Electronics driver for pulsed discharge
AssigneeOMRON Corporation
InventorFred Freybler Schleifer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This application describes a laser driver that can include a voltage source, an inductor, at least one capacitor, a diode laser, and an electronic switch. The switch may be connected to ground and may be configured to alternate between an on state and an off state. In a first on state, current may flow through the switch to the inductor and through the inductor to store energy in the inductor. In a first off state, the inductor may release the stored energy and allow current to flow to the at least one capacitor to charge the at least one capacitor. In a second on state, the at least one capacitor may discharge and allow current to flow through the diode laser to cause the diode laser to emit light energy.
Claims12
An electronic laser driver for producing a pulsed electrical discharge, the laser driver comprising:
- a voltage source;
- an inductor having first and second ends, the inductor being in electrical communication with the voltage source at the first end of the inductor;
- a first capacitor having first and second ends, the first capacitor being in electrical communication with the second end of the inductor at the first end of the first capacitor;
- a laser diode having first and second ends, the laser diode being in electrical communication with the second end of the first capacitor at the first end of the laser diode, the second end of the laser diode being in electrical communication with ground;
- an electronic switch having a first end connected to a first node disposed between the second end of the inductor and the first end of the first capacitor, wherein the electronic switch is configured to alternate between an on state and an off state;
- a second capacitor having:
- (i) a first end connected to a second node disposed between the voltage source and the first end of the inductor;
- and (ii) a second end connected to ground;
- a first resistor having a first end in electrical communication with a third node disposed between the second end of the first capacitor and the first end of the laser diode;
- and
- a third capacitor, wherein each of the first capacitor and the third capacitor is arranged in parallel with each other between the first node and a fourth node, and is in electrical communication with the laser diode at the fourth node;
- wherein:
- in a first on state, current flows through the electronic switch and the inductor to store energy in the inductor;
- in a first off state, the inductor releases the stored energy and current flows to the first capacitor to charge the first capacitor;
- and
- in a second on state, the first capacitor discharges and current flows to the laser diode to cause the laser diode to emit light energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.