High-efficiency, dual current sink laser diode driver

A multi-stage laser drive circuit configured to draw current from a common potential source, comprising:

• a current node;
• a first light-emitting array in electrical communication between the common potential source and the current node;
• a first linear current sink in electrical communication with the current node, the first linear current sink having a first control terminal and configured to draw a selected first current from the common potential source, through the current node, in response to a respective first current control output signal received at the first control terminal;
• a second linear current sink in electrical communication with the current node and in a parallel arrangement with respect to the first current sink, the second linear current sink having a second control terminal and configured to draw a selected second current from the common potential source, through the current node, in response to a respective second current control output signal received at the second control terminal;
• and
• a second light-emitting array in electrical communication between the current node and the second linear current sink;
• whereby the selected first and second currents are drawn through the first light-emitting array from the common potential source while the selected second current is simultaneously drawn through the second light-emitting array from the common potential source;
• and
• whereby the first and second light-emitting arrays are configured to emit light in response to the currents respectively drawn therethrough.