Silanna Semiconductor has announced the release of the SL2002, a compact laser driver integrated circuit (IC) designed for low-voltage, battery-powered rangefinding and sensing applications. The SL2002 is the second product in the company’s FirePower series, which integrates resonant capacitor charging and high-current laser diode firing into a single chip.
Targeted at portable 3D mapping devices, sports rangefinders, scopes, and industrial sensors, the SL2002 is optimized to operate from a standard 3V coin cell battery. The chip aims to replace traditional systems that require larger and less efficient boost circuits, enabling a smaller form factor and simplified design.
According to Silanna, the SL2002 offers a Vin-to-laser efficiency of 86%, representing a 73% improvement over conventional designs, which typically achieve around 50% efficiency. The device can deliver peak light pulses exceeding 1,000W, while also helping to reduce overall system cost and power consumption.
“The SL2002 delivers compact, high-performance laser driving in a single chip that simplifies design, improves system efficiency, and lowers cost,” said Ken Boyden, Product Marketing Director at Silanna Semiconductor.
The IC is packaged in a 14-pin, 3.5 mm² wafer-level chip-scale package (WLCSP) and is designed to minimize the need for external discrete components. This reduction in component count contributes to a smaller printed circuit board footprint and lower bill of materials (BOM) cost.
The SL2002 is currently available in sample quantities and is supported by a complete evaluation kit to facilitate integration into new product designs.