Power Supply Patents (Class 372/38.04)
  • Patent number: 11682878
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to techniques for thermal management within optical subassembly modules that include thermally coupling heat-generating components, such as laser assemblies, to a temperature control device, such as a thermoelectric cooler, without the necessity of disposing the heat-generating components within a hermetically-sealed housing. Accordingly, this arrangement provides a thermal communication path that extends from the heat-generating components, through the temperature control device, and ultimately to a heatsink component, such as a sidewall of a transceiver housing, without the thermal communication path extending through a hermetically-sealed housing/cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai-Sheng Lin, John Cheng, Ziliang Cai
  • Patent number: 10707641
    Abstract: To provide a compact laser oscillator. A laser oscillator includes input power supplies, a transformer unit that adjusts a voltage of the power supplies, and an oscillator unit connected to the transformer unit. The oscillator unit outputs a laser beam corresponding to the voltage adjusted by the transformer unit. The transformer unit is arranged below at least a part of the oscillator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 10630052
    Abstract: A circuit and method provide a headroom voltage for a laser driver driving a laser diode such that the laser diode provides signals to an optical communications device. The circuit includes a headroom control circuit receiving the headroom voltage from the laser driver, the headroom control circuit generating a controlled voltage based on the headroom voltage, and a DC-DC converter receiving the controlled voltage from the headroom control circuit generating a voltage Vout based on the controlled voltage, and applying the voltage Vout as an input to the laser diode. The headroom control circuit and the DC-DC converter are connected in a feedback loop with the laser diode to continuously provide the voltage Vout to the laser diode, and the DC-DC converter modifies the voltage Vout to compensate for burn-in characteristics or temperature drift of the laser diode over time to maintain an optimized headroom voltage for the laser driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristiano Bazzani, Chi Mo
  • Patent number: 10230214
    Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a diode having a first terminal coupled to a first reference voltage; a first controllable switch coupled between a second terminal of the diode and a second reference voltage; and a capacitive element having a first terminal coupled to the first reference voltage and a second terminal controllably coupled to the second terminal of the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Denise Lee, John Kevin Moore
  • Patent number: 10193634
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to optical driver circuits. In some of the disclosed examples, an optical driver circuit includes a pre-driver circuit and a main driver circuit. The pre-driver circuit may include a pattern generator and at least one serializer to generate a main modulation signal and an inverted delayed modulation signal. The main driver circuit may include a level controller to control amplitudes of pre-emphasis on rising and falling edges of a modulation signal output and an equalization controller to transition the modulation signal output from the pre-emphasis amplitudes to main modulation amplitudes using the inverted delayed modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Cheng Li, Di Liang, Kehan Zhu
  • Patent number: 10033155
    Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a diode having a first terminal coupled to a first reference voltage; a first controllable switch coupled between a second terminal of the diode and a second reference voltage; and a capacitive element having a first terminal coupled to the first reference voltage and a second terminal controllably coupled to the second terminal of the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Denise Lee, John Kevin Moore
  • Patent number: 9811141
    Abstract: A power capping system (10) and method (200) are provided. In one embodiment, a power capping system (10) includes a power controller (16) configured to calculate an error between a predefined maximum desired power and a power feedback signal associated with actual power consumption of a server (12) and to provide a power capping signal that substantially limits the power consumption of the server (12) based on a predetermined gain constant and the error. The system also includes a management interface (18) configured to generate a normalization factor based on the power feedback signal. The normalization factor can be implemented to normalize the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Alan Goodrum, Zhikui Wang
  • Patent number: 9405211
    Abstract: A light source drive circuit for driving a light source is disclosed including a drive current generating unit generating a drive current, the drive current including a predetermined current for obtaining a predetermined light amount from the light source, a first auxiliary current input to the light source prior to input of the predetermined current, and a second auxiliary current added to the predetermined current in synchronization thereto; and a signal generating unit generating a first signal and a second signal, the first signal causing the first auxiliary current to be input for a first period and the second signal causing the second auxiliary current to be applied to the predetermined current for a second period. The first period is shorter than a period from a rise of the predetermined current to when a light amount from the light source reaches the predetermined light amount with the predetermined current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Masaaki Ishida, Atsufumi Omori, Muneaki Iwata
