Laser sensor module

Abstract

The invention describes a laser sensor module comprising at least one Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) and at least one driving circuit (120). The driving circuit (120) is adapted to provide electrical energy to the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) such that the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) emits laser pulses (345) with a pulse length (356) of less than 100 ns and a duty cycle of less than 5% in comparison to a continuous laser emission. The driving circuit (120) is further adapted to provide additional energy to the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (100) at least 100 ns prior to at least a part of the laser pulses (345) such that the part of the laser pulses (345) are emitted under defined optical conditions. The invention further describes a distance detection device comprising the laser sensor module and a method of driving the laser sensor module. The additional energy is preferably provided by means of a current pre-pulse (335) which is applied to the V(E)CSEL prior to preferably each laser pulse (345). The current pre-pulse is preferably arranged such that no laser light is emitted by means of the V(E)CSEL. The V(E)CSEL are enabled to emit the laser pulses (345) under defined optical conditions such that the time of emission and the pulse shape of the laser pulses (345) is well defined. Well defined time of emission and the pulse shape of the laser pulses (345) enable a reliable detection of reflected laser light (117) which corresponds to the emission of the respective laser pulse (345).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.