Diode drive current source

A current source for driving a load, the load including a plurality of laser diodes and a plurality of element arrays, the current source comprising:

• a power source;
• a constant current source coupled between the power source and the load for providing regulated current to the load;
• a shunt switch coupled across the load;
• a duty factor controller coupled to the shunt switch for providing a signal to the shunt switch that regulates the duty factor of the pulsed current supplied to the load;
• and
• first and second series switches respectively coupled between the power source and the plurality of element arrays, and wherein the first and second series switches are coupled to and are controlled by the duty factor controller.

A current source for driving a plurality of loads comprising:

• a power source;
• a constant current source coupled between the power source and the plurality of loads;
• a shunt switch coupled across the plurality of loads;
• a plurality of series switches respectively coupled in series with the plurality of loads;
• and
• a duty factor controller coupled to the shunt switch and to the plurality of series switches for providing signals to the shunt switch and to the plurality of series switches that regulate the respective duty factors of the pulsed current supplied to the plurality of loads, and wherein the summation of duty factors of the respective signals is less than or equal to 100%.

A laser drive circuit for driving light emitting diode arrays, said circuit comprising:

• a power source for providing power to the light emitting diode arrays;
• charge storage means coupled to the power source for storing charge;
• a plurality of light emitting diode arrays coupled to the charge storage means wherein each diode emitting array contains individual pluralities of light emitting diodes that operate at a predetermined low duty cycle;
• and
• a plurality of diode drive current sources respectively coupled to the plurality of light emitting diode arrays, wherein each diode drive current source comprises a shunt switch coupled across a respective light emitting diode array, and wherein a duty factor controller is coupled to the shunt switch for setting its duty factor.

A current source for driving a load that comprises a plurality of laser diodes, said current source comprising:

• a power source;
• a constant current source coupled between the power source and the load for providing regulated current to the load;
• a shunt switch coupled across the load;
• a duty factor controller coupled to the shunt switch for providing a signal to the shunt switch that regulates the duty factor of the pulsed current supplied to the load;
• and
• first and second series switches respectively coupled in series with the plurality of laser diodes that comprise the load, and wherein the first and second series switches are coupled to and are controlled by the duty factor controller.