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From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: CD laser diode life
Message-ID: <687@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Jun-85 23:55:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: vortex.687
Posted: Mon Jun 10 23:55:54 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Jun-85 01:15:43 EDT
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 12

The laser diodes used in CD players (780 nm) are typically rated
at "over 5000 hours" use.  Those little devils generate a considerable
amount of energy from a tiny chip area.  As they age, they require
more and more current to generate the required amount of light, and
circuitry in the player automatically keeps the current high enough
to provide this level.  Eventually, the diode simply won't emit
enough light without so much current that it burns out.

This isn't part of some devious plot--it's just the physics of
the little beasties.

--Lauren--