Claims
- 1. A system for electronically controlling a temperature of a pump laser that includes a laser diode, having an on-state and an off-state, and a laser diode driver for providing a first input current to operate the laser diode, the system comprising:
a temperature detector disposed to determine the pump laser temperature; and a temperature controller, coupled to receive the first input current and responsive to the pump laser temperature, for permitting the laser diode driver to supply the first input current if the pump laser temperature is within a first predetermined temperature range, and to sufficiently reduce the first input current to render the laser diode inoperable if the pump laser temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature controller comprises:
a comparator, coupled to receive a signal representative of the pump laser temperature and a signal representative of the first predetermined temperature range, to compare the pump laser temperature to the first predetermined temperature range, and having a comparator output that has a first value if the pump laser temperature is within the first predetermined temperature range and a second value if the pump laser temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range.
- 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the temperature controller further comprises:
a first regulator, coupled to receive the first input current and the comparator output, for allowing the laser diode to be operable when the comparator output is the first value, and rendering the laser diode inoperable when the comparator output is the second value.
- 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pump laser further includes a cooler and a cooler driver for providing a second input current to operate the cooler and wherein the temperature controller further comprises:
a second regulator, coupled to receive the second input current and the comparator output, for allowing the cooler to be operable when the comparator output is the first value, and rendering the cooler inoperable when the comparator output is the second value.
- 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the temperature detector comprises:
a non-inverting amplifier, having a fixed voltage reference first input, a second input, and an amplifier output; and a thermistor having a resistance that varies in accordance with the pump laser temperature to determine the pump laser temperature signal, the thermistor being coupled between the second input and the amplifier output, so that the pump laser temperature signal corresponds with the amplifier output and the pump laser temperature is maintained within the first predetermined temperature range.
- 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the temperature detector comprises:
a non-inverting amplifier, having a fixed voltage reference first input, a second input, and an amplifier output; and a thermistor having a resistance that varies in accordance with the pump laser temperature to determine the pump laser temperature signal, the thermistor being coupled between the second input and the amplifier output, so that the pump laser temperature signal corresponds with the amplifier output and the pump laser temperature is maintained within the first predetermined temperature range.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump laser further includes a cooler and a cooler driver for providing a second input current to operate the cooler and wherein the cooler comprises a thermoelectric cooler.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump laser further includes a cooler and a cooler driver for providing a second input current to operate the cooler and wherein the system has an associated power draw which does not exceed 1 Watt when the pump laser temperature is 25° C.
- 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump laser further includes a cooler and a cooler driver for providing a second input current to operate the cooler and wherein the temperature controller is interposed between the cooler driver and the cooler to control the supply of the second input current responsive to the pump laser temperature so that the pump laser temperature remains at a near constant value.
- 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump laser further includes a cooler and a cooler driver for providing a second input current to operate the cooler, the system further comprising:
means for comparing the pump laser temperature to a second predetermined temperature range and for permitting the cooler driver to supply the second input current if the pump laser temperature is within the second predetermined range and to block the second input current sufficiently to render the cooler inoperable if the pump laser temperature is outside the second predetermined temperature range.
- 11. A system for electronically controlling a temperature of a laser diode that is operable in an on-state and inoperable in an off-state, comprising:
means for determining the laser diode temperature; a cooler for providing heat transfer to lower the laser diode temperature; a laser diode driver for supplying a first input current to drive the laser diode; a temperature controller, coupled to receive the first input current and responsive to the laser diode temperature, for permitting the laser diode driver, to supply the first input current if the laser diode temperature is within a first predetermined temperature range, and to block the first input current sufficiently to render the laser diode inoperable if the laser diode temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range; and a cooler driver for supplying a second input current to drive the cooler.
- 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the temperature controller comprises:
a comparator, coupled to receive a signal representative of the laser diode temperature, to compare the laser diode temperature to the first predetermined temperature range, and having a comparator output that has a first value if the laser diode temperature is within the first predetermined temperature range and a second value if the laser diode temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range.
- 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the temperature controller further comprises:
a first regulator, coupled to receive the first input current and the comparator output, for allowing the laser diode to be operable when the comparator output is the first value, and rendering the laser diode inoperable when the comparator output is the second value.
- 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the temperature controller further comprises:
a second regulator, coupled to receive the second input current and the comparator output, for allowing the cooler to be operable when the comparator output is the first value, and rendering the cooler inoperable when the comparator output is the second value.
- 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for determining the laser diode temperature comprises:
a non-inverting amplifier, having a fixed voltage reference first input, a second input, and an amplifier output; and a thermistor having a resistance that varies in accordance with the laser diode temperature to determine the laser diode temperature signal, the thermistor being coupled between the second input and the amplifier output, so that the laser diode temperature signal corresponds with the amplifier output and the laser diode temperature is maintained within the first predetermined temperature range.
