Laser driver IC targets lidar time-of-flight apps

EPC announces the introduction of a laser driver that integrates a
40 V, 10 A FET with integrated gate driver and 3.3 logic level input in a single chip for time-of-flight lidar
systems used in robotics, surveillance systems, drones, autonomous cars, and vacuum cleaners.

The EPC21601 is a laser driver that is controlled using 3.3 V logic and is capable of very high frequencies
exceeding 100 MHz and super short pulses < 2 ns to modulate laser driving currents up to 10 A. Turn-on and
turn-off times are 410 ps and 320 ps respectively. The EPC21601 is a single-chip driver plus eGaN FET using
EPC’s proprietary GaN IC technology in a chip-scale BGA form factor that measures only 1.5 mm x 1.0 mm.
With this small form factor and the integration of several functions, the overall solution that is 36% smaller on
the printed circuit board (PCB) compared to an equivalent multi-chip discrete implementation.
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The EPC21601 is the first offering in what will be a wide-range family of integrated laser drive ICs available in
a chip-scale package (CSP). Integrated devices in a single chip are easier to design, easier to layout, easier to
assemble, save space on the PCB, increase efficiency, and reduce cost. This family of products will enable
faster adoption and increased ubiquity of ToF solutions across a wider array of end-user applications.

The EPC9154 development board features the EPC21601 eToF laser driver IC and is primarily intended to
drive laser diodes with short, high current pulses. Capabilities include minimum pulse widths of < 2 ns, 10 A
peak currents, and bus voltage rating of 30 V.

The EPC21601 eToF laser drive IC is priced at less than $1.00 at 500 ku.
The EPC9154 development board is priced at $465.23 each.
The EPC21601 and EPC9154 are available for immediate delivery from Digi-Key at
http://www.digikey.com/Suppliers/us/Efficient-Power-Conversion.page?lang=en