Claims
- 1. A laser driver adapted to drive a load including a laser diode, the laser driver comprising:
components that result in a parasitic capacitance; and a programmable damping resistor adapted to selectively provide a plurality of different damping resistances; wherein one of the plurality of different damping resistances can be selected to improve a laser light output response.
- 2. The laser driver of claim 1, wherein the programmable damping resistor is in parallel with the parasitic capacitance.
- 3. The laser driver of claim 1, wherein the programmable damping resistor is in series with the parasitic capacitance.
- 4. The laser driver of claim 1, wherein the programmable damping resistor includes a plurality of selectable resistors.
- 5. The laser driver of claim 1, wherein the programmable damping resistor includes a plurality of controllable transistors.
- 6. The laser driver of claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to adjust the programmable damping resistor based on an input signal.
- 7. The laser driver of claim 6, wherein the input signal specifies the inductive, capacitive and resistive characteristics of the load, and wherein the digital controller determines a desirable damping resistance based on the specified characteristics.
- 8. The laser driver of claim 6, wherein the input signal identifies components making up the load, and wherein the digital controller determines a desirable damping resistance based on the identified components.
- 9. The laser driver of claim 6, wherein the input signal specifies a desired damping resistance.
- 10. The laser driver of claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to dynamically adjust the programmable damping resistor based on a dynamic input.
- 11. The laser driver of claim 10, wherein the dynamic input relates to a drive current that drives the laser diode.
- 12. The laser driver of claim 10, wherein the dynamic input relates to a temperature of the laser driver.
- 13. The laser driver of claim 10, wherein the dynamic input relates to a voltage supply used to power the laser driver.
- 14. The laser driver of claim 1, further comprising a fixed damping capacitor in series with the programmable damping resistor.
- 15. The laser driver of claim 1, further comprising a programmable damping capacitor in series with the programmable damping resistor.
- 16. A laser driver adapted to drive a load including a laser diode, the laser driver comprising a programmable damping resistor adapted to improve a laser light output response, wherein the programmable damping resistor is in series with a parasitic capacitance of the laser driver.
- 17. The laser driver of claim 16, wherein an effective damping resistance of the programmable resistor is selectable by a digital signal.
- 18. The laser driver of claim 16, further comprising a damping capacitor in series with the programmable resistor.
- 19. The laser driver of claim 16, further comprising a controller adapted to determine and select an effective damping resistance of the programmable damping resistor.
- 20. A method for improving the light output response of a laser diode, comprising:
(a) adjusting an effective resistance of a programmable resistor, within a laser driver, to improve the light output response of the laser diode; and (b) using the laser driver to drive the laser diode.
- 21. A method for improving the light output response of a laser diode, comprising:
(a) determining a damping resistance; (b) adjusting a programmable resistor, within a laser driver, to provide the damping resistance; and (c) using the laser driver to drive the laser diode.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (a) comprising determining the damping resistance based on inductive, capacitive and resistive characteristics of a load including a laser diode.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein step (a) is performed by a controller within the laser driver based on an input signal provided to the controller.
- 24. The method of claim 21, wherein step (a) comprises dynamically determining the damping resistance based on at least one of the following:
a temperature; a voltage supply; and a drive current.
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/461,454, filed Apr. 9, 2003, entitled “PROGRAMMABLE DAMPING FOR LASER DRIVERS,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60461454 |
Apr 2003 |
US |