Atmel Unveils Industry-first Read-only Laser Diode Driver IC for HD-DVD/Blu-ray Players

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today the availability of its new ATR0885 laser diode driver IC for use in combined HD-DVD/Blu-ray, DVD, CD players and PC CD-ROM drives. HD-DVD and Blu-ray are new disc standards, which will offer significantly more storage capacity than today's DVD standards. Since the new ATR0885 is available in very small packages, it is particularly suitable for small SLIM drives used in notebook computers, as well as for half-height drives used in desktop PCs and consumer DVD players. The ATR0885 is the industry's first available product for such applications and enables outstanding cost-effectiveness, an important factor for high-volume consumer products.

The ATR0885 contains three outputs, each of which can be used for either the connection of blue laser diodes with a wavelength of 405 nm (HD-DVD/Blu-ray), DVD laser diodes with a wavelength of 780 nm, or CD laser diodes with 650 nm. Competing products only have outputs predetermined for the blue laser functionality, whereas the ATR0885 lets the system designer freely select which of the three outputs shall be dedicated to blue laser functionality. This means the designer can chose the output optimally located in a specific design so that the connection lines are as short as possible. This allows the creation of designs which are smaller and more cost-efficient while providing high performance.

Up to now, a cost-efficient HD-DVD/Blu-ray/DVD/CD system required the use of four devices: three oscillator chips and one transimpedance amplifier, whereas the ATR0885 makes it possible to build an extremely cost-efficient blue laser system with only one IC.

Blue laser diodes used for HD-DVD and Blu-ray systems need a voltage source, which is capable of handling higher voltages than the 5V commonly used for DVD and CD laser diodes. To meet this demand, each of the ATR0885's three outputs has a separate voltage supply pin providing up to 8V.

For automatic power control, a transimpedance amplifier is integrated and supports all three output channels. The gain of each channel can be set separately by using three individual resistors.

An integrated oscillator reduces laser mode hopping. Using one external resistor, a frequency range from 200 to 500 MHz can be set for all outputs. Three additional resistors allow a swing of up to 100 mA (peak-to-peak) for each output separately. The oscillator can optionally be set in a spread- spectrum mode to reduce electro-magnetic interferences.

Samples of the ATR0885 are available now in very small QFN24 packages which are both Pb-free and green. Pricing starts at 2.60 US$ in quantities of 10k.

Footnote

HD-DVD = High Definition Digital Versatile Disk

Pb = Plumbum (Latin) = lead

About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions. Focused on consumer, industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets, Atmel ICs can be found Everywhere You Are(R).

NOTE: Atmel(R), logo and combinations thereof, Everywhere You Are(R) and others are registered trademarks or trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.

Information

Product information on Atmel's new laser diode driver IC ATR0885 may be retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3893 , for further information on Atmel's DVD product family, see http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/devices.asp?family_id=619 .

Press Contacts

Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive

Products

Phone: +49 7131 67-2081, Email: susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com

Helen Perlegos, Public Relations -- USA and Asia Pacific

Phone: +1 408 487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com

Veronique Sablereau, Corporate Communications Manager -- Europe

Phone: +33 1 30 60 70 68, Fax: +49 7131 67-2423,

Email: veronique.sablereau@atmel.com

Author:  

Email:    

Topic:    

Content:

Related Computer Hardware Articles

• BenQ, Buffalo, Mediabolic Demonstrate Network Media Players Compatible With Next-Generation Entertainment PCs at CES 2006
  7 March 2006



• Worldwide Laser Introduce Zap-Alone Laser Controller Option for LP8000 Series of Co2 Laser Systems
  2 March 2006



• Atmel and u-blox Introduce Single-Chip GPS Receiver IC With Lowest Power Consumption
  16 February 2006



• National Semiconductor Introduces Industry's Smallest Audio Subsystem With Class D Speaker Driver
  10 January 2006



• Dell and Lexmark Laser Printers Tie for Second in Aftermarket Color Cartridge Usage: Lyra Talks Toner with Business Users
  10 January 2006



• X2 Debuts X2V -- the Next Generation in Portable Multimedia Video Players Now With New Digital Camera and Camcorder Features
  8 January 2006



• Broadcom Announces First Fully Compliant High-Definition Decoder Chip for Blu-ray(TM) Disc and HD DVD(TM) Media Players
  4 January 2006



• Miraplacid Text Driver 4.4 Terminal Server Edition for Corporate Customers
  27 November 2005



• Toshiba Expands White LED Driver Product Line With White LED Driver IC That Powers Up to 8 LEDs in Series
  20 October 2005



• Avnet, Atmel Supercharge Battery Technology Inc.'s Design Process; New Laptop Batteries Are Now Smaller
  24 September 2005