EPC introduces laser drivers

     EPC announced the introduction of the laser driver EPC21603, which combines 40 V, 10 A field-effect transistors, gate drivers and LVDS logic level inputs on a single chip for time-of-flight (ToF) liDAR systems for applications such as robotics, drones, augmented reality (AR) and video games.

     The EPC21603 is controlled by LVDS logic circuits and is capable of modulating and achieving laser drive currents of up to 10 A at ultra-high frequencies of over 100 MHz and ultra-short pulses of less than 2 ns. The EPC21603 integrates a single-chip driver and a gallium nitride field-effect transistor (eGaN FET) based on EPC's proprietary Gallium nitride IC technology in a chat-scale BGA package with an external dimension of just 1.5 mm x 1.0 mm. LVDS logic control allows eToF laser-driven integrated circuits to be controlled via FPgas for applications where noise resistance is required, such as augmented reality.

     By integrating multiple devices in a single chip makes design, layout, and assembly easier, saving space on the PCB, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs. This series of products will enable faster and wider adoption of ToF solutions in a wider range of end-user application scenarios.

     Alex Lidow, CEO and co-founder of EPC, said: "The EPC21603 joins the recently announced EPC21601 as our new GaN IC family that significantly improves performance while reducing the size and cost of time-of-flight lidar systems. This new GaN family of IC products will continue to expand to higher currents, higher voltages, and further integration of other control and logic functions on a single chip."