Laser driver
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsDouglas W. Dean, Jeremy R. Kuehlwein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a lasing element, a laser driver and logic. The laser driver is configured to drive the lasing element at multiple current levels, and the laser driver includes a switching network, multiple direct current (DC) loops, and an output circuit. The switching network receives a differential input signal, and each DC loop is coupled to the switching network. The output circuit is also coupled to the lasing element, and the logic is coupled to each of the DC current loops, where the logic selects one or more of the DC loops in each (of several) modes. Each mode generates one or more output lasing currents for the lasing element that corresponds to a one or more of the current levels in response to the differential input signal.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a lasing element;
- and
- a laser driver that is configured to drive the lasing element at a plurality of current levels, wherein the laser driver has:
- a switching network that receives a differential input signal;
- a plurality of direct current (DC) loops, wherein each DC loop is coupled to the switching network;
- an output circuit that is coupled to the lasing element;
- and
- logic that is coupled to each of the DC current loops, wherein the logic selects one or more of the DC loops in each of a plurality of modes, and wherein each mode generates one or more output lasing currents for the lasing element that corresponds to a one or more of the plurality of current levels in response to the differential input signal.
An apparatus comprising:
- a head having a lasing element;
- an interconnect that is coupled to the head;
- and
- a preamplifier having a laser driver that is configured to drive the lasing element at a plurality of current levels, wherein the laser driver has:
- a switching network that receives a differential input signal;
- a plurality of DC loops, wherein each DC loop is coupled to the switching network;
- an output circuit that is coupled to the lasing element;
- and
- logic that is coupled to each of the DC current loops, wherein the logic selects one or more of the DC loops in each of a plurality of modes, and wherein each mode generates one or more output lasing currents for the lasing element that corresponds to a one or more of the plurality of current levels in response to the differential input signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.