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Laser Source Solutions for Rangefinding Systems
Different systems require different combinations of optical performance, mechanical dimensions, electrical interfaces and operating conditions. Start from your application requirement to identify the specifications that matter most.
Laser Rangefinding
Handheld, vehicle-mounted and platform systems pair a 1535 nm source with a receiver chain. Selection usually starts from required range under stated conditions, then narrows to pulse energy, beam divergence and repetition rate.
Range performance depends on target size, reflectance, atmospheric visibility and detection logic - not on source pulse energy alone. Confirm the complete measurement chain for your design.
LiDAR-Related Systems
Compact microchip sources support mapping, UAV and automotive sensing architectures where package size and eye-safety are the binding constraints. The 1535 nm wavelength allows higher pulse energy within the same eye-safety class than shorter-wavelength alternatives.
Compact packages
From 14.5 × 6.3 × 4.37 mm for miniature rangefinders.
Higher energy tiers
Up to 10 mJ for long-range and remote-sensing architectures.
Eye-safe wavelength
1535 nm Class 1 operation across the range.
Optical Sensing
Sensing and measurement systems that benefit from a 1.5 µm wavelength and a short pulse width. Review pulse width, stability and beam quality against your detection scheme.
OEM Integration
Design-in support covers package constraints, electrical interfaces, thermal conditions and operating limits. Share your requirements and we will identify the parameters that need to be fixed before design freeze.
OEM / ODM Capabilities
ERDI LASER
1535 nm Laser Applications: Rangefinding, LiDAR and Sensing
Applications Where these sources are used Eight application families the range is specified into — with the recommended ERDI module shown in each scene, so the scale, mounting envelope and beam path are clear at a glance. ER800 Industrial Production Machine vision · alignment ER800 Car Positioning LiDAR · autonom
Applications
Where these sources are used
Eight application families the range is specified into — with the recommended ERDI module shown in each scene, so the scale, mounting envelope and beam path are clear at a glance.
1535 nm Eye-Safe Laser Sources for Ranging, LiDAR and Mapping Systems
ERDI builds 1535 nm Er:Yb glass microchip laser sources for eight application families: UAV LiDAR, laser rangefinding, mobile mapping, robotics / industrial sensing, medical research, weapon targeting, missile guidance and reconnaissance. Pulse energy runs from 10 µJ to 10 mJ in the same wavelength and the same microchip format, so a single optical and receiver concept can be scaled across a product line. Typical pulse width is 3.5–13 ns, repetition rate 1–10 Hz, raw beam diameter 0.3–0.8 mm, and operating temperature −40 °C to +65 °C.
Every figure below is taken from the published datasheet of the model named. If your requirement is outside these ranges, the OEM Solutions page describes how we adapt the source, the beam and the drive interface.
Applications at a glance
| Application | What drives the choice | Recommended models | Pulse energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAV LiDAR | Payload mass, power budget, eye safety | MINI-100, ER400, ER500 | 100–500 µJ |
| Laser rangefinding | Target range, receiver sensitivity, envelope | ER500, ER2000, ER4000, ER10000 | 0.5–10 mJ |
| Mobile mapping | Repetition rate, pulse stability, point density | ER800, ER900, ER2000 | 0.8–2 mJ |
| Robotics & industrial | Repetition rate, drive voltage, service life | MINI-100, ER100, ER200 | 100–200 µJ |
| Medical research | Pulse energy, package, eye safety near operators | MINI-100, ER100, ER200 | 100–200 µJ |
| Weapon targeting | Range, divergence, compact sight envelope | MINI-100, ER800, ER2000, ER4000 | 0.1–4 mJ |
| Missile guidance | Pulse energy, divergence, shock and vibration | ER4000, ER8000, ER10000 | 4–10 mJ |
| Reconnaissance | Range, package, receiver compatibility | MINI-100, ER800, ER2000 | 0.1–2 mJ |
UAV LiDAR
What matters on an aircraft: mass and power budget, eye safety over the operating area, and a beam that survives vibration and temperature swing. Our compact sources are built for exactly that trade: the MINI-100 weighs 2.5 g in a 14.5 × 6.3 × 4.37 mm package at 100 µJ, and the ER400 reaches 400 µJ at 12 g with 30 A drive from 2 V. The compact models are qualified to MIL-STD-810G shock (1500 G, 0.5 ms) and vibration (20–2000 Hz / 20 G) methods.
