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US 12,470,043 B2Granted
Laser source, LIDAR system and method for controlling a laser source
Assigneeams-OSRAM International GmbH
InventorHubert Halbritter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser source may include a laser diode, a modulation device, and a feedback device. The modulation device may include an electric power source and may be suitable for modifying a current intensity applied to the laser diode, which may modify an emission frequency of the laser diode. The feedback device may be suitable for modifying a current intensity applied to the laser diode by the electric power source as a function of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the laser diode.
Claims9
A laser source, comprising:
- a laser diode;
- a modulation device comprising a current source;
- wherein the modulation device is configured to modify a current intensity impressed into the laser diode, and thereby modify an emission frequency of the laser diode;
- and
- a feedback device configured to feed a feedback signal to the modulation device, the signal being dependent on the intensity in a predetermined wavelength range;
- wherein the feedback device comprises a plurality of interferometers, each of which is configured to generate a signal from a measuring beam branched off from the emitted electromagnetic radiation, the intensity of the signal changing periodically as a function of the emission wavelength, and wherein the measurement beam is divided into a plurality of partial beams, each of which is fed to a different interferometer, and
- wherein the feedback device further comprises a selection device configured to select the signal of that interferometer which exhibits linear dependence of the intensity on the wavelength, and to feed the feedback signal to the modulation device, so as to modify a current intensity impressed by the current source into the laser diode as a function of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the laser diode.
4 more elements
A method for controlling a laser source, comprising:
- impressing a current intensity into a laser diode;
- modifying the current intensity impressed into the laser diode, thereby modifying an emission frequency of the laser diode;
- and
- controlling the current intensity impressed into the laser diode as a function of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the laser diode;
- wherein controlling the current intensity comprises:
- generating a signal from a measuring beam branched off from the emitted electromagnetic radiation, the signal depending on the emission wavelength and its intensity changing periodically as a function of the emission wavelength, and
- generating a feedback signal from the signal and controlling the current intensity using the feedback signal, the feedback signal being dependent on the intensity in a predetermined wavelength range, the measurement beam being divided into a plurality of partial beams each of which is fed to a different interferometer, and the signal of that interferometer which exhibits linear dependence of the intensity on the wavelength being selected and fed to the modulation device, so as to modify a current intensity impressed by the current source into the laser diode as a function of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the laser diode.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.