According to reports from Electronic Enthusiasts, with the rapid development of autonomous driving, robotics, and XR technology, LiDAR, as the core sensor for environmental perception, has its performance and cost directly affecting the reliability of intelligent systems. The SPAD-SoC (Single Photon Avalanche Diode System on Chip), as the “digital heart” of LiDAR, is reshaping the entire industry landscape with its highly integrated and fully digital architecture.
Advantages of SPAD-SoC Technology: High Integration and Fully Digital Architecture
SPAD-SoC is an advanced architecture that integrates SPAD arrays, quenching circuits, time-to-digital converters (TDC), digital signal processors (DSP), and storage units into a single chip. Its core component, the SPAD array, consists of millions of single-photon detection units, each capable of independently capturing a single photon and converting weak light signals into electrical signals through the avalanche multiplication effect.SPAD-SoC has several significant technical advantages. First is its high integration, which simplifies the system structure by integrating the SPAD array with processing circuits through 3D stacking technology, effectively reducing the size and cost of LiDAR. For example, the SPAD-SoC chip from Suoteng Juchuang integrates the receiving array with the processing SoC, achieving a resolution of 0.25 cm and a sampling rate as high as 44 billion times per second.Secondly, the fully digital architecture realizes digitalization from photon detection to point cloud generation, avoiding losses during the analog-to-digital conversion process, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio and accuracy. The SQ100 chip from Shiguang Chip uses BSI (Backside Illumination) SPAD technology combined with a high-precision clock sampling matrix, enabling high-precision identification of obstacles up to 250 meters away. Additionally, it features flexible partitioning and low power consumption, supporting 2D addressable partitioning, effectively solving the “high reflection pollution” problem while optimizing power consumption through CMOS technology. The FL6031 chip from Fushi Technology reduces power consumption by 40% compared to traditional solutions while maintaining a high frame rate.SPAD-SoC is widely used in the field of autonomous driving, becoming a core component of L4/L5 level autonomous driving LiDAR. For example, Huawei’s ADS 4.0 system is equipped with four SPAD-SoC LiDARs, achieving precise identification of obstacles up to 300 meters away and supporting high-speed navigation assistance and automatic parking functions. The Zeekr 9X model uses the Suoteng Juchuang 520-line long-range LiDAR paired with four solid-state blind-spot radars from Fushi Technology to achieve full-scene autonomous driving from parking space to parking space.Not only in the field of autonomous driving, but the miniaturization and low-cost characteristics of SPAD-SoC also promote its widespread application in robotics. The lawn-mowing robot from Suoteng Juchuang, based on SPAD-SoC solid-state LiDAR, achieves environmental modeling and path planning. Fushi Technology predicts that the cost of solid-state LiDAR modules will drop below $70, which will strongly promote the popularity of consumer-grade and industrial robots.
Key Companies and Technical Roadmap of SPAD-SoC Chips
In terms of chip research and mass production, both international companies and domestic manufacturers have made progress. Sony produced the world’s first vehicle-mounted large-area SPAD chip IMX459 in 2023, with a pixel scale of 113,400, and plans to launch an upgraded version IMX479 in 2025, supporting obstacle recognition at 300 meters, with mass production expected in the fall. Its technical roadmap focuses on semi-solid-state radar, enhancing resolution through a 3×3 Binning configuration.Among domestic companies, Fushi Technology is the first in China to achieve automotive-grade certification for SPAD-SoC, with its FL6031 chip integrating hundreds of millions of transistors and utilizing “Omni-light Control™” solid-state scanning technology, eliminating mechanical components and enhancing reliability. Suoteng Juchuang plans to mass-produce its self-developed SPAD-SoC chip in 2025, with its E1/E1R solid-state LiDAR already applied in automotive and robotics fields. The SQ100 chip from Shiguang Chip supports a resolution of 768×576 and offers ultra-flexible partitioning solutions, addressing industry performance bottlenecks. Hesai Technology acquired SPAD core patents through the acquisition of Fastree3D, and its fourth-generation chip platform is expected to be mass-produced in 2025, to be equipped on the second-generation pure solid-state radar FTX.Recently, Xingchen Technology also stated that it is actively laying out in high-end fields. Engineering samples of SPAD-SoC suitable for vehicle-mounted main LiDAR, capable of achieving 192 lines and measuring distances of over 250-300 meters, are undergoing customer validation and vehicle testing, with mass production expected next year. Additionally, chips suitable for vehicle-mounted and robotic blind-spot radars are expected to be produced next year, gradually completing the product matrix. The company aims to become a leader in SPAD-SoC LiDAR chip technology and market in the short term.In terms of competitive landscape, in the international market, Sony and Onsemi dominate the high-end market, with their technical roadmap leaning towards semi-solid-state radar. In contrast, domestic manufacturers such as Fushi Technology, Suoteng Juchuang, and Shiguang Chip focus on fully solid-state architectures, seizing market share with automotive-grade certification and cost advantages.Looking ahead, SPAD-SoC chips will show trends of technological iteration and scene expansion. In terms of performance improvement, pixel scales will develop towards millions, and photon detection efficiency (PDE) will continue to be optimized. In terms of cost, with the advancement of mass production, the price of SPAD-SoC chips is expected to drop below $20, which will promote the popularity of vehicles priced at 150,000 yuan. In application areas, it will expand from vehicle-mounted main radars to consumer electronics, industrial automation, and other fields, forming a market worth hundreds of billions.
Disclaimer: This article is reported by Electronic Enthusiasts, please indicate the source above when reprinting. For group communication, please add WeChat elecfans999, for submission and interview requests, please send an email to [email protected].
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