Multi-pulse generation for pulsed laser diodes using low-side drivers

1. A system for controlling a pulsed laser diode, the system comprising:

a power source configured to supply power to the pulsed laser diode; and

at least one driving branch between the power source and the pulsed laser diode, wherein:

the at least one driving branch is configured to control power delivery from the power source to the pulsed laser diode;

the at least one driving branch is connected to a cathode of the pulsed laser diode; and

the at least one driving branch comprises a plurality of driving branches connected in parallel between the power source and the cathode of the pulsed laser diode, wherein each of the plurality of driving branches is configured to individually control power delivery from the power source to the pulsed laser diode.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the driving branch comprises:

a capacitor connected to the cathode of the pulsed laser diode and configured to temporarily store electrical energy received from the power source for driving the pulsed laser diode; and

a switch connected to the capacitor and configured to control charging and discharging of the capacitor based on a control signal.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the control signal is provided by a controller and the switch is configured to turned on or off by the control signal, wherein:

when the control signal turns off the switch, the capacitor is charged by the power source; and

when the control signal turns on the switch, the capacitor is discharged, wherein electrical charges discharged from the capacitor drive the pulsed laser diode to emit a laser pulse.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of driving branches comprise first and second driving branches;

the first driving branch comprises a first switch and a first capacitor having a first capacitance; and

the second driving branch comprises a second switch and a second capacitor having a second capacitance that is different from the first capacitance.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:

the first and second switches are configured to control discharging of the first and second capacitors, respectively, to drive the pulsed laser diode; and

the pulsed laser diode, when driven by electrical charges discharged from the first and second capacitors, emits first and second laser pulses, respectively,

wherein the first and second laser pulses have different amplitudes.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of driving branches are configured to perform amplitude coding by driving the pulsed laser diode to emit laser pulses having varying amplitudes.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of driving branches comprise first and second driving branches; and

at least one of the first or second driving branches comprises a delay circuit configured to delay emission of a laser pulse emitted by the pulsed laser diode driven by a respective first or second driving branch.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of driving branches are configured to perform temporal coding by driving the pulsed laser diode to emit laser pulses having varying time delays.

9. The system of claim 1 , comprising a diode connected to the pulsed laser diode, wherein an anode of the diode is connected to the cathode of the pulsed laser diode.

10. A method for controlling a pulsed laser diode, comprising:

providing a power source to supply power to the pulsed laser diode;

controlling, by at least one driving branch between the power source and the pulsed laser diode, power delivery from the power source to the pulsed laser diode, wherein the at least one driving branch is connected to a cathode of the pulsed laser diode; and

providing a plurality of driving branches connected in parallel between the power source and the cathode of the pulsed laser diode, each of the plurality of driving branches individually controlling power delivery from the power source to the pulsed laser diode.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising:

providing a capacitor connected to the cathode of the pulsed laser diode to temporarily store electrical energy received from the power source for driving the pulsed laser diode; and

controlling, by a switch connected to the capacitor, charging and discharging of the capacitor based on a control signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

providing, by a controller, the control signal to turn on or off the switch, wherein:

when the control signal turns off the switch, the capacitor is charged by the power source; and

when the control signal turns on the switch, the capacitor is discharged, wherein electrical charges discharged from the capacitor drive the pulsed laser diode to emit a laser pulse.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of driving branches comprise first and second driving branches and the method comprises:

controlling discharging of first and second capacitors of the first and second driving branches, respectively, to drive the pulsed laser diode, wherein the first and second capacitors have different capacitance,

wherein the pulsed laser diode, when driven by electrical charges discharged from the first and second capacitors, emits first and second laser pulses, respectively, the first and second laser pulses having different amplitudes.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:

performing, using the plurality of driving branches, amplitude coding by driving the pulsed laser diode to emit laser pulses having varying amplitudes.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of driving branches comprise first and second driving branches and the method comprises:

delaying, by a delay circuit of the first or second driving branch, emission of a laser pulse emitted by the pulsed laser diode driven by a respective first or second driving branch.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

performing, by the plurality of driving branches, temporal coding by driving the pulsed laser diode to emit laser pulses having varying time delays.

17. A sensing device, comprising:

a pulsed laser diode;

a power source configured to supply power to the pulsed laser diode; and

at least one driver coupled to the power source and the pulsed laser diode and configured to deliver power from the power source to the pulsed laser diode to emit a pulsed laser beam, wherein the at least one driver is connected to a cathode of the pulsed laser diode;

wherein:

the at least one driver comprises a plurality of driving branches each configured to individually control power delivery from the power source to the pulsed laser diode; and

the plurality of driving branches are configured to perform at least one of amplitude coding or temporal coding to the pulsed laser beam.