MAX3298

The MAX3287 shortwave or VCSEL evaluation kit (EV kit) is an assembled, surface-mount demonstration board that allows easy optical and electrical evaluation of the MAX3287/MAX3288 1.25Gbps laser drivers or the MAX3297/MAX3298 2.5Gbps laser drivers in the common-cathode configuration. Short-wavelength laser diodes (wavelength 980nm) and vertical cavity-surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) typically require a common- cathode configuration. In the common-cathode configuration, the laser's cathode connects to ground and the laser is driven at its anode.

When used with the MAX3287/MAX3297, the laser bias current regulates to keep a constant photodiode current (for shortwave laser diodes). When used with the MAX3288/MAX3298, the laser bias current is directly sensed and held constant.

This EV kit of the MAX3298 includes an extra blank circuit without components to demonstrate a small, tight layout optimized for optical evaluation.