Ultrahigh-speed Optical Integration Device that Achieves 10脳 Speed DVD Playback
Laser Coupler
SLK3001PE
To respond to the needs emerging from the growing market for DVD
video systems and DVD-ROM drives for computers, Sony has now de-
veloped the SLK3001PE optical integration device (laser coupler), which
forms the heart of the DVD playback optical pickup.
This device supports a 10脳 DVD playback speed, which is the industry鈥檚
fastest speed, by incorporating a newly developed PDIC.
The SLK3001PE is the RF 鈥渕odule-less鈥?product based on a pulsation
laser that guarantees 70掳C operation for the first time in the industry
and provides a circularly polarized optical output.
By incorporated these and other technologies the SLK3001PE achieves
simplification, miniaturization, and increased performance in the DVD
playback optical pickup.
s
s
s
s
s
The industry鈥檚 fastest DVD play-
back speed (10脳) and a 100-MHz
bandwidth
RF module-less, 70掳C guaranteed
Circularly polarized optical out-
put for high playability
Three-stage gain switching
function
Miniature 16-pin ceramic pack-
age
The Industry鈥檚 Fastest DVD
Playback Speed (10脳) and
a 100-MHz Bandwidth
The SLK3001PE includes an ultrahigh-
speed PDIC fabricated using Sony鈥檚
newly-developed ultrahigh-speed high
integration density bipolar process
P-42B*
1
, and achieves a 100-MHz
bandwidth. This allows this product to
support the industry鈥檚 highest DVD
playback speed of 10脳, and to generate
the tracking error signal, the focus
error signal, and the RF signal required
of optical pickups. (See figure 2.) This
device can respond to a wide range of
needs in applications from DVD video
to high-speed DVD-ROM drivers for
computers.
*1:
See pages 8 to 13 in this issue for more
information on the P-42B process.
RF Module-less, 70掳C
Guaranteed
This device includes a pulsation laser
with the industry鈥檚 highest guaranteed
temperature, 70掳C. (See figure 1.) The
SLK3001PE is the RF module-less
product and achieves reduced noise,
miniaturization, and increased reliabil-
ity over a wide temperature range. Since
this device is the RF module-less
product, no special measures for reduc-
tion of undesired radiation are required.
The SLK3001PE can implement simple
and low-cost optical pickups. (See fig-
ure 3.)
Three-stage Gain
Switching Function
The PDIC used includes a three-stage
gain switching function, and thus the
SLK3001PE can handle the playback of
three types of disc (single-layer DVD
discs, dual-layer DVD discs, and super-
audio CDs) while holding the laser out-
put fixed. This allows the SLK3001PE
to respond to a wide range of needs.
Miniature 16-pin Ceramic
Package
The SLK3001PE achieves miniaturiza-
tion and reduced cost by adopting a
miniature thin-form ceramic package
that is essentially the same size as
Sony鈥檚 CD laser couplers that have a
proven track record as mass-produced
products. (See figure 1.)
Circularly Polarized
Optical Output
for High Playability
The SLK3001PE incorporates a newly-
developed low-cost 1/4-wavelength
plate, and achieves circularly polarized
optical output. In addition, since the
internal optical system is an unpolarized
optical system, this device not affected
by variations in disc birefringence and
thus can easily implement a high play-
ability optical pickup. At the same time
it achieves an even higher level of
stability with respect to the return light
noise.
V
O
I
C
E
The laser coupler is a hybrid opti-
cal integrated device implemented
in an ultrafine fabrication technol-
ogy. This device allows the optical
pickup to have a surprisingly
simple structure, and thus in-
creases system reliability. This de-
vice is an ambitious creation for a
DVD playback product. I hope it will
be used in many DVD players. I
strongly recommend it.
1
2
