Laser diode problems hit Playstation3 launch
Low yields of laser diode chips from semiconductor wafers appear to be behind the decision by Sony to delay its introduction of the Playstation3 games console in Europe.
The Playstation3 launch dates in Japan and the US remain set at November 11 and November 17 respectively, but in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia, the entertainment and home networking system will now be launched in March 2007.
Sony said that a delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diodes that are at the heart of each PlayStation3 was to blame.
Blue laser diode manufacturers have encountered yield problems with the technology in the past, which is largely due to the lattice mismatch between the substrate and active layers of the devices.
The relatively high number of defects that result have generally been blamed for these yield problems.
Assuming that Sony had procured the necessary manufacturing equipment and semiconductor materials to make enough laser diodes for the global launch, it seems probable that a device yield problem is to blame for the split launch schedule.
Despite the European setback, Sony is still expecting its PlayStation3 launch to result in the shipment of 6 million units - each featuring a GaN laser - within fiscal 2007.
