What the fffff? (Diode troubles)

I did use the search button, for everything I could think of. If there is an answer out there, I missed it. My apologies for posting on something already covered.

I managed to get a hold of a 16x DVD burner (slot loader) for free the other day, so I figured I would use it as a learning experience and attempt to identify and extract the diodes. Well, I believe I managed to identify them, as they had a small handful of tiny lenses and prisms in front of them. Here's what I found:


Left to right: diode 1 and diode 2.


I don't think my problems are difficult to figure out :na:. Here's a picture of the other issue:



(diode 1) This is my primary issue. The number of pins on the back of these things. They both seem to be wired identically save that one is upside down as opposed to the other:




Yes, this is the other diode, diode 2.

Anyone have any ideas?
(12-pin, rectangle diodes)

Not all diodes have 5.6mm can. These are also used in sleds. My AOpen drive has the same square 12pin diodes, one for IR and one red. You can powerup them at left middle pin and right middle pin.

Blord said:

Not all diodes have 5.6mm can. These are also used in sleds. My AOpen drive has the same square 12pin diodes, one for IR and one red. You can powerup them at left middle pin and right middle pin.

Click to expand...

Ok, so, I can leave the top and bottom rows of pins alone? And those would be the pins to test the polarity on correct?

Those are "hybrid" assemblies ..... the rectangular case contains the laser chip, the quadrature sensor for the reading and the side sensors for the focusing, all in one case, and that small glass block glued on the window is an optical holographic element (it usually include a lens, a diffraction grating, a filtering mirror and a beamsplitter / diverger, all realized printing holograms on the cube faces) ..... some units uses them for save the complication of align all the separate elements (the cubes are aligned from the manufacturer with the laser die and photoelements inside, so all that an assembler have to do, is align the block with the rest, instead to have to manage with multiple elements)

Can be used as laser diodes only, ofcourse, is only a bit problematic to find a valid host for focusing purposes .....

I believe LarryDFW would be the man to ask. He has done a study on bizarre red rectangle diodes. Shoot him a PM.

Will do.

^ Yes, but those was flat plastic laser diodes, these ones are hybrid assemblies ..... not the same type of diodes, sorry

Save. I was in the middle of writing a PM when I saw this. Ok. So, hybrid assemblies that can be used as diodes. There are just complications (obviously) with heatsinking and collimation because of the shape. What about checking polarity and possibly testing? Any ideas?

Dont listen to me, but cant you run these at really low current reverse? Slowly creeping up back and forth until you find the threshold?

Do you mean for find the polarity ?

Use a DMM, or a Li-Ion 3.6V battery with a 1000 ohm in serie (3 to 3.6 mA), and check until you see the chip light up very dim as an underpowered LED (at this current, there's no way you made it lase, so it's safe to look at it, it only light LED style when powered correctly, and (probably) don't get damaged from reverse connection.

Ofcourse, only for the red one ..... for the IR one, you need to look at it through a camera or webcam, that see the IR.

Hey Sidewinder, have you harvested those from a dvd-rw of a notebook? I did so from a Dell inspiron and looks exactly the same of yours.

Tell me something, were you able to solve the complications, as you said, about "heatsinking and collimation"?

This is my 1st post and i'm also a noob in DIY laser, so i would like to know what kind of driver did you use it.

Thanks

Just spend the $10 or so and get an LPC-815 sled with a normal 5.6mm diode.. these hybrid assemblies aren't really worth messing with due to the hassle of trying to mount them.. even with access to machine tools.