Elantec Semiconductor, Inc., a provider of high-performance analog ICs, is shipping a new high speed laser driver IC produced specifically to enable CD-R and CD-R/W optical disk drive manufacturers to meet the demand for faster CD read/write (R/W) speeds and more compact disk drive designs. The EL6145C is pin-compatible and functionally compatible with Elantec's industry-standard EL6245C.

The chip has one 250mA output current write channel to enable driving the higher power 780 nanometer lasers required to achieve 32X-and-greater CD-R speeds, and has the lower power consumption required by the new slim-line drives found in small form factor PC desktops and PC notebooks. The EL6145C integrates the automatic power control (APC) amplifier and the high frequency modulator (HFM) oscillator along with the three current channels needed for compliance with the Orange Specification Standard for CD-R and CD-R/W write strategy formats.

Stephen Sacarisen, Director of Strategic Marketing, Optical Products Group, said, 'The CD-R/RW drive is rapidly becoming the industry standard in both the PC desktop and notebook segments. The higher output current of the EL6145C with enables greater than 32X-speed CD-R drives. The lower power consumption enables design of slim-line small form factor drives for both the PC desktop and PC notebooks.'

The EL6145C offers manufacturers of OPUs for CD-R/RW devices using Elantec's industry-standard EL6245C pin out a direct upgrade path. This results in longer product life cycles and the most cost-effective solution for designing higher-speed CD drives.

Elantec Semiconductor, Inc., 675 Trade Zone Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035. Tel: 408-945-1323 or 888-ELANTEC (352-6832); Fax: 408-945-9305. Web site: www.elantec.com

There's no doubt that manufacturers will continue to improve on their designs and increase the speeds of CD-R and CD-RW drives. This could be the driver to help you meet those goals. It's a no-brainer if you are using earlier models such as the EL6245C because it provides the same pin out.

I also like the additional integration steps the company placed in the high frequency modulator and the automatic power control amplifier on board. No doubt this will help reduce the component count in a PCB area that is already very crowded. Integrating the 500 MHz oscillator helps to reduce laser read noise, and eliminates the need for an external oscillator-enable signal. This kind of integration minimizes signal routing and component count, thereby lowering costs. The resultant savings in design time and board space facilitates the design of the more compact optical pick-up unit (OPU) needed in slim-line CD-R/W drive designs. Also good to know is that complete control of amplitude and frequency is set by two external resistors connected to the ground at pins.

Samples are available now with production lead times of eight to ten weeks.

Data sheet