Laser diode driver architectures

A method to provide an output device with an output current, comprising:

• generating, based on a pre-determined output current, a direct current bias at a current mirror output transistor including emitter degeneration;
• selectively enabling the current mirror output transistor to conduct the pre-determined output current by electrically coupling an emitter terminal of the current mirror output transistor to a reference voltage;
• and
• maintaining the direct current bias via a beta helper circuit coupled to the current mirror output transistor in response to electrically decoupling the current mirror output transistor from the reference voltage.

A laser diode driver, comprising:

• a current scaler configured to generate a plurality of scaling signals;
• a plurality of current channels electrically connected to the current scaler, wherein each current channel is configured to selectively generate an incremental scaled current based on the scaling signals and a data signal, wherein the data signal selectively enables one or more current channels to produce a desired power level;
• a plurality of current summers, each coupled to the current channels to sum the scaled currents;
• and
• an output stage coupled to the current summers to receive the summed currents from the current summers, and configured to generate a pre-determined output current based on the data signal and the scaling signals to power a laser diode based on the summed currents.