
Note: All information contained in this data sheet has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication; however, this data sheet cannot be a “controlled document”. Current revisions, if any, to these
specifications are maintained at the factory and are available upon your request. We recommend checking the revision level before finalization of your design documentation.
2001 Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
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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
Ordering Information
Part No.
Temp. Range
Package
Outline #
EL6242CU
0°C to +70°C
QSOP-24
MDP0040
EL6242CL
0°C to +70°C
LPP-24
MDP0046
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 multi-
level 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.
An on-chip 500MHz oscillator is provided to allow output current
modulation when in any mode. This is turned on when the OSCEN pin
is held high. Complete control of amplitude and frequency is set by
two external resistors connected to ground at pins RFREQ and RAMP
(see graphs in this data sheet for further explanation).
The EL6242C also includes a fast settling APC amplifier designed to
interface directly with the front end monitor diode and the sample-
and-hold amplifier for read and write power control. Its 100MHz
bandwidth and 30ns settling time enable up to 16X CD-RW design.
1
2
3
4
16
15
14
13
5
6
7
12
11
9
8
10
20
19
18
17
24
23
22
21
VREF
GND
VOUT
IINR
IIN2
IIN3
RFREQ
GND
WEN3
WEN2
GND
PDIN
VCC
IOUT
GND
RAMP
ENABLE
OSCEN
VCC
GND
Connection Diagrams
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
24
23
22
21
20
8
9
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
24-Pin LPP Top View
Thermal Pad
IINR
IIN2
IIN3
RFREQ
GND
WEN3
VCC
IOUT
GND
RAMP
ENABLE
GN
D
VR
EF
VO
UT
PD
IN
VC
C
W
EN
2
GN
D
GN
D
VC
C
OS
CE
N
24-Pin QSOP
EL6242C - Product Brief
3-Channel Laser Diode Driver w/Oscillator & APC Amplifier
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