Abstract: A laser system includes a laser generation element and a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal generator that uses a clock to generate a control signal having a period based on the clock frequency and includes a pulse width between a rising edge and a falling edge. The system also includes a switch mode power supply controlled by the control signal output by the PWM signal generator for providing power to the laser generation element based on the control signal. Also, the system includes a signal modification circuit that selectively delays the rising edge of each period of the control signal by one of one or more selectable durations thereby reducing the pulse width by a quantity, wherein the quantity is smaller than a minimum increment amount that the pulse width is able to change based on the clock frequency.

Abstract: A laser diode control system is configured to limit cascade failure of a series of laser diodes. The laser diode series is coupled to an output filter of a power supply. The power supply is a switch-mode power supply and the output filter includes an LC circuit. The laser diode control system includes a protection circuit coupled to the laser diode series. The protection circuit includes a post regulator circuit and an inductor coupled in series to the laser diode series. The post regulator includes a transistor and two amplifiers configured to regulate a voltage across the transistor. In the event of a failure within the laser diode series, a current spike across the laser diode series is prevented by regulating the voltage across resistor.