Method and apparatus for active voltage regulation in optical modules

An optical module apparatus, comprising:

• one or more photodetectors to detect light emitted from one or more semiconductor light sources;
• a transimpedance amplifier coupled to the one or more photodetectors to receive data from the one or more photodetectors;
• a temperature monitor configured to generate an output indicative of a temperature of the optical module apparatus;
• a voltage regulator configured to generate output voltages and coupled to the transimpedance amplifier to provide a supply voltage to the transimpedance amplifier, wherein the supply voltage to the transimpedance amplifier is included in the output voltages;
• voltage regulator control electronics configured to adjust the output voltages of the voltage regulator based at least in part on the output of the temperature monitor;
• and
• a microcontroller including an input to receive the output of the temperature monitor and configured to provide a control input to the voltage regulator control electronics based at least in part on the received output of the temperature monitor.

A method of adjusting voltage in an optical module, the method comprising:

• providing one or more semiconductor light sources in the optical module, wherein a laser diode driver is coupled to the one or more semiconductor light sources to drive the one or more semiconductor light sources;
• optically coupling light from the one or more semiconductor light sources to an optical fiber;
• monitoring, from a temperature monitor, a temperature of the optical module based on an output generated by the temperature monitor indicative of the temperature of the optical module apparatus;
• providing, from a voltage regulator, an output including one or more supply voltages to the laser diode driver to drive the one or more semiconductor light sources;
• using voltage regulator control electronics to adjust the output of the voltage regulator based at least in part on the monitoring of the temperature of the optical module;
• and
• providing, from a microcontroller that received the output of the temperature monitor, a control input to the voltage regulator based at least in part on the output of the temperature monitor received from the temperature monitor.

A method of adjusting voltage in an optical module, the method comprising:

• providing one or more photodetectors in the optical module to detect light emitted from one or more semiconductor light sources;
• optically coupling light from an optical fiber to the one or more photodetectors;
• monitoring, from a temperature monitor, a temperature of the optical module based on an output generated by the temperature monitor indicative of the temperature of the optical module;
• providing, from a voltage regulator, an output including one or more supply voltages to a transimpedance amplifier to provide a supply voltage to the transimpedance amplifier;
• using voltage regulator control electronics to adjust the output of the voltage regulator based at least in part on the monitoring of the temperature of the optical module;
• and
• providing, from a microcontroller that received the output of the temperature monitor, a control input to the voltage regulator based at least in part on the output of the temperature monitor received from the temperature monitor.