Chinese analog chipmaker Sipri has won the Best Technology Practice Application award at the 2026 Golden Pin Awards for its TPM8909Q series, a 16-channel VCSEL high-side driver designed for automotive solid-state lidar systems. The award, organized by Gasgoo under the theme "Chinese Solutions to the World," recognizes the series' technical innovation and large-scale deployment in the automotive supply chain, according to D1EV.
Award-winning chip targets ADAS lidar
The TPM8909Q series is a vehicle-grade (AEC-Q100 Grade 1) driver IC tailored for pure solid-state Flash lidar, blind-spot radar, and ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) perception. It supports up to 80V withstand voltage, enabling high-voltage margins for multi-junction VCSEL nanosecond narrow-pulse driving. The chip integrates 16 half-bridge driver channels on a single die, reducing the bill-of-materials count in the lidar transmitter by more than 50%.
Designed for a "high-side charge plus low-side pulse" architecture, it supports 1A precision constant-current storage per channel, handling tens of amperes of transient pulses while maintaining electromagnetic compatibility. A built-in high-speed 4-to-16 decoder enables 2D array electronic addressing and power control, suppressing reflections from license plates and road signs. Integrated charge and residual voltage monitoring (CVD/RVD) with controlled discharge helps release residual VCSEL voltage, supporting IEC 60825-1 Class 1 eye safety and functional safety.
The chip also includes protection and diagnostic features such as undervoltage protection, charge/discharge current limiting, over-temperature protection, and nFAULT real-time fault feedback. It operates from -40°C to 125°C and offers ±4kV HBM ESD protection, suitable for harsh automotive environments.
China's push for self-reliant automotive chips
Sipri, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (ticker 688536), emphasizes self-developed automotive chip technology. The company has built a virtual IDM wafer platform with proprietary processes, a dedicated automotive-grade test factory, and an ISO 17025 laboratory. It has achieved ASIL-D certification for automotive functional safety management, covering R&D, manufacturing, testing, and safety control.
To date, Sipri has made breakthroughs in over 30 core product areas, including signal chains, interfaces, battery management, high-voltage isolation, power management, intelligent power switches, and drivers. Its automotive chip portfolio spans body control, smart cockpits, ADAS, powertrain, and chassis applications, with more than 400 automotive-grade chips in mass production. The company supplies major domestic automakers and Tier 1 suppliers, contributing to the localization of China's automotive supply chain.
