Arbitrary waveform generator to improve laser diode driver performance

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a control circuit, a digital description of a current pulse, the digital description including information about a current value and a duration for which the current value is to be applied to a laser diode;

generating, by the control circuit, an analog drive signal corresponding to the digital description of the current pulse;

communicating, by the control circuit, the analog drive signal to the laser diode;

receiving, by the control circuit, information indicative of current flow through the laser diode upon application of the analog drive signal;

generating, by the control circuit, a new digital description of the current pulse based on the digital description of the current pulse and the information indicative of the current flow through the laser diode, wherein generating the new digital description of the current pulse comprises:

comparing, by the control circuit, the current flowing through the laser diode to the current value included in the first digital information;

determining, by the control circuit, that the current flowing through the laser diode is not substantially equal to the current value included in the first digital information; and

generating, by the control circuit, the new digital description of the current pulse based on the determination;

generating, by the control circuit, a new analog drive signal corresponding to the new digital description of the current pulse; and

providing, by the control circuit, the new analog drive signal to the laser diode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the control circuit comprises an arbitrary waveform generator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the control circuit comprises a microcontroller, a digital-to-analog converter, and an analog-to-digital converter.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the new digital description of the current pulse on a memory unit included in the control circuit.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the information indicative of current flow through the laser diode upon application of the analog drive signal further includes receiving the information from a current sensing device coupled to the laser diode.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the current sensing device is a resistor.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein receiving the information from the current sensing device comprises receiving a signal from a photodiode, the signal corresponding to light output from the laser diode that is captured by the photodiode.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the new analog drive signal is characterized by a slope that compensates for laser non-linearities.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, first digital information indicating a current pulse to be applied to a laser diode, the current pulse having an amplitude and duration, wherein the amplitude is indicative of a current value and the duration is indicative of a time period for which the current value is to be applied to the laser diode;

providing, by the controller, the first digital information to a laser diode driver coupled to the controller, the first digital information being used to generate a corresponding first analog drive signal for the laser diode;

receiving, by the controller, a signal from a current sensing device, the signal indicative of actual current flowing through the laser diode upon application of the analog drive signal;

generating, by the controller, second digital information indicating a new current pulse to be applied to the laser diode, the second digital information being based on the first digital information and actual current flowing through the laser diode, wherein generating the second digital information further comprises:

comparing, by the controller, the actual current flowing through the laser diode to the current value included in the first digital information;

determining, by the controller, that the actual current flowing through the laser diode is not substantially equal to the current value included in the first digital information; and

generating, by the controller, the second digital information based on the determination; and

providing, by the controller, the second digital information to the laser diode driver.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing the second digital information in a memory device included in the controller.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the current sensing device is a resistor.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving the signal indicative of actual current flowing through the laser diode further comprising receiving a signal from a photodiode,

the signal being generated based on light output from the laser diode that is captured by the photodiode.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the controller comprises an optical receiver and receiving the first digital information comprises receiving an optical signal.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the second digital information is communicated as an optical signal to the laser diode driver.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising generating the first digital information using a beam control system.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the second digital information is characterized by a wave shape that compensates for non-linear diode responses.

17. A system comprising:

a control circuit;

a laser diode driver circuit coupled to the control circuit;

a laser diode coupled to the laser diode driver circuit; and

a current measuring device coupled to the laser diode, the current measuring device being configured to measure current flow through the laser diode;

wherein the control circuit is configured to:

receive first digital information indicating a current pulse to be applied to a laser diode, the current pulse having an amplitude and duration, wherein the amplitude is indicative of a current value and the duration is indicative of a time period for which the current value is to be applied to the laser diode;

provide the first digital information to the laser diode driver circuit, the first digital information being used to generate a corresponding first analog drive signal for the laser diode;

receive a signal from the current measuring device, the signal indicative of actual current flowing through the laser diode upon application of the analog drive signal;

generate second digital information indicating a new current pulse to be applied to the laser diode, the second digital information being based on the first digital information and actual current flowing through the laser diode, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

compare the actual current flowing through the laser diode to the current value included in the first digital information;

determine that the actual current flowing through the laser diode is not substantially equal to the current value included in the first digital information; and

generate the second digital information based on the determination; and

provide the second digital information to the laser diode driver.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control circuit comprises an optical receiver and the first digital information is received via an optical signal.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the current measuring device is configured to capture optical output from the laser diode and generate a corresponding signal indicative of the actual current flowing through the laser diode.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the current measuring device comprises a photodiode and wherein the photodiode is configured to:

capture light output from the laser diode;

generate a signal corresponding to the captured light output;

provide the signal to the control circuit, wherein the signal is used by the control circuit to determine the actual current flowing in the laser diode.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a beam control system configured to generate the first digital information.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein

the control circuit comprises an arbitrary waveform generator.