Linear Technology's VCSEL driver boasts digital control

摘要

Gone are the days of screwdrivers and soldering irons, say the folks at Linear Technology (Milpi-tas, CA). With the release of the LTC5100 3.2-Gbit/sec VCSEL driver, the company has moved the laser driver out of the realm of manual control and into the digital era. A laser driver serves two functions: It electronically drives the laser (and enables the electrical-to-optical signal conversion) and provides the necessary bias conditions for the laser to establish the proper operating state. Typically, a laser requires the application of both a dc bias current and high-speed ac signal current.