What on earth...

[lamborgini8]

Just ripped apart a 18x DVD RW and got down to the sled but I was rather expecting two diodes. The red diode and an IR diode but I cant seam to find the IR diode, the only things that could possibly be the IR diode, going by where they were placed, are these two 'things' to the right of the picture.

The red diode is a closed can but it also seams to have a clear plastic tune thing holding the end of the can which is making it somewhat difficult to remove.

What is going on here? I have never seen this before.

 

[FireMyLaser]

Those are photodiode arrays.

Maybe it doesn't have an IR diode, or you missed it. Perhaps it have an odd casing.

 

[lamborgini8]

Those are photodiode arrays.

Maybe it doesn't have an IR diode, or you missed it. Perhaps it have an odd casing.

The sled has been gutted, the only thing left on it is the red diode.

Strange, I thought all writers needed an IR diode.

 

[pullbangdead]

You sure the one in the can isn't the IR, and the red isn't in a round can? What brand was the DVD-RW? I think Sony and some other burners can have the "flat" red diodes that aren't in cans. And don't IR diodes often have that clear cube on the front of the can? Don't remember exactly.