| Recommended model | Pulse energy / width | Rep. rate | Package / mass | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MINI-100 | 100 µJ / 3.5 ns | 1–10 Hz | 14.5 × 6.3 × 4.37 mm / 2.5 g | 2 V / 12 A |
| ER400 | 400 µJ / 6 ns | 10 Hz | 35 × 8 × 6.8 mm / 12 g | 2 V / 15 A |
| ER500 | 500 µJ / 6 ns | 1–10 Hz | 35 × 8 × 6.8 mm / 12 g | 2 V / 20 A |
System notes. 1535 nm sits far above the 905 nm eye-safety limit in permitted exposure, which matters when the aircraft flies over people or roads. TEM00 output and 0.3 mm raw beam diameter let your collimator set divergence and footprint; the source does not impose a fixed beam. Drive pulse width is ≤ 1.1 ms on MINI-100 and ≤ 2.4 ms on ER400 / ER500, so the trigger can come from the same timing board that fires the scanner.
Laser rangefinding
What matters in a rangefinder: pulse energy against target range, pulse stability against the receiver threshold, and a package that fits the housing you have already tooled. Every model shares the same 1535 nm wavelength, so one receiver and one signal-processing chain can serve several product tiers — from a handheld to a long-range observation unit.
| Typical tier | Recommended model | Pulse energy / width | Package / mass | Pulse stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld, short range | MINI-100 / ER100 | 100 µJ / 3.5–6 ns | 14.5–21 mm / 2.5–7 g | 10 % |
| Handheld, medium range | ER500 | 500 µJ / 6 ns | 35 × 8 × 6.8 mm / 12 g | 10 % |
| Long-range observation | ER2000 / ER4000 | 2–4 mJ / 12 ns | 60 × 25 × 13.5 mm / 105 g | 10 % |
| Extended range, low rep-rate | ER8000 / ER10000 | 8–10 mJ / 12–13 ns | 110 × 40 × 24.5 mm / 220 g | 5 % |
Range scaling. Detected range is set by the link budget, not by the laser alone: pulse energy, beam divergence, target reflectivity, atmospheric transmission and receiver sensitivity / aperture all enter it. The practical way to work with us is to state the target range and target type, and let our engineering team match the source and the drive conditions to your receiver. A 4× increase in pulse energy does not give a 4× increase in range — it gives roughly 2× in the ideal case, before atmospheric and target effects.
Mobile mapping
What matters on a mapping platform: enough pulses per second to reach the point spacing your specification calls for, pulse-to-pulse stability that keeps intensity returns comparable, and a source that behaves the same at −40 °C as it does at +65 °C. Mobile mapping favours the high-energy tier at the top of the standard 1–10 Hz repetition band, because the vehicle or backpack carries more mass and power than a small UAV.
| Recommended model | Pulse energy / width | Rep. rate | Raw beam | Package / mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER800 | 800 µJ / 7 ns | 1–10 Hz | 0.3 mm | 40 × 8 × 7.5 mm / 18 g |
| ER900 | 900 µJ / 7 ns | 1–5 Hz | 0.3 mm | 40 × 8 × 7.5 mm / 18 g |
| ER2000 | 2 mJ / 12 ns | 1–10 Hz | 0.5 mm | 60 × 25 × 13.5 mm / 105 g |
Mapping notes. Point density comes from repetition rate combined with platform speed and scan pattern; when the platform moves fast, the 10 Hz end of the band is the one that keeps ground sampling distance within specification. Pulse stability of 5–10 % keeps return amplitude comparable across a corridor strip, which simplifies intensity calibration in post-processing. Storage temperature is −55 °C on the full family, so field logistics between deployments do not need special handling.
