Methods and systems of driving arrays of diodes
AssigneeSemiconductor Components Industries, LLC
InventorJean-Paul Anna Joseph Eggermont
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Driving arrays of diodes. At least some of the example embodiments are methods of driving an array of diodes including: charging an inductor to increase an inductor current, the charging ceases when the inductor current reaches a predetermined threshold; driving the inductor current through a first portion of the array of diodes, the driving ceases prior to the inductor current reaching zero; and recirculating the inductor current through the inductor until a next charging event.
Claims20
A method of driving an array of laser diodes comprising:
- charging an inductor to increase an inductor current of the inductor, the charging ceases when the inductor current reaches a predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold is set by a controller;
- driving the inductor current through a first portion of the array of laser diodes, the driving ceases prior to the inductor current reaching zero;
- and
- recirculating the inductor current through the inductor until a next charging event,
- wherein driving the inductor current through the first portion of the array of laser diodes further comprises driving the inductor current through a row of the array of laser diodes, and
- wherein all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are coupled in parallel with each other,
- wherein anodes of all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are directly coupled to each other, and
- wherein cathodes of all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are directly coupled to a ground.
A diode driver for driving an array of laser diodes, the diode driver configured to perform operations:
- charge an inductor to increase an inductor current of the inductor, the charging ceases when the inductor current reaches a predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold is set by a controller;
- drive the inductor current through a first portion of the array of laser diodes, the driving ceases prior to the inductor current reaching zero;
- and
- recirculate the inductor current through the inductor until a next charging event,
- wherein driving the inductor current through the first portion of the array of laser diodes further comprises driving the inductor current through a row of the array of laser diodes, and
- wherein all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are coupled in parallel with each other,
- wherein anodes of all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are directly coupled to each other, and
- wherein cathodes of all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are directly coupled to a ground.
A lidar system comprising a controller configured to:
- charge an inductor to increase an inductor current of the inductor, the charging ceases when the inductor current reaches a predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold is set by the controller;
- drive the inductor current through a first portion of an array of laser diodes, the driving ceases prior to the inductor current reaching zero;
- and
- recirculate the inductor current through the inductor until a next charging event,
- wherein driving the inductor current through the first portion of the array of laser diodes further comprises driving the inductor current through a row of the array of laser diodes, and
- wherein all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are coupled in parallel with each other,
- wherein anodes of all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are directly coupled to each other, and
- wherein cathodes of all of the laser diodes included in the row of the array of laser diodes are directly coupled to a ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.