Pulsed laser diode driver
US10158211B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 2016 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/4025
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Optical systems can emit train(s) of light pulses onto objects to derive a distance between the light source and the object. Achieving meter or centimeter resolution may require very short light pulses. It is not trivial to design a circuit that can generate narrow current pulses for driving a diode that emits the light pulses. An improved driver circuit has a pre-charge path comprising one or more inductive elements and a fire path comprising the diode. Switches in the driver circuit are controlled with predefined states during different intervals to pre-charge current in the one or more inductive elements prior to flowing current through the fire path to pulse the diode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.