IP Library Granted Patent US 10,944,239
Granted Patent B2
US 10,944,239 · App. 16/528,283 · Granted Mar 9, 2021

Laser diode drive method and arrangement

Inventor: Robert N. Stark (Saratoga, CA)
Assignee: Prysm Systems, Inc.
H01S5/0428G09G3/32H01S5/0261
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,944,239
App. No.
16/528,283
Granted
Mar 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus to drive a laser diode are disclosed comprising increasing a bias current to the laser diode to a threshold level, wherein the threshold level is below an actuation level of the laser diode and wherein a resistor is placed in parallel to the laser diode, charging a capacitance to a precharge capacitance of a circuit including the laser diode, wherein the precharge capacitance is below a capacitance actuation level of the laser diode; and actuating the laser diode.

Claims (36)

1. A method to drive a laser diode, comprising:

increasing a bias current to the laser diode to a threshold level, wherein the threshold level is below an actuation level of the laser diode and wherein a resistor is placed in parallel to the laser diode;

charging a capacitance to a precharge capacitance of a circuit including the laser diode, wherein the precharge capacitance is below a capacitance actuation level of the laser diode; and

actuating the laser diode.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the increasing the bias current to the laser diode is performed by providing a single amplitude pulse of current to the laser diode.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the increasing the bias current to the laser diode is performed by providing a burst of amplitude pulses to laser pulses.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein increasing the bias current to the laser diode is through an adjustable voltage source.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the adjustable voltage source is controlled through an analog switch.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the increasing the bias current to the laser diode to the threshold level is through sweeping a current from a zero level to the threshold level.

7. A method to drive a laser diode, comprising:

increasing a bias current to the laser diode in a series of pulses to a threshold level, wherein the threshold level is below an actuation level of the laser diode and wherein a resistor is placed in parallel to the laser diode and wherein the series of pulses are greater in frequency than a laser diode current discharge rate;

charging a capacitance to a precharge capacitance of a circuit including the laser diode, wherein the precharge capacitance is below a capacitance actuation level of the laser diode; and

actuating the laser diode.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein increasing the bias current to the laser diode is through an adjustable voltage source.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustable voltage source is controlled through an analog switch.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the increasing the bias current to the laser diode to the threshold level is through sweeping a current from a zero level to the threshold level.

11. An arrangement for providing a current to an apparatus, comprising:

a diode;

a resistor placed in parallel to the diode;

at least two transistors, wherein each transistor has a collector, an emitter and a base, and each collector is connected to the diode;

at least one operational amplifier connected to each base of the at least two transistors;

a direct current power supply connected to the at least one operational amplifier; and

at least one direct current power supply connected to each of the emitters of the at least two transistors.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11 , further comprising:

at least one capacitor placed in parallel to the at least one operational amplifier.

13. The arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the at least two transistors is a first transistor and a second transistor.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13 , further comprising:

at least two resistors positioned in between the emitters of the first transistor and the second transistor and the at least one direct current power supply connected to each of the emitters.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the at least two resistors is a first resistor and a second resistor.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the first resistor has a higher resistive value than the second resistor.

17. The arrangement according to claim 14 , further comprising:

at least one resistor placed between the emitters of the first transistor and the second transistor and ground.

18. The arrangement according to claim 17 , wherein the diode is a laser diode.

19. The arrangement according to claim 13 , further comprising:

at least one capacitor positioned in between the emitters of the first transistor and the second transistor.

20. The arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the diode is a laser diode.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECORDATION AND REMOVE EIGHTEEN PROPERTY NUMBERS FROM THE PATENT ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 70442 FRAME 135. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (ASSIGNEE HAS THE POWER TO SIGN ON BEHALF OF ASSIGNOR PURSUANT TO THE ATTACHED POA.). Recorded Aug 11, 2025
From: PRYSM SYSTEMS, INC.
To: MSSL CONSOLIDATED INC.
Reel/Frame 072459/0015 →
ORDER CONFIRMING THE PREPACKAGED PLAN OF REORGANIZATION OF PRYSM, INC. INCLUDING RELEASING SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 17, 2025
From: KUWAIT INVESTMENT AUTHORITY
To: PRYSM, INC.
Reel/Frame 072856/0105 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: PRYSM SYSTEMS, INC.
To: MSSL CONSOLIDATED INC.
Reel/Frame 070442/0135 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 13505582 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054365 FRAME: 241. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 5, 2021
From: PRYSM, INC.
To: PRYSM SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057679/0458 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2020
From: PRYSM, INC.
To: PRYSM SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054365/0241 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2020
From: PRYSM, INC.
To: PRYSM SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054344/0355 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2020
From: KUWAIT INVESTMENT AUTHORITY
To: PRYSM, INC.
Reel/Frame 054303/0378 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: STARK, ROBERT N.
To: PRYSM, INC.
Reel/Frame 049932/0795 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62714027 · Aug 2, 2018
Related Publication 20200044413A1 · Feb 6, 2020