Method and apparatus for preventing damage to a temperature-sensitive semiconductor device
US5073838A · kind A · utility
60Cited by
20References
28Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1989 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/06216
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A temperature-sensitive semiconductor device, such as a laser diode, is protected against damage from overheating by use of a temperature sensor which produces a signal that is digitized and applied to a microprocessor. The microprocessor uses a look-up table to determine an appropriate duty cycle for operation of the semiconductor device, based upon the temperature of the semiconductor device, so as to avoid operating the semiconductor devices for a length of time which could produce overheating and damage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.