TX10 Reference Design
LM10 LCM-Based iToF Transmit Module
TX10 Key Features
The TX10 is a fully developed LCM-based iToF transmit module reference design built around Lumotive’s LM10 programmable optical semiconductor. It enables 3D sensor developers to build longer-range, highly configurable iToF sensors without developing custom beam steering hardware.
TX10 is a core component enabling high performance 3D iToF sensors. It provides a validated transmitter architecture that can be integrated with a wide range of iToF receivers to accelerate development of next-generation 3D sensing systems.
Two engagement paths are available:
- Transmit Reference Design – architecture, performance envelope, and design framework for building your own iToF sensor.
- TX10-DK Development Kit – a ready-to-evaluate implementation of the TX10 reference design for proof-of-concept and system integration.
What is TX10?
TX10 is a solid-state programmable transmit architecture designed specifically for indirect time-of-flight (iToF) sensors.
Built on Lumotive’s Light Control Metasurface (LCM) technology, TX10 replaces traditional flash illumination with software-defined beam steering. The result is a compact transmitter capable of dynamically controlling steering range, beam divergence, dwell time, and scan patterns — all through software.
Key Capabilities of the TX10 Reference Design
Software-Defined Beam Steering
TX10 provides up to 105° steering range from a single solid-state module, enabling wide coverage without moving parts.
Average steering resolution is approximately 0.5° across the full range, allowing precise spatial control and non-sequential scan patterns.
Programmable Beam Divergence
Unlike fixed illumination transmitters, TX10 enables dynamic beam shaping:
- Steering direction divergence programmable from approximately 2.5° to 10° (application dependent)
- Non-steering direction divergence defined by optics, with a default configuration of 140°, and customizable from ~20° to 190° using a single optical element
This flexibility allows system designers to trade range, resolution, and frame rate through software rather than hardware redesign.
High Optical Efficiency
The LM10 LCM platform enables efficient optical power utilization by directing energy only where sensing is required.
Benefits include:
- Higher optical-to-electrical efficiency compared to flash illumination approaches
- Reduced system power requirements
- Longer effective range
for iToF receivers
Designed for iToF Receiver Flexibility
TX10 integrates with a wide range of iToF receivers, including devices from leading vendors such as Onsemi, Sony, Gpixel, and others. This allows developers to maintain receiver choice while adopting programmable transmit capabilities.
Why Programmable Transmit Matters for iToF
Traditional iToF architectures are often limited by fixed illumination patterns and inefficient power distribution. TX10 demonstrates how programmable beam steering fundamentally changes iToF system performance.
Key advantages enabled by the reference design include:
- Longest-range iToF sensing through concentrated illumination
- Configurable regions of interest for faster updates where needed
- Improved performance in high-dynamic-range scenes, including retroreflective materials
- Reduced multipath artifacts through controlled beam placement
- Minimal interference in multi-sensor environments
TX10 Reference Design Advantages
Accelerated Development
Software-Defined Sensing
Compact Solid-State Form Factor
Scalable Performance Envelope
A Ready-to-Evaluate Implementation of the TX10 Reference Design
TX10-DK Development Kit
For teams looking to evaluate LCM transmit performance quickly, Lumotive offers the TX10-DK, a development kit representing one specific implementation of the TX10 reference design.
The TX10 enables:
- Rapid proof-of-concept development
- Integration testing with iToF receivers
- Evaluation of programmable steering and beam shaping
Typical implementation parameters include:
- Peak optical power up to 35 W
- 910 nm operating wavelength
- Programmable steering and divergence control
- Python-based reference software for configuration
Contact Lumotive
Speak with our team to discuss:
- TX10 Reference Design adoption
- TX10-DK evaluation kits
- Custom transmitter configurations