Heilbronn, Germany — Atmel unveiled the ATR0874; a photodetector IC (PDIC) for use in the optical pick-up units (OPUs) of DVD and CD drives and is suitable for the slim drives found in most laptops. The QFN open housing has an open cavity, thus permitting the laser to have direct access to the die surface and photo diodes. In addition, the housing shares the advantages of standard QFN housing, including the ability to be soldered at temperatures up to 260°C.

The PDIC is designed for high-speed DVD applications including DVD-RAM and DVD+/-RW at a wavelength of 650 nm and CD-RW at a wavelength of 780 nm. Due to the device's small footprint, it is suited for applications with highly restricted space specifications. The IC includes 10 channels with four different gain steps, and is optimized for fast settling times and low-offset voltages.

Availability: Samples available
Pricing: $1.00 each in 10,000-piece quantities
Data Sheet: ATR0874

Atmel, 408-441-0311, www.atmel.com