Circuit arrangement for amplitude-modulating the drive signal of a laser

US5398008A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Alcatel N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Dieter Nissler · Echterdingen, DE
• Norbert Kaiser · Markt Taschendorf, DE
• Werner Manz · Echterdingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 16, 1993
• Grant date: Mar 14, 1995
• Expiry date: Aug 16, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/0427
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The universally-applicable circuit arrangement of the invention makes possible an adjustment procedure for holding emitted optical power of a laser constant independent of temperature and aging. This circuit arrangement may be carried out as a three-stage cascade circuit supplied with operating voltages greater than 5 V. In accordance with the purpose of the invention, a circuit arrangement is provided which is universally applicable in a temperature range T=-40.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. for commercially available lasers and can be supplied by a standard 5 V source. In order to accomplish this as per the invention, differential amplifiers acting as current switches are arranged in a first cascade stage and the current sources feeding the differential amplifiers arranged in a second cascade stage. A data signal (D) serving to control the modulating current (I.sub.mod) is logically combined with a pilot signal (P) serving to control the pilot currents (I.sub.P1, I.sub.P2) in at least one cascade stage.