Optical transmission circuit
View Patent ↗An optical transmission circuit includes a light emitting device ( 10 ) having different temperature characteristics at low temperature and high temperature (e.g., a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser), differential switch transistors (M 1 , M 2 ) for driving the light emitting device ( 10 ), the differential switch transistors having sources connected to each other and drains connected to the light emitting device ( 10 ) and a power supply, respectively, a bias current source ( 11 ) for causing a bias current to flow, a modulated current source ( 12 ) for causing a modulated current to flow, and a temperature compensation current source ( 20 ) for controlling currents of the bias current source ( 11 ) and the modulated current source ( 12 ) so as to compensate for both temperature characteristics at low temperature and temperature characteristics at high temperature of the light emitting device ( 10 ).
1. An optical transmission circuit comprising:
a light emitting device having different temperature characteristics at low temperature and high temperature;
differential switch transistors for driving the light emitting device, the differential switch transistors having sources connected to each other and drains connected to the light emitting device and a power supply, respectively;
a bias current source for causing a bias current to flow through the light emitting device;
a modulated current source for causing a modulated current to flow through the light emitting device; and
a temperature compensation current source for controlling currents of the bias current source and the modulated current source so as to compensate for both temperature characteristics at low temperature and temperature characteristics at high temperature of the light emitting device,
wherein the light emitting device is a surface emitting laser device, the surface emitting laser device having characteristics in which a threshold current causing a start of a current-light conversion increases and a current-light conversion efficiency decreases at the high temperature, and the threshold current causing the start of the current-light conversion increases and a current-light conversion efficiency decreases at the low temperature, and the temperature compensation current source has:
a first temperature compensation current source for compensating for the high-temperature characteristics of the light emitting device; and
a second temperature compensation current source for compensating for the low-temperature characteristics of the light emitting device, the temperature compensation current source changing characteristics of the bias current source and the modulated current source depending on the temperature such that the surface emitting laser device is compensated and a predetermined optical output power is constantly output.
2. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the first temperature compensation current source causes a constant current to flow when temperature is lower than or equal to a first threshold, and causes a current increasing with an increase in temperature when temperature is higher than the first threshold, and
the second temperature compensation current source causes a constant current to flow when temperature is higher than or equal to a second threshold, and causes a current increasing with a decrease in temperature when temperature is lower than the second threshold.
3. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the temperature compensation current source further has:
a constant current source for causing a constant current to invariably flow; and
an addition/subtraction circuit for performing addition/subtraction of three currents that are output currents of the first and second temperature compensation current sources and an output current of the constant current source.
4. The optical transmission circuit of claim 3 , wherein
the first temperature compensation current source causes a current not to flow when temperature is lower than or equal to a first threshold, and causes a current increasing with an increase in temperature to flow when temperature is higher than or equal to the first threshold, and
the second temperature compensation current source causes a current not to flow when temperature is higher than or equal to a second threshold, and causes a current increasing with a decrease in temperature when temperature is lower than the second threshold.
5. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the first or second temperature compensation current source has:
a constant current source;
differential switch transistors having sources connected to the constant current source;
current source transistors having drains and gates connected to respective drains of the differential switch transistors, and sources connected to a power supply;
a current output transistor having a gate connected to the gate of one of the current source transistors, and a source connected to a power supply; and
a temperature-dependent voltage source for outputting a temperature-dependent voltage,
wherein a previously set reference voltage is input to a gate of one of the differential switch transistor, and an output voltage of the temperature-dependent voltage source is input to a gate of the other, so that a desired current is output from a drain of the current output transistor.
6. The optical transmission circuit of claim 5 , wherein
the temperature-dependent voltage source has:
a temperature-dependent current source for outputting a temperature-dependent current; and
a resistance connected to the temperature-dependent current source;
wherein a temperature-dependent voltage is output from a connection end of the temperature-dependent current source and the resistance.
7. The optical transmission circuit of claim 5 , wherein
the temperature-dependent voltage source has:
a current source transistor;
an operational amplifier having inputs for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a source voltage of the current source transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the current source transistor;
a resistance having an end connected to a source of the current source transistor; and
a diode connected between the other end of the resistance and a ground,
wherein a temperature-dependent voltage is output from a connection end of the diode and the resistance.
8. The optical transmission circuit of claim 6 , wherein
the temperature-dependent current source has:
a current source transistor;
an operational amplifier having inputs for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a source voltage of the current source transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the current source transistor;
a resistance having an end connected to a source of the current source transistor; and
a diode connected between the other end of the resistance and a ground,
wherein a temperature-dependent current is output from a drain of the current source transistor.
9. The optical transmission circuit of claim 5 , wherein
the first or second temperature compensation current source further has:
a resistance connected between the source of each of the differential switch transistors and the constant current source.
10. The optical transmission circuit of claim 5 , wherein
the first or second temperature compensation current source further has:
a variable resistance connected between the source of each of the differential switch transistors and the constant current source.
11. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the first or second temperature compensation current source has:
a temperature-dependent current source for outputting a temperature-dependent current;
a current mirror transistor having a drain and a gate connected to the temperature-dependent current source, and a source connected to a power supply; and
a constant current source connected between the drain of the current mirror transistor and a power supply,
wherein, when a current flowing through the temperature-dependent current source is larger than a current flowing through the constant current source, a temperature-dependent current flows through the current mirror transistor.
12. The optical transmission circuit of claim 11 , wherein
the temperature-dependent current source has:
a current source transistor;
an operational amplifier having inputs for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a source voltage of the current source transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the current source transistor;
a resistance having an end connected to a source of the current source transistor; and
a diode connected between the other end of the resistance and a ground,
wherein a temperature-dependent current is output from a drain of the current source transistor.
13. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the first or second temperature compensation current source has:
a temperature-dependent current source for outputting a temperature-dependent current;
a current mirror transistor having a drain and a gate connected to the temperature-dependent current source, and a source connected to a power supply;
a killer transistor having a drain connected to the drain of the current mirror transistor, and a source connected to a power supply; and
a comparator having inputs for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a temperature-dependent voltage, and having an output connected to a gate of the killer transistor,
wherein, when the temperature-dependent voltage is smaller than the reference voltage, the killer transistor is turned OFF, so that a temperature-dependent current is output from the current mirror transistor.
14. The optical transmission circuit of claim 13 , wherein
the temperature-dependent current source has:
a current source transistor;
an operational amplifier having inputs for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a source voltage of the current source transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the current source transistor;
a resistance having an end connected to a source of the current source transistor; and
a diode between the other end of the resistance and a ground,
wherein a temperature-dependent current is output from a drain of the current source transistor.
15. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the first or second temperature compensation current source has:
a temperature-dependent current source for outputting a temperature-dependent current;
a current mirror transistor having a drain and a gate connected to the temperature-dependent current source, and a source connected to a power supply;
a switch transistor having a drain connected to the drain of the current mirror transistor; and
a comparator having inputs for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a temperature-dependent voltage, and an output connected to a gate of the switch transistor,
wherein, when the temperature-dependent voltage is smaller than the reference voltage, the switch transistor is turned ON, so that a temperature-dependent current is output from the current mirror transistor.
16. The optical transmission circuit of claim 15 , wherein
the temperature-dependent current source has:
a current source transistor;
an operational amplifier having inputs for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a source voltage of the current source transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the current source transistor;
a resistance having an end connected to a source of the current source transistor; and
a diode connected between the other end of the resistance and a ground,
wherein a temperature-dependent current is output from a drain of the current source transistor.
17. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the temperature compensation current source has:
a constant current source;
differential switch transistors having sources connected to the constant current source;
current source transistors having drains and gates connected to respective drains of the differential switch transistors, and sources connected to a power supply;
a first current output transistor having a gate to the gate of one of the current source transistors, and a source connected to a power supply;
a second current output transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the other current source transistor, and a source connected to a power supply;
a first killer transistor having a drain connected to the gate of the first current output transistor, and a source connected to a power supply;
a second killer transistor having a drain connected to the gate of the second current output transistor, and a source connected to a power supply; and
a comparator for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a temperature-dependent voltage, and outputting a differential signal to the gates of the first and second killer transistors,
wherein the reference voltage is input to a gate of one of the differential switch transistors, and the temperature-dependent voltage is input to a gate of the other, and
when the temperature-dependent voltage is higher (or lower) than the reference voltage, the first killer transistor is turned OFF (or ON) and the second killer transistor is turned ON (or OFF), and when the temperature-dependent voltage is lower (or higher) than the reference voltage, the first killer transistor is turned ON (or OFF) and the second killer transistor is turned OFF (or ON), and currents flowing through the first and second current output transistors are added and the result is output.
18. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the temperature compensation current source has:
a constant current source;
differential switch transistors having sources connected to the constant current source;
current source transistors having drains and gates connected to respective drains of the differential switch transistors, and sources connected to a power supply;
a first current output transistor having a gate connected to the gate of one of the current source transistors, and a source connected to a power supply;
a second current output transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the other current source transistor, and a source connected to a power supply;
a first switch transistor having a drain connected to the gate of one of the current source transistors, and a source connected to the gate of the first current output transistor;
a second switch transistor having a drain connected to the gate of the other current source transistor, and a source connected to the gate of the second current output transistor; and
a comparator for receiving a previously set reference voltage and a temperature-dependent voltage, and outputting a differential signal to the gates of the first and second switch transistors,
wherein the reference voltage is input to a gate of one of the differential switch transistors, and the temperature-dependent voltage is input to a gate of the other, and
when the temperature-dependent voltage is higher (or lower) than the reference voltage, the first switch transistor is turned ON (or OFF) and the second switch transistor is turned OFF (or ON), and when the temperature-dependent voltage is lower (or higher) than the reference voltage, the first switch transistor is turned OFF (or ON) and the second switch transistor is turned ON (or OFF), and currents flowing through the first and second current output transistors are added and the result is output.
19. The optical transmission circuit of claim 1 , wherein
the temperature compensation current source has:
a first constant current source;
differential switch transistors having sources connected to the first constant current source;
current source transistors having drains and gates connected to respective drains of the differential switch transistors, and sources connected to a power supply;
a first current output transistor having a gate connected to the gate of one of the current source transistors, and a source connected to a power supply;
a second current output transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the other current source transistor, and a source connected to a power supply;
a second constant current source connected between the gate of the first current output transistor and a power supply;
a third constant current source connected between the gate of the second current output transistor and a power supply; and
a fourth constant current source connected to a power supply,
wherein, when a current flowing through the first switch transistor is larger than a current flowing through the second constant current source, a temperature-dependent current flows through the first current output transistor,
when a current flowing through the second switch transistor is larger than a current flowing through the third constant current source, a temperature-dependent current flows through the second current output transistor, and
currents flowing through the first and second current output transistors and a current flowing through the fourth constant current source are added and the result is output.
20. The optical transmission circuit of claim 19 , wherein
current values of the second and third constant current sources are one half of a current value of the first constant current source.