Automatic power control of semiconductor laser
US6151344A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/0683
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Automatic power control of a semiconductor laser (12, 72) is achieved by monitoring the spontaneous lateral emissions from the semiconductor laser and adjusting the drive signal to the laser based on the detected emissions. A lateral detector (13, 73) generates a photocurrent from the spontaneous emissions. The detector signal (Ilat) is compared to a reference signal (Iref) and the difference is applied to the drive signal (Ilas) to alter or control the laser output. The magnitudes of the reference signal source and the drive signal source are determined and set based on the desired optical output power of the semiconductor laser measured at a series of temperatures.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.