  • Patent number: 9293893
    Abstract: A chip array structure for laser diodes, formed on an active surface of a semiconductor chip produced from a semiconductor process includes a plurality of light-emitting elements in an array arrangement, at least one insulation wall, at least two wire bond areas and a plurality of connection electrodes. The insulation wall separates the light-emitting elements into at least two light-emitting districts. The wire bond areas are positioned respective to the corresponding light-emitting districts. The connection electrodes electrically couple the wire bond areas with the corresponding light-emitting districts. The wire bond areas have independent electrodes, and the light-emitting districts are electrically isolated by the insulation wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: TrueLight Corporation
    Inventors: Jin-Shan Pan, Chih-Cheng Chen, Hsiu-Ming Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9258056
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an optical detector that can sample asynchronously an optical signal from an optical component that can be either an optical transmitter or an optical receiver. In such embodiments, the apparatus also includes a processor operatively coupled to the optical detector, where the processor can calculate a metric value of the optical signal without an extinction ratio of the optical signal being measured. The metric value is proportional to the extinction ratio of the optical signal. In such embodiments, the processor can define an error signal based on the metric value of the optical signal and the processor can send the error signal to the optical transmitter such that the optical transmitter modifies an output optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Malouin, Roberto Marcoccia, George R. Sosnowski, Theodore J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9236705
    Abstract: A good way to avoid extreme current levels when supplying large amounts of power is to increase the voltage. The easiest way to do this is connecting the radiation elements (e.g. laser diode pixels) in series (La1 to La-n). In such a pixelated driver, the amount of components and complexity per pixel are reduced by connecting as many radiation elements as possible in series, supplying the string by one current controlled driver (Is), shortening pixels which should be in off state by a switch in parallel (40-1 to 40-n) to the radiation element, storing binary on/off information (30-1 to 30-n) for each pixel locally, creating a floating supply (20-1 to 20-n) for the switches, and managing information transfer to the floating storage and switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Carsten Deppe
  • Patent number: 9232202
    Abstract: A visible light communication system having a transmission apparatus for modulating a transmission signal to a multiple-value number and a reception apparatus for demodulating a multiple-value modulated transmission signal is provided. The transmission apparatus includes a plurality of light emitters for emitting light in different colors, a chromaticity coordinates calculator for mapping a digital value to a chromaticity coordinates value, and a light intensity controller for controlling a light intensity of each of the light emitters based on the chromaticity coordinates value corresponding to the digital value. The reception apparatus includes a plurality of light receivers having different spectral characteristics, a chromaticity coordinates calculator for calculating a chromaticity coordinates value according to a received light intensity detected by each of the light receivers, and a demodulator for demodulating the digital value from the chromaticity coordinates value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Togashi
  • Patent number: 9134742
    Abstract: A voltage regulator, alternatively operating in an active mode in response to an enabled mode indication signal, and operating in a standby mode in response to the disabled mode indication signal, is provided. The voltage regulator comprises a regulation unit and a feedback circuit. The regulation unit drives an output node with an output signal. The feedback circuit comprises a first resistance unit, connected between the output node and the feedback node, and a second resistance unit. The second resistance unit is connected between the feedback node and a ground reference voltage, and the resistance thereof is scaled down when a mode indication signal is enabled, so as to achieve a level dip event on a feedback signal, and accordingly driving the regulation unit enhancing its drivability of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsien-Hung Wu
  • Patent number: 9031108
    Abstract: A temperature-compensated laser driving circuit for driving a laser component is provided. The temperature-compensated laser driving circuit includes: a temperature compensation circuit, configured to generate a second current based on a first current and a temperature-independent current; and a modulation current generating circuit, configured to generate a modulation current based on the second current, and calibrate optical power output of the laser component based on the modulation current. The first current is proportional to the absolute temperature. The second current and the first current have a slope relative to the absolute temperature respectively, and the slope of the second current relative to the absolute temperature is larger than of the slope of the first current relative to the absolute temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ming Ying, Wei-Yu Wang, Yi-Jan Wang, Yen-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 9031109
