High speed switching driver
View Patent ↗The present invention is generally directed towards a system and method for providing a high speed switching driver to transmit data information. A first current is switched through a diode or shunted through an alternate path to selectively bias the diode. A second current can also be selectively switched through the diode to modulate a light energy output transmitted from the diode. Based on this configuration, fast bias-switching for generating a modulated laser diode output can be achieved by selectively switching the bias current through the diode or alternate path. Consequently, a solid state device can be controlled to transmit data information after a relatively minimal setup time delay to bias the diode.
1. Apparatus for high speed switching comprising:
means for coupling first and second differential transistor pairs to a laser diode at a common node;
means for setting a current source to provide a first current;
means for switching the first current through the diode or an alternate path to selectively bias the diode or shunt the first current; the first current switched on or off in less than a single bit time; and
means for modulating a light energy output transmitted from the diode by selectively switching a second current through the diode while the first current is switched to bias the diode, wherein the light energy output of the diode is proportional to a total current through the diode.