Product category:
Power Supply ICs and Controllers
News Release from: Zarlink Semiconductor | Subject: Laser diode drivers
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 01 November 2004
Laser drivers for high-speed optical
drives
Zarlink Semiconductor has introduced two new LDDs that deliver industry-leading DVD/CD write/rewrite performance for optical disc drives used in home entertainment and electronics applications.
Zarlink Semiconductor has introduced two new laser diode drivers that deliver industry-leading DVD/CD write/rewrite performance for optical disc drives used in home entertainment and electronics applications The market for DVD recorder units is accelerating rapidly, with over 130 million units expected to be shipped in 2006
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 9 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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In the office, optical discs are an increasingly popular data storage method due to their small size and tremendous capacity.
Whereas a CD can hold about 700Mbyte of data, a DVD can store up to 4.7Gbyte per disc, allowing users to archive large music and home movie files.
"Designers of new systems incorporating DVD burner technology require laser diode drivers that tackle the critical issues of speed and supply", said Phil Dorning, Engineering Manager, Consumer Communications, Zarlink Semiconductor.
"With these new devices, Zarlink delivers a powerful combination of high-performance together with end-to-end process reliability and engineering support".
The ZL40539 LDD is a four-channel device capable of driving separate 650nm DVD and 780nm CD lasers in high-speed "super combo" recorder systems.
The device includes one 150mA low-noise read channel with 100x current gain, and three 500mA write channels with current gains of 250x, 150x and 100x.
Combined write channels can deliver a 700mA pulse to the laser diodes - the industry's most powerful write output.
With high current output channels, the ZL40539 LDD can write a x16 DVD and x52 CD using a single channel.
In comparison, competing devices require designers combine several output channels to reach the power requirements necessary to write DVDs and CDs at high speeds.
Timing inaccuracies caused by combining channels, known as skew, result in slower overall system speeds and corrupted discs.
The new LDD also delivers the industry's fastest high-current switching times, with guaranteed rise times of 1.2ns and fall times of 1.4ns, and typical performance of 0.9ns rise time and 1.1ns fall time over the full current range.
Faster switching times translate into fast DVD/CD write and rewrite speeds for users, and extend the operating life of the laser diode.
The ZL40539 LDD's write channels are controlled through an integrated LVDS interface, which provides low-noise, high-speed data transmission over ribbon cables between the controller chip and the optical pickup unit.
The LVDS interface allows the write strategy to be inexpensively and efficiently incorporated into motherboard chips, reducing the overall cost of the optical pickup unit.
Competing solutions place the write strategy on the optical pickup unit, leading to increased design costs and limited component choice for manufacturers.
The ZL40518 LDD is a three-channel device with performance to cost-effectively support existing x4 and x8 DVD recorder systems, as well as advanced high-speed x52 CD recorder units.
The device features one switched 250mA low-noise read channel with 100x current gain, and two switched 250mA write channels with gains of 250x and 150x.
Switching two combined write channels allows over 450mA of total output current to the laser diode.
Each channel is controlled through an integrated CMOS logic-compatible control interface to cost-effectively support high-speed CD and existing DVD recorder systems.
The device delivers typical 0.9ns rise time and 1.1ns fall time rates, and guaranteed rise and fall times of 2ns.
The ZL40539 and ZL40518 LDDs provide ultrastable performance at the maximum junction temperature of 150C.
Thermal management is a critical design issue, as both the laser diode and its driver generate significant heat within the confined optical pickup unit.
The devices also include a high performance, low harmonic switched oscillator with a programmable frequency range of 200 to 500MHz and 20 to 100mA peak-to-peak.
By suppressing laser noise when reading optical discs, the oscillator helps deliver superior audio and video playback quality.
Now in full production, Zarlink's ZL40539 and ZL40518 LDDs meet all relevant standards from the DVD Alliance and DVD Forum.
The ZL40539 device is available in 6 x 5mm, 32-pin QFN (quad flat no-lead) packaging, and is priced at US $1.20 in 1000-off volumes.
The ZL40518 chip is available in a 16-pin SSOP, and is priced at US $0.73 in 1000-off volumes.
Evaluation boards are available for both devices.
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