- 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for determining the laser diode temperature comprises:
a non-inverting amplifier, having a fixed voltage reference first input, a second input, and an amplifier output; and a thermistor having a resistance that varies in accordance with the laser diode temperature to determine the laser diode temperature signal, the thermistor being coupled between the second input and the amplifier output, so that the laser diode temperature signal corresponds with the amplifier output and the laser diode temperature is maintained within the first predetermined temperature range
- 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the cooler comprises a thermoelectric cooler.
- 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the temperature controller further controls the cooler driver to supply the second input current if the laser diode temperature is within the first predetermined temperature range, and to block the second input current sufficiently to render the cooler inoperable if the laser diode temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range.
- 19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:
means for comparing the pump laser temperature to a second predetermined temperature range and permitting the cooler driver to supply the second input current if the laser diode temperature is within the second predetermined range and to block the second input current sufficiently to render the cooler inoperable if the laser diode temperature is outside the second temperature range.
- 20. A method for electronically controlling a temperature of a pump laser, including a laser diode having an on-state and an off-state, comprising the steps of:
supplying a first input current to the laser diode, which is operable in the on-state and inoperable in the off-state; supplying a second input current to a cooler which provides heat transfer away from the laser diode; determining the pump laser temperature; comparing the pump laser temperature to a first predetermined temperature range; and permitting the laser diode to be operable by the supplied first input current if the pump laser temperature is within the first predetermined temperature range or sufficiently reducing the supplied first input current to the laser diode to render the laser diode inoperable if the pump laser temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein comparing comprises receiving a signal representative of the pump laser temperature by a comparator which is also coupled to receive a signal representative of the first predetermined temperature range, the comparator outputting a first value if the pump laser temperature is within the first predetermined temperature range and a second value if the pump laser temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein permitting comprises a first regulator allowing the laser diode to receive the first input current and to be operable when the comparator output is the first value.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein permitting further comprises a second regulator allowing the second input current to render the cooler operable when the comparator output is the first value.
- 24. The method of claim 21, wherein sufficiently reducing comprises a first regulator sufficiently reducing the first input current to render the laser diode inoperable when the comparator output is the second value.
- 25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining comprises determining a resistance of a thermistor that varies in accordance with the pump laser temperature, the resistance being coupled between an input and an amplifier output of a non-inverting amplifier, to determine a pump laser temperature so that the amplifier output corresponds with the pump laser temperature and the pump laser temperature is maintained within the first predetermined temperature range.
- 26. The method of claim 24, wherein sufficiently reducing further comprises rendering the cooler inoperable when the comparator output is the second value.
- 27. The method of claim 21 wherein determining comprises determining a resistance of a thermistor that varies in accordance with the pump laser temperature, the resistance being coupled between an input and an amplifier output of a non-inverting amplifier, to determine a pump laser temperature so that the amplifier output corresponds to the pump laser temperature and the pump laser temperature is maintained within the first predetermined temperature range.
- 28. The method of claim 20, further including providing the cooler as a thermoelectric cooler.
- 29. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of permitting the cooler to be operable by the supplied second input current if the pump laser temperature is within the first predetermined temperature range or sufficiently reducing the supplied second input current sufficiently to render the cooler inoperable if the pump laser temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range.
- 30. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of comparing the pump laser temperature to a second predetermined range and permitting the cooler driver to supply the second input current if the pump laser temperature is within the second predetermined range and to sufficiently reduce the second input current to render the cooler inoperable if the pump laser temperature is outside the second predetermined temperature range.
- 31. A pump laser system for electronically controlling a temperature of a pump laser, having an on-state and an off-state, comprising:
a laser diode, coupled to receive a first input current, operable in the on-state and inoperable in the off-state; a temperature detector to determine the pump laser temperature; a cooler, coupled to receive a second input current, to provide heat transfer away from the laser diode; a laser diode driver for supplying the first input current to drive the laser diode; a temperature controller, coupled to receive the first input current and responsive to the pump laser temperature, for permitting the laser diode driver to supply the first input current if the pump laser temperature is within a first predetermined temperature range, and to sufficiently reduce the first input current to render the laser diode inoperable if the pump laser temperature is outside the first predetermined temperature range; and a cooler driver for supplying the second input current to drive the cooler.
GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS
[0001] The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to license others on reasonable terms as provided for by the terms of Contract No. N00014-00C-0117 awarded by the U.S. Navy.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60309817 |
Aug 2001 |
US |
|
60340957 |
Dec 2001 |
US |