Robotics & industrial sensing
What matters in an industrial product: repetition rate first, then drive simplicity, then service life. Robotics and industrial sensors run continuously rather than in measurement bursts, so the compact, high-repetition models are the right starting point: 10 Hz at 100–200 µJ, 2 V drive, and a package a few centimetres long that can be integrated next to the scanning mechanism.
| Recommended model | Pulse energy / width | Rep. rate | Package / mass | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MINI-100 | 100 µJ / 3.5 ns | 1–10 Hz | 14.5 × 6.3 × 4.37 mm / 2.5 g | 2 V / 12 A |
| ER100 | 100 µJ / 6 ns | 1–10 Hz | 21 × 8 × 6.8 mm / 7 g | 2 V / 8 A |
| ER200 | 200 µJ / 5 ns | 10 Hz | 21 × 8 × 6.8 mm / 7 g | 2 V / 10 A |
Integration notes. A 2 V drive rail is available on the whole compact tier, which keeps the driver stage small and low-cost. Service life is specified as ≥ 1 million shots on the compact models — we quote the datasheet figure, not a marketing multiple. For duty cycles that exceed the published repetition rate, talk to us before designing the thermal path: the limit is in the drive and thermal design, and that is a conversation worth having at concept stage.
Medical research
1535 nm is eye-safe relative to 905/1064 nm, which matters when the beam is used near operators and samples. MINI-100 (100 µJ, 3.5 ns, 2.5 g) suits handheld and bench instruments; ER100 and ER200 add pulse energy for spectroscopy and micro-machining. These are OEM sources, not finished medical devices — validation remains with the instrument manufacturer.
Recommended models: MINI-100 · ER100 · ER200.
Weapon targeting
Target designation and rangefinding need a narrow beam, stable timing and a compact envelope. MINI-100 and ER800 cover man-portable sights; ER2000 and ER4000 extend range. 1535 nm pairs with InGaAs receivers and keeps the beam eye-safe outside the immediate optical path.
Recommended models: MINI-100 · ER800 · ER2000 · ER4000.
Missile guidance
Long-range guidance and proximity sensing need higher pulse energy and narrow divergence. ER10000 delivers 10 mJ / 12 ns in a 110 × 40 × 24.5 mm, 220 g package; ER8000 and ER4000 scale down for smaller interceptors. Trigger timing and jitter are set by the host board.
Recommended models: ER4000 · ER8000 · ER10000.
Reconnaissance
Portable observation and target location combine rangefinding with a stable, eye-safe beam. MINI-100 and ER800 fit handheld or vehicle sights; ER2000 extends range. Pair with a 1535 nm receiver and a host board for time-of-flight.
Recommended models: MINI-100 · ER800 · ER2000.
Choosing pulse energy for your range
| If your system needs | Start from | Pulse energy |
|---|---|---|
| Short-range handheld, dense industrial sensing | Compact family (10–100 µJ) | 10–100 µJ |
| Multi-kilometre ranging, long-range LiDAR | Standard family (200–500 µJ) | 200–500 µJ |
| Mobile mapping, extended observation | High-energy family (0.8–2 mJ) | 0.8–2 mJ |
| Remote sensing, ultra-long-range channels | Ultra-high-energy family (4–10 mJ) | 4–10 mJ |
What to send with an application enquiry
- Application type (UAV LiDAR / rangefinding / mobile mapping / robotics / medical / weapon targeting / missile guidance / reconnaissance)
- Target range and target type (reflectivity, size)
- Receiver: detector type, aperture, sensitivity
- Required pulse energy, pulse width and repetition rate
- Beam diameter and divergence you need at exit
- Available drive voltage and trigger interface
- Package envelope, mass limit and operating environment
- Prototype quantity and annual volume
Send these to our engineering team through the contact page, or see OEM Solutions if your requirement needs a custom beam, interface or mechanical adaptation.
Choosing by requirement instead of by model
If the application is already known, three pages go straight to the selection logic: laser sources for rangefinders, laser sources for LiDAR and high repetition rate models from 500 Hz to 5 kHz. The full range is on the catalogue page, and the RFQ guide lists what to send with an enquiry.