    Abstract: The invention relates to solid state light source, a use of a driver circuit for driving a light emitting element (150) of a solid state light source, a method for driving a light emitting element (150) of a solid state light source and a corresponding computer program. The invention provides that for a large amount of an AC period the light emitting element (150) is directly supplied with the AC input directly forwarded by the driver circuit, wherein nevertheless it is prevented that power exceeding a desired level reaches the light emitting element (150). The invention is aimed at a realization with simplified components and/or reduced costs in comparison to known techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Carsten Deppe
  • Publication number: 20150110143
    Abstract: An assembly that includes a laser diode and a driver circuit that operates to give the assembly an adjustable impedance. The driver circuit adjusts impedance by repeatedly alternating between two operational phases. In one operational phase, current is primarily or fully supplied through the laser diode using a first current path being from the first supply node, to the laser diode, and into the second supply node. In the other operational phase, current is supplied through the laser diode using a recirculating second current path. The current through the laser diode increases during the first operational phase, and decays during the second operational phase. For a given applied voltage level between the first and second supply nodes, the duty cycle of the first and second operational phases may be adjusted so that the current through the laser diode is approximately a target current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: GERHARD WILLEM VAN LOCHEM, STEPHEN MICHAEL WEBB
  • Publication number: 20150102864
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a first semiconductor multilayer film mirror of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor multilayer film mirror of a second conductivity type that is different from the first conductivity type, an active layer formed between the first semiconductor multilayer film mirror and the second semiconductor multilayer film mirror, a third semiconductor multilayer film mirror of a semi-insulating type formed between the first semiconductor multilayer film mirror and the active layer, and a contact layer of the first conductivity type formed between the third semiconductor multilayer film mirror and the active layer, and the third semiconductor multilayer film mirror is formed of a material having a bandgap energy higher than an energy of light generated in the active layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Tetsuo NISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20150101234
    Abstract: An assembly (10) for providing an assembly output beam comprises a laser assembly (12), a power source (14), and a system controller (16). The power source (14) is electrically coupled to the laser assembly (12). The system controller (16) directs power from the power source (14) to the laser assembly (12). Additionally, the system controller (16) includes a capacitor assembly (22) that is electrically connected to the laser assembly (12), and a current source (20) that directs power from the power source (14) to the capacitor assembly (22) and the laser assembly (12). The power source (14) and the capacitor assembly (22) cooperate to provide power to the laser assembly (12). Further, the capacitor assembly (22) provides pulses of power and the current source (20) directs the pulses of power to the laser assembly (12). Moreover, the current source (20) charges the capacitor assembly (22) in between the pulses of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Allen Priest, David P. Caffey
  • Patent number: 9001857
    Abstract: Provided are assemblies and processes for activating light emitting devices. A first current sink is in electrical communication with a common source through a current node and configured to draw a first current through the current node in response to a respective control signal. A second current sink is also provided in electrical communication with the current node and in parallel with the first current sink, also configured to draw a second current through the current node in response to a respective control signal. An aggregate current is drawn through the array, determined as a combination of the first and second currents. A commanded current from the first current sink can be shunted around the second array and the second current sink, providing a capability to series both the first and second laser diode light-emitting arrays, while simultaneously drawing different current amplitudes through each array from a common potential source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael S. Lackey, Thomas H. Alford, Robert F. Stiffler, David Filgas
  • Patent number: 8995487
    Abstract: A laser driver subsystem includes a pump diode driver, operable to generate light pulses to energize a laser, and a lithium polymer battery. The pump diode driver includes a pump diode and a switched-mode power conversion circuit at an input connected to an output of the battery and at an output connected to an anode of the pump diode. The switched-mode power conversion circuit is configured to convert an electrical voltage from a first level at the output of the battery to a second lower voltage level at the pump diode anode so as to provide the pump diode with an electrical current that enables the pump diode to generate the light pulses to operate the laser while only a fraction of that current needs to be supplied by the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: nLight Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth V. Almonte
