Allegro MicroSystems Acquires Lidar/Ladar System Developer Voxtel

Allegro MicroSystems, a developer of sensing and semiconductor technology, has acquired Voxtel Inc. Voxtel, located in Beaverton, Ore., specializes in research and delivery of electro-optical devices and laser detection and radar (ladar) systems. The company develops eye-safe indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) photodetectors, single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) imagers, ladar photoreceivers, and pulsed 1534-nm lasers, for military, automotive, space, and other applications.

According to Allegro CEO Ravi Vig, the acquisition will enhance Voxtel’s existing lidar portfolio for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications. The move will increase the safety, cost effectiveness, and potential for feature adoptability in cars of the future, Vig said.

Allegro’s photonics portfolio includes devices made in silicon and InGaAs, providing components for both eye-safe, long-range, 1D or 2D scanned front-facing lidar, and side- or rear-facing flash lidar.

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About Voxtel Inc.

Published: September 2020

Glossary

lidar: Lidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape and characteristics of objects and surfaces. Lidar systems typically consist of a laser scanner, a GPS receiver, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU), all integrated into a single system. Here is how lidar works: Laser emission: A laser emits laser pulses, often in the form of rapid and repetitive laser...
electro-optics: 1. The branch of physics that deals with the use of electrical energy to create or manipulate light waves, generally by changing the refractive index of a light-propagating material; 2. Collectively, the devices used to affect the intersection of electrical energy and light. Compare with optoelectronics.
indium gallium arsenide: Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) is a semiconductor compound composed of indium (In), gallium (Ga), and arsenic (As). It belongs to the III-V group of semiconductors and is commonly used in optoelectronic devices, photovoltaics, and high-speed electronics due to its unique properties. Bandgap engineering: The bandgap of InGaAs can be tailored by adjusting the ratio of indium to gallium atoms in the compound. By varying the composition, the bandgap can be tuned to cover a wide range of...
machine vision: Machine vision, also known as computer vision or computer sight, refers to the technology that enables machines, typically computers, to interpret and understand visual information from the world, much like the human visual system. It involves the development and application of algorithms and systems that allow machines to acquire, process, analyze, and make decisions based on visual data. Key aspects of machine vision include: Image acquisition: Machine vision systems use various...

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