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ZL40518
Data Sheet
2
Zarlink Semiconductor Inc.
Figure 2 - Pinout of 16 Pin SSO16 Package (Top View)
Description
The ZL40518 is a laser diode driver for high speed operation of a grounded laser diode. The driver consists of 3
controllable channels: a switchable, low noise, read channel and two switchable write channels. Write current
pulses are enabled with the application of a low signal on the /EN pins. A summed output of all channels is
available at the IOUT pin. Each channel can contribute up to 250 mA to the total output current of up to 300 mA. A
total read channel gain of 100 and write channels 2 and 3 with a gain of 250 and 150 respectively are provided
between each reference current input and output.
Laser mode hopping noise during read mode can be reduced by the use of an on-chip RF oscillator. The oscillator
frequency and swing can be set by two external resistors. The oscillator is enabled by a high signal on the OSCEN
pin and the entire device can be switched off by the application of a low signal on the PWR_UP pin.
Application Notes
Read and Write Channel Operation
The read channel is activated by applying a 'High' signal to the PWR_UP pin and applying a 'low' signal to /ENR. In
this mode, the fast write channels can be enabled by applying a 'Low signal to the respective pair of write enable
pins (/EN2) or (/EN3). The output currents of the three channels are summed together and output as a composite
signal at IOUT.
Voltage control of the channel reference inputs (INR, IN2 and IN3) can be achieved quite easily using an external
resistor R
ref
in series with the reference channel input to convert a given reference potential V
ref
to an input current,
I
in
:
where R
in
is the input impedance of the respective reference channel.
On-Chip RF Oscillator
An on-chip RF oscillator is enabled if OSCEN = 'High', and its output signal is added to the current output.The
oscillator amplitude is set by an external resistor from RS to GND. Its frequency is set by an external resistor RF to
GND. The oscillator signal is summed with the programmed Write and Read levels before amplification to the
output. The oscillator signal has zero DC level and +I_pk to -I_pk signal swing. Consequently, if the programmed
DC level from the Write and Read Channels is less than the PK level programmed for the Oscillator, the combined
INR
IN2
GND
RF
IN3
/ENR
/EN2
/EN3
VCC_IN
VCC
IOUT
GND
RS
PWR_UP
OSCEN
VCC
1
2
3
4
5
12
11
13
6
7
8
10
9
14
15
16
in
ref
ref
+
in
R
R
V
I
=
,