Configurable laser driver with common anode and common cathode outputs
AssigneeMindspeed Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Draper, Anping Liu, Maurice M. Reintjes, Jerome Garez, Kenneth Tsui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various laser drivers and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a laser driver is provided that comprises a laser driver circuit having a common anode portion and a common cathode portion. The common anode portion and the common cathode portion are each configured to drive a laser. Also, the laser driver includes a control input to alternatively enable one of the common anode portion and the common cathode portion to drive the laser.
Claims21
A laser driver, comprising:
- a laser driver circuit having a common anode portion and a common cathode portion, wherein the common anode portion and the common cathode portion are each configured to drive a laser, the common anode portion includes a common anode configuration driver circuit, and the common cathode portion includes a common cathode configuration driver circuit;
- and
- a control input to alternatively enable one of the common anode portion and the common cathode portion to drive the laser.
A method for driving a laser with a laser driver circuit having a common anode portion and a common cathode portion, wherein the common anode portion includes a common anode configuration driver circuit, and the common cathode portion includes a common cathode configuration driver circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a control input to the laser driver circuit to alternatively enable the common anode portion or the common cathode portion;
- and
- generating a bias current and a modulating current in the laser with the enabled one of the common anode portion and the common cathode portion.
A laser driver, comprising:
- a laser driver circuit having a common anode portion and a common cathode portion, wherein the common anode portion and the common cathode portion are each configured to drive a laser, the common anode portion includes a common anode configuration driver circuit, and the common cathode portion includes a common cathode configuration driver circuit;
- and
- means for alternatively enabling one of the common anode portion and the common cathode portion to drive the laser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.