General Description

The EL6242C is a high-performance three channel laser driver that provides controlled current to a grounded laser diode. Write channels 2 and 3 should be used as the write channels, with switching speeds of approximately one nanosecond rise/fall time. All three channels are summed together at the IOUT output, allowing the user to create multilevel waveforms in order to optimize laser diode performance. The level of the output current is set by an analog voltage applied to an external resistor which converts the voltage into a current at the IIN pin (virtually ground). The current seen at this pin is then amplified to become a current source at pin IOUT.

Features

• Shrink-Small Outline Package

• Voltage-controlled output current source requiring one external set resistor per channel

• Rise time = 0.8ns

• Fall time = 0.8ns

• On chip oscillator with frequency and amplitude control by use of external resistors to ground

• Oscillator to 500MHz

• Oscillator to 100mA pk/pk

• Single +5V supply (±10)

• Disable feature for power-up protection and power savings

• Fast Settling APC Amplifier

Applications

• CD-RW applications

• Writable optical drives

• Laser diode current switching