Inventors:
Johannes Gerardus Ransijn - Wyomissing Hills PA
Gregory C. Salvador - Wernersville PA
James Daniel Yoder - Manheim Township, Lancaster County PA
Assignee:
Lucent Technologies, Inc. - Murray Hill NJ
International Classification:
H01S 300
Abstract:
A dynamic laser diode drive circuit is formed so that the gain of the final gain stage is controlled in association with the level of the drive current supplied to the laser diode. In particular, the current sources associated with the final gain stage and the output stage and commonly controlled so that the gain tracks the current level. That is, in situations required a relatively low current, the gain is minimized to prevent overdriving the output stage (a situation common in prior art arrangements). When a larger laser drive current is required, the gain of the final stage is adjusted to increase the output from this stage and provide a sufficient voltage differential to drive the output stage.