The EL6900 is a highly integrated laser diode driver designed to support Blu-Ray writable optical drives. It accomplishes this by incorporating a waveform generator wherein the diode currents and timing details can be programmed before operation. The data input circuitry inspects the NRZ serial data waveform and generates programmed waveforms in recognition of 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more clock periods of space changing to 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more clock periods of mark, and vice versa. The part also has an IV amplifier with concurrent read and write sampling. The gains of the IV amplifier are programmable, eliminating the need for external potentiometers.