Atmel Unveils World's Smallest FootPrint Photo Detector IC for DVD and CD Applications

Heilbronn, Germany, April 17, 2007. . . Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the availability of its new photo detector IC (PDIC) for use in the optical pick-up units (OPUs) of DVD and CD drives. The new ATR0874 is the industry's smallest PDIC device, measuring only 4 mm x 3.5 mm and is a perfect fit for the slim drives found in most laptops. The new ATR0874 is the first member of a new family of PDIC devices which complements Atmel's current broad product range of Laser Diode Drivers (LDD) and Automatic Power Controllers (APC).

The ATR0874 photo detector IC was developed using Atmel's in-house BiCMOS process (with optical extension) and is manufactured in Atmel's patented QFN open-housing technology. The QFN open-housing has an open cavity thus permitting the laser direct access to the die surface and therefore to the photo diodes. In addition, the housing shares all the advantages of standard QFN housing including the ability to be soldered at temperatures up to 260 degrees C which reduces costs related to specialized soldering procedures. Competing devices use clear molding, or glass lid packaging, which leads to various problems such as scratches, voids, etc. These imperfections may result in a higher bit error rate, reduced system performance and a lower yield.

The new PDIC is designed for high-speed DVD applications such as 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 ideally 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 and Pricing

Samples of the new PDIC ATR0874 in 4 mm x 3.5 mm QFN open-house packages are available now with pricing starting at US $1.00 for 10k pieces.

Footnote:

APC = Automatic Power Controller

DVD = Digital Versatile Disc

HD = High Density

LDD = Laser Diode Drivers

PDIC = Photo Detector Integrated Circuit

QFN = Quad Flat No Leads

R/W = Read/Write

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