Burst mode laser transmitter having an extremely fast response time when triggered from a totally off state

A method for generating an optical data signal, comprising:

• receiving an RF data signal that is to be transformed into an optical data signal;
• applying a bias voltage to a laser diode when the received RF data signal exceeds a threshold level and removing the bias voltage from the laser diode when the RF data signal is below the threshold level or when no RF data signal is received;
• and
• modulating the bias voltage applied to the laser diode with the RF data signal.

At least one computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs a method including:

• causing a laser diode to be triggered into an on-state only when an RF data signal is detected;
• causing the RF data signal to be amplified by latching a RF power amplifier into an active state for a predetermined period of time when the RF signal is detected;
• and
• causing an optical output signal from the laser diode to be modulated using the amplified RF data signal.

An Optical Network Unit (ONU), comprising:

• an optical receiver arrangement for transforming optical signals received over a communication network into Radio Frequency (RF) signals for delivery to customer equipment;
• and
• an optical transmitter arrangement for transforming RF signals received from the customer equipment into optical signals directed onto the communication network, said optical transmitter arrangement including;
• a burst mode laser diode;
• a controller having an input for receiving an RF data signal, the controller including a triggering arrangement and a modulation arrangement;
• wherein the triggering arrangement is configured to bias the laser diode to an on-state bias level when an RF data signal is present at the input to the controller and to an off-state bias level when no RF data signal is present at the input to the controller;
• and
• wherein the modulation arrangement is configured to modulate the on-state bias level at which the laser diode is biased with the RF data signal only when the RF data signal is present at the input of the controller, said modulation arrangement including an RF power amplifier for amplifying the RF data signal before it modulates the on-state bias level of the laser diode, a latching arrangement for biasing the RF power amplifier into an active state only when the RF data signal is present at the controller input, and a processor for controlling the latching arrangement in response to a control signal received from the triggering arrangement.