EPC launches new single-chip laser driver

     EPC announced the launch of EPC21701, A single-chip laser driver containing 80 V, 40 A FeTs, gate driver, and 3.3 logic level input for time-of-flight lidar systems, including for robotics, surveillance systems, and vacuum cleaners. It is specifically tailored for Lidar systems used for gesture recognition, time of flight measurement (ToF measurement), robotic vision or industrial safety.

     The EPC21701 laser driver is controlled using a 5 V supply voltage and 3.3V logic. It is capable of modulating lasers at ultra-high frequencies above 50 MHz and ultra-short pulses as low as 2ns, which can drive up to 15 A currents. The voltage switching time is less than 1 ns and the delay time from input to output is less than 3.6 ns.

     The EPC21701 is a single-chip driver with GaN FeTs that use EPC's proprietary gallium nitride integrated circuit technology and have a chip-level BGA dimensions of only 1.7 mm x 1.0 mm x 0.68 mm. The compact size, low inductance, and layout of wafer-level packages are ideal for laser systems. Thanks to its compact size and integrated functionality, the EPC21701 solution reduces PCB area by 36% compared to solutions based on equivalent multi-chip discrete devices.

     Single chip integrated circuit is easier to design, layout, assembly, save PCB board area, improve efficiency and reduce cost. This product family will enable gallium nitride device-based time-of-flight solutions to be popularized in a wider range of end-user applications. The 80 V EPC21701 expands the ToF driver IC family in chip level package (CSP). Other products include the 40 V and 15 A EPC21601 and 40 V and 10 A EPC21603.

     EPC9172 development board uses EPC21701 eToF™ laser driver integrated circuit, mainly used to drive laser diodes with short pulse, high current pulse. Features include A minimum pulse width of less than 2 ns, 15 A peak current, and a bus voltage rating of 40 V.

     "This new gallium nitride integrated circuit family significantly improves performance and reduces the size of time-of-flight Lidar systems," said Alex Lidow, CEO and co-founder of IP Power Conversion. This single chip integrates GaN FeTs with drivers, making them extremely powerful, fast, shrunken in size, and cost effective, leading to greater popularity and ubiquity in consumer and industrial applications. After the introduction of the 80 V and 15 A EPC21701, we will continue to expand this product line and the upcoming 100 V and 125 A products."