By converting an external Automatic Power Control (APC) circuit board into an ASIC we packaged the APC circuit into a standard 5.6 mm TO-can.
With the aid of an integrated monitor photodiode such laser diodes provide 5 mW or 7 mW output power with stable operation up to 70°C. The devices can even be offered in a very small 3.3 mm TO-can package. The cost of these APC lasers matches their physical size being mass produced in our far-east factory. A power supply of 3 to 6 VDC is required and the output power can be adjusted via an external variable resistor of 2 to 8 kΩ. Standard wavelengths are 635 nm and 650 nm.
