Silanna laser deriver ICs enable smaller more efficient rangefinders
Silanna Semiconductor has announced the release of the SL2002, the second breakthrough product in its FirePower family of laser driver ICs.
The SL2002 has been optimised for low-voltage operation in small-form-factor systems, enabling powerful laser performance from a standard 3V battery supply. In doing so, the SL2002 sets a new standard in performance, integration and efficiency.
The laser driver IC has been purpose-built to enable the creation of compact and low-cost battery-powered range finding and measurement systems. This includes portable 3D mapping, sports rangefinders, scopes and industrial sensors.
“Many portable rangefinder systems rely on bulky, inefficient boost circuits to operate from low-voltage batteries. The SL2002 changes that, delivering compact, high-performance laser driving in a single chip that simplifies design, improves overall system efficiency and drastically lowers cost,” said Ken Boyden, Product Marketing Director at Silanna Semiconductor.
The FirePower series is the industry’s first to combine resonant capacitor charging and high-current laser diode firing on a single chip. This innovation eliminates the need for external discrete components, significantly reduces PCB footprint and simplifies system design. It additionally cuts BOM costs and minimises power losses.
Housed in a compact 14-pin, 3.5 mm² WLCSP package, the SL2002 is able to generate light pulses exceeding 1,000W peak power. Additionally, it delivers a Vin-to-laser efficiency of 86% – this is a 73% improvement on traditional architectures, which typically offer efficiencies of 50% or less.
