
a capacitor configured to be charged with power supplied from an external power supply, to accumulate power supplied to the laser light source;
a first field effect transistor electrically connected in series to the laser light source,
the first field effect transistor being configured to control a pulse width of a current flowing through the laser light source in accordance with a first voltage value applied to a gate of the first field effect transistor; and
a second field effect transistor electrically connected in series to the laser light source,
the second field effect transistor being configured to:
change in resistance value in accordance with a second voltage value applied to a gate of the second field effect transistor; and
control, with the resistance value, a peak value of the current flowing through the laser light source.

14. The light source drive circuit according to claim 13 ,
wherein the second field effect transistor includes a material having a bandgap equal to or greater than 3 eV.

Assignees

• OKA Yuuki
• Satoh Takumi
• Ueno Tsuyoshi
• Omori Atsufumi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• OKA Yuuki
• Satoh Takumi
• Ueno Tsuyoshi
• Omori Atsufumi

Classifications

• G01S7/484 Primary

  Transmitters · CPC title

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• H01S5/0428 Primary

  for applying pulses to the laser · CPC title

• G01S17/10

  using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32) · CPC title

• H01S5/06216

  Pulse modulation or generation · CPC title