Eye-safe laser navigation sensor

1. An apparatus comprising:

a diode laser; and

a current source interconnected with the diode laser, the current source including a first current limiter circuit configured to limit a current output from the current source to an anode of the diode laser, and an independent second current limiter circuit configured to limit a current return from a cathode of the diode laser to the current source so that laser output power does not exceed a specified maximum regardless of a single fault in either the first or second current limiter circuits.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the current source is integrated onto a single silicon die.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

two independent memory registers integrated into the current source, wherein the two independent memory registers are programmed to hold digital current limit data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:

two independent digital-to-analog (D/A) converters integrated into the current source, wherein the two independent D/A converters are each configured to convert the digital current limit data to an analog current limit signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first and second current limiter circuits are configured to be controlled by the analog current limit signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first current limiter circuit is configured to limit the current output from the current source to not exceed a first maximum current.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second current limiter circuit is configured to limit the current return to the current source to not exceed a second maximum current.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

two independent supply voltage sensors integrated into the current source, wherein the two supply voltage sensors are configured to monitor changes in a supply voltage of the current source; and

two independent compensation circuits controlled by output signals from the two supply voltage sensors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each compensation circuit is configured to modify the digital current limit data read from an associated memory register and to provide the voltage-compensated digital data to an associated D/A converter.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

two independent temperature sensors integrated into the current source, wherein the two temperature sensors are configured to monitor changes in an operating temperature; and

two independent compensation circuits controlled by output signals from the two temperature sensors.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each compensation circuit is configured to modify the digital current limit data read from an associated memory register and to provide the temperature-compensated digital data to an associated D/A converter.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

two independent supply voltage sensors integrated into the current source, wherein the two supply voltage sensors are configured to monitor changes in a supply voltage of the current source; and

two independent temperature sensors integrated into the current source, wherein the two temperature sensors are configured to monitor changes in an operating temperature; and

two independent compensation circuits, wherein each compensation circuit is controlled by output signals from associated voltage and temperature sensors.

13. A method of providing fault-tolerant limitation of laser output power in an optical navigation apparatus, the method comprising:

converting a first digital current limit value to a first analog signal;

using the first analog signal to limit an electrical current from a power supply connection to an anode of a diode laser with a first current limiter circuit configured to limit current so as not to exceed a first maximum current;

converting a second digital current limit value to a second analog signal; and

using the second analog signal to limit an electrical current from a cathode of the diode laser to a ground connection with a second current limiter circuit configured to limit current so as not to exceed a second maximum current,

wherein the second current limiter circuit is independent of the first current limiter circuit.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said converting and using steps are performed with circuitry integrated onto a single silicon die.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

sensing a supply voltage with a first sensor;

compensating for changes in the supply voltage by adjusting the first digital current limit value based on output from the first sensor;

sensing the supply voltage with a second sensor which is independent of the first sensor; and

compensating for changes in the supply voltage by adjusting the second digital current limit value based on output from the second sensor.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

sensing a temperature with a first sensor;

compensating for changes in the temperature by adjusting the first digital current limit value based on output from the first sensor;

sensing the temperature with a second sensor which is independent of the first sensor; and

compensating for changes in the temperature by adjusting the second digital current limit value based on output from the second sensor.

17. An integrated circuit comprising:

circuit means for converting a first digital current limit value to a first analog signal;

circuit means coupled to an anode of a diode laser for using the first analog signal to limit an electrical current from a power supply connection to the anode of the diode laser so as not to exceed a first maximum current;

circuit means for converting a second digital current limit value to a second analog signal; and

circuit means coupled to a cathode of the diode laser for using the second analog signal to limit an electrical current from the cathode of the diode laser to a ground connection so as not to exceed a second maximum current,

wherein the circuit means coupled to the cathode is independent of the circuit means coupled to the anode.

18. The integrated circuit of claim 17 , further comprising:

a first sensor circuit for sensing a supply voltage;

circuit means for compensating for changes in the supply voltage by adjusting the first digital current limit value based on output from the first sensor circuit;

a second sensor circuit for sensing the supply voltage which is independent of the first sensor circuit; and

circuit means for compensating for changes in the supply voltage by adjusting the second digital current limit value based on output from the second sensor circuit.

19. The integrated circuit of claim 17 , further comprising: a first sensor for sensing a temperature;

circuit means for compensating for changes in the temperature by adjusting the first digital current limit value based on output from the first sensor;

a second sensor for sensing the temperature which is independent of the first sensor; and

circuit means for compensating for changes in the temperature by adjusting the second digital current limit value based on output from the second sensor.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a diode laser; and

a current source interconnected with the diode laser;

a first independent circuit coupled to an anode of the diode laser and configured to limit a current out from the current source to the diode laser so as not to exceed a first maximum current; and

a second independent circuit coupled to a cathode of the diode laser and configured to limit a current return from the diode laser to the current source so as not to exceed a second maximum current.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:

a first memory register;

a first digital-to-analog converter coupled to the first memory register;

a second memory register; and

a second digital-to-analog converter coupled to the second memory register,

wherein the first memory register and the first digital-to-analog converter are configured to program the first maximum current for the first independent circuit, and wherein the second memory register and the second digital-to-analog converter are configured to program the second maximum current for the second independent circuit.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the diode laser comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), and the specified maximum current is 0.7 milliwatts or less.