Burst pulse circuit for signal lights and method

Abstract

A circuit is provided for over-driving a super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating. A power supply provides a pulse width modulated signal to an analog memory connected to the power supply and a pulse generator. The pulse generator includes a window comparator engaged with the analog memory, and is responsive to a portion of the pulse width modulated signal. A power driver that is controlled by the output of the pulse generator, is operably connected with the super-luminescent light emitting diode and with the power supply so as to energize the super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current that is above the maximum forward continuous current rating by between two and ten times that rated current. A signal is also provided along with a method of over-driving a super-luminescent light emitting diode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.