Why only LASORB can fully protect your laser diodes from ESD
Laser diodes are very fast devices that react rapidly to
changing voltage and current. While this is a benefit in
many applications, such as signaling, the fast reaction
time is also a potential liability, because it makes Laser
diodes vulnerable to damage from voltage spikes
experienced during electrostatic discharge (ESD) events
and power surges. BLU-RAY and low-power red laser
diodes are particularly susceptible to voltage spikes,
since any increase in applied voltage beyond normal
operating parameters will cause both optical and
electrical overstress.
Existing design solutions are not effective
Anecdotal evidence suggests that many laser diodes fail
long before their life expectancy. ESD and power surges
are often to blame. These power surges are not those
caused by lightning or power line fluctuations, but rather
those generated during power on/off cycles. Voltage
spikes are often produced at these times, and their
cumulative effect on laser diodes is detrimental.
Existing design solutions for ESD and surge protection
were originally developed for components and circuitry
that react more slowly than laser diodes, or that operate
at different voltage ranges. In fact, in our testing, none
of the commonly employed methods for ESD
protection offered reliable protection from ESD or
surges. A common failing was to exceed the normal
operating voltage, thus allowing excessive forward-bias.
The LASORB solution
In 2008, Pangolin Laser Systems was contracted to
design a laser diode driver for an aerospace application.
Effective ESD protection was a vital requirement.
Based on our extensive testing and evaluation, we
determined that a new method of protecting laser diodes
was needed -- one that would act quickly to prevent the
voltage during an ESD event or power surge from
increasing beyond the normal operating voltage of the
laser, and also one that has the capacity to absorb high
energy in the circuit until ESD or power surge subsides.
To address these unique protection requirements,
Pangolin developed an electrical component called
LASORB. The word LASORB is a combination of the
words “LASER” and “ESD ABSORBER”. The LASORB
component is easy for engineers to implement because
it is small and can be simply connected directly to the
pins of the laser diode.
How LASORB works
Most other protection methods operate on the principle
of a fixed “clamping voltage”. Although LASORB does
have a clamping voltage for both positive and negative
potentials, this is
not the primary
means by which
LASORB
provides
protection.
Rather, LASORB
includes a slew-
rate detector,
which monitors the voltage across the pins of the laser
diode. If there is a fast change-of-voltage condition
detected, this triggers LASORB to aggressively conduct
the voltage (and thus current) away from the laser diode.
The conduction is initiated very rapidly – in some cases
less than one nanosecond, and the conduction can last
from several microseconds, to tens of microseconds.
Engineers can choose from several LASORB part
numbers that dictate the actual slew rate, surge
conduction time and maximum operating voltage.
This change-of-voltage approach is a very good principle
to use for laser diodes because, under ordinary
circumstances, even during modulation the voltage
across laser diode pins does not change very much.
Therefore any change of voltage, especially a fast one,
indicates an abnormal event, something that happens
only during ESD or other types of electrical faults.
In our testing with red, infrared and BLU-RAY laser
diodes, LASORB was found to be 100% effective at
protecting them from positive-ESD events up to 15kV,
when using the human body model associated with
ANSI/ESD STM5.1 and IEC 61340-3-1. LASORB was
also able to protect all laser diodes from negative-ESD
up to 15kV when using the human body model
associated with ANSI/ESD STM5.1 and IEC 61340-3-1
as well as IEC 61000-4-2.
Customizable to match diode requirements
To allow for complete flexibility and customizing parts to
individual laser diode requirements, the LASORB device
is implemented as a hybrid, containing active silicon and
passive components. And as a side-effect of the makeup
of this hybrid component, LASORB also offers protection
from reverse bias conditions, thus allowing LASORB to
offer complete protection of the laser diode from a
variety of electrical faults.
LASORB is available as a relatively small, through-hole
component, which costs between $2 and $8, depending
on the quantity. To learn much more about laser diode
ESD protection and LASORB, visit our website.
Pangolin Laser Systems, Inc.
9501 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, Florida
407-299-2088
www.lasorb.com