Dual current control for laser diode driver circuit
US7512163B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/02325
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Circuitry for reliably regulating the current driving a laser diode or other current-driven load is described. In particular, a dual-current driver circuit is described that uses both a current source circuit and a current sink circuit. The current source circuit and the current sink circuit may each independently control the laser diode drive current within a desired operating tolerance. The current driving the laser diode will be maintained within tolerance despite the failure of either the current source circuit or the current sink circuit. This is because the current source circuit and the current sink circuit are combined with the laser diode in series, such that the current driving the laser diode will be controlled at the lower of the two currents driven by the current source circuit and the current sink circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.