Micrel debuts 2.5-Gbit/sec laser diode driver

JUNE 6, 2008 -- Micrel Inc. (search for Micrel) has launched a new standalone 2.5-Gbit/sec laser diode driver (LDD) with integrated Automatic Power Control (APC) and a power monitoring feature to keep average optical power constant during temperature changes and over the lifetime of the laser. 

The SY88212L is also designed with high compliance voltage, allowing it to be DC-coupled to the laser to reduce external component count and power consumption, say company representatives. The SY88212L is a single-supply, 3.3V laser driver designed for datacom and telecom applications, including LAN and MAN, with any data rates up to 2.5 Gbits/sec. Such applications include Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, SONET, OC3/12/24/48 and SDH, STM 1/4/8. The device is also well suited for SFF and SFP modules, notes the company.

"Micrel has been offering fiber-optic module chipset solutions, including the controllers, MIC3001/2," reports Thomas Wong, vice president of high-bandwidth products at Micrel. "As the markets grow more rapidly and the demand for lower cost solutions increases, Micrel expands its LDD product portfolio by offering customers a high-performance, standalone laser driver with APC and power monitoring. This solution minimizes the number of external components and lowers the Bill of Materials [BOM] cost, making Micrel's solution cost-effective and flexible," he contends.

The driver can deliver modulation current up to 85mA and bias current up to 70mA and is suitable for both AC- and DC-coupled laser interfaces due to its high compliance voltage, says the company. The SY88212L also features an APC fault indicator, TXenable/TXdisable for enabling/disabling the driver, and a power-monitoring pin, which monitors the current that is proportional to the sum of bias current and half of modulation current. It is available in a 24-pin (4- x 4-mm) MLF package.

The IC is currently available in volume and pricing starts at $3.00 for 1K quantity.