Pangolin has introduced what it claims is world’s first electronic component to protect laser diodes against damage from direct and indirect electrostatic discharge (ESD). Lasorb is an ‘ESD absorber’ that protects laser diodes, photodiodes and LEDs from single, multiple and repeated ESD events of either positive or negative polarity. It has applications across a wide array of consumer, commercial and industrial products.
Without the component, a single modest ESD event can cause permanent damage, resulting in partial or complete diode failure. Laser diodes often fail long before the manufacturer’s rated life expectancy, and ESD is the suspected cause of many malfunctions. It also protects against reverse bias. Schottky diodes are typically used for this purpose.
Two series of Lasorb are available, one optimised for red and infrared diodes and a second optimised for Blu-ray diodes. The component package is compact and mounts in a 2-pin, through-hole configuration.