  • Patent number: 8953655
    Abstract: A laser diode (LD) driver to suppress the excess emission of an LD is disclosed. The LD driver has the shunt configuration with a driving transistor connected in parallel to the LD to shunt the bias current provided to the LD. The driver further provides a protection circuit to divide the bias current when the bias current is active but the driving transistor is turned off at an instant of the power on and off of the LD driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Moto
  • Patent number: 8903254
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical transceiver for use in optical fiber communications and/or telecommunications systems and, more specifically, a low power consumption, long range pluggable transceiver. The transceiver generally comprises a photodiode with a transimpedance amplifier (PIN-TIA); an electro-absorption modulated laser (EML); an optical detector; and a directly modulated laser (DML) driving module connected between the PIN-TIA and EML laser configured to drive the EML laser. A low power-consumption DML driving module is utilized to drive the EML laser, so as to further reduce power consumption. An impedance matching circuit can be applied to modulate an electro-absorption (EA) modulator of the EML laser with maximum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Source Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaoyang Hu, Lingqiong Zeng, Thomas Liljeberg
  • Patent number: 8882819
    Abstract: A device for treating oral ulcers or sores comprises a light source for illuminating a sore or ulcer to be treated; a laser diode for directing laser energy at the sore or ulcer; a regulated power supply for powering the light source and the laser diode at selected power levels; a first switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the light source; a second switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the laser diode when the switch is operated by a user to treat the located ulcer or sore; a control device configured to operate the laser diode for a selected time period each time the switch is operated and to then subsequently turn the laser diode off until the switch is operated again; and a portable, handheld housing for housing the laser diode, regulated power supply, switch, and control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Crowder, Adam Crowder
  • Patent number: 8855154
    Abstract: Circuit arrangement or circuit, in particular driver circuit, and a method for controlling at least one light-emitting component, such as an electro-optical transducer, a light-emitting diode (LED), an electroluminescent diode, a laser, or a semiconductor laser, by switching a switching element between a first switching position and a second switching position, and the voltage supply is effected by a supply element, such as a voltage source or a current source supported by a decoupling capacitor on the output side, so that current drain and output resistance are as low as possible, so that the highest possible frequency or switching speed as well as the highest possible output voltage for the light-emitting component can be achieved, the light-emitting component is controlled by varying its operating voltage, in particular by switching between the switching positions, and the first and second switching positions are of low impedance for the operating frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: SILICON LINE GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Groepl, Holger Hoeltke
  • Patent number: 8842704
    Abstract: An RF power-supply for driving a carbon dioxide CO2 gas-discharge laser includes a plurality of power-oscillators phase-locked to a common reference oscillator. Outputs of the phase-locked power-oscillators are combined by a power combiner for delivery, via an impedance matching network, to discharge-electrodes of the laser. In one example the powers are analog power-oscillators. In another example, the power-oscillators are digital power-oscillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Schmelzer, W. Shef Robotham, Jr., Frederick W. Hauer, Joel Fontanella
  • Patent number: 8792522
    Abstract: The invention can be used for setting up high energy and high average power soft x-ray laser equipments. The apparatus of the present invention is provided with a capillary discharge, wherein the spark gap (3) is disposed in water and breakdown of the spark gap (3) is triggered and synchronized by a laser source (16). In order to complete the synchronizing step the apparatus comprises a transformer (12) for monitoring and controlling the decrease of the charging current of the generator, preferably a Marx generator (7), and a triggering circuit (14). The time dependent control of the laser source (16) generating the breakdown of the spark gap (3) is achieved by the triggering circuit (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Pécsi Tudományegyetem
    Inventors: Gábor Almási, Mátyás Kiss, Szergej Kuhlevszkij, Imre Sánta, Sándor Szatmári, János Szász
  • Patent number: 8767784
    Abstract: A driver device for a laser includes a control device configured to generate a control current, an NPN differential amplifier connected to the control device and configured to superimpose a modulation current onto the control current to generate a combined current, and a laser activation switch coupled to the output of the NPN differential amplifier, the laser activation switch operating the laser utilizing the combined current. Also described herein is a communication system including a driver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Iain Ross Mactaggart
  • Patent number: 8755419
    Abstract: A laser diode drive circuit includes a power supply circuit connected to an anode of a laser diode to supply a variable voltage to