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US 9,178,334 B2Granted
Arbitrary waveform generator to improve laser diode driver performance
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorEdward Steven Fulkerson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arbitrary waveform generator modifies the input signal to a laser diode driver circuit in order to reduce the overshoot/undershoot and provide a “flat-top” signal to the laser diode driver circuit. The input signal is modified based on the original received signal and the feedback from the laser diode by measuring the actual current flowing in the laser diode after the original signal is applied to the laser diode.
Claims22
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a control circuit, a digital description of a current pulse, the digital description including information about a current value and a duration for which the current value is to be applied to a laser diode;
- generating, by the control circuit, an analog drive signal corresponding to the digital description of the current pulse;
- communicating, by the control circuit, the analog drive signal to the laser diode;
- receiving, by the control circuit, information indicative of current flow through the laser diode upon application of the analog drive signal;
- generating, by the control circuit, a new digital description of the current pulse based on the digital description of the current pulse and the information indicative of the current flow through the laser diode, wherein generating the new digital description of the current pulse comprises:
- comparing, by the control circuit, the current flowing through the laser diode to the current value included in the first digital information;
- determining, by the control circuit, that the current flowing through the laser diode is not substantially equal to the current value included in the first digital information;
- and
- generating, by the control circuit, the new digital description of the current pulse based on the determination;
- generating, by the control circuit, a new analog drive signal corresponding to the new digital description of the current pulse;
- and
- providing, by the control circuit, the new analog drive signal to the laser diode.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, first digital information indicating a current pulse to be applied to a laser diode, the current pulse having an amplitude and duration, wherein the amplitude is indicative of a current value and the duration is indicative of a time period for which the current value is to be applied to the laser diode;
- providing, by the controller, the first digital information to a laser diode driver coupled to the controller, the first digital information being used to generate a corresponding first analog drive signal for the laser diode;
- receiving, by the controller, a signal from a current sensing device, the signal indicative of actual current flowing through the laser diode upon application of the analog drive signal;
- generating, by the controller, second digital information indicating a new current pulse to be applied to the laser diode, the second digital information being based on the first digital information and actual current flowing through the laser diode, wherein generating the second digital information further comprises:
- comparing, by the controller, the actual current flowing through the laser diode to the current value included in the first digital information;
- determining, by the controller, that the actual current flowing through the laser diode is not substantially equal to the current value included in the first digital information;
- and
- generating, by the controller, the second digital information based on the determination;
- and
- providing, by the controller, the second digital information to the laser diode driver.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- a control circuit;
- a laser diode driver circuit coupled to the control circuit;
- a laser diode coupled to the laser diode driver circuit;
- and
- a current measuring device coupled to the laser diode, the current measuring device being configured to measure current flow through the laser diode;
- wherein the control circuit is configured to:
- receive first digital information indicating a current pulse to be applied to a laser diode, the current pulse having an amplitude and duration, wherein the amplitude is indicative of a current value and the duration is indicative of a time period for which the current value is to be applied to the laser diode;
- provide the first digital information to the laser diode driver circuit, the first digital information being used to generate a corresponding first analog drive signal for the laser diode;
- receive a signal from the current measuring device, the signal indicative of actual current flowing through the laser diode upon application of the analog drive signal;
- generate second digital information indicating a new current pulse to be applied to the laser diode, the second digital information being based on the first digital information and actual current flowing through the laser diode, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
- compare the actual current flowing through the laser diode to the current value included in the first digital information;
- determine that the actual current flowing through the laser diode is not substantially equal to the current value included in the first digital information;
- and
- generate the second digital information based on the determination;
- and
- provide the second digital information to the laser diode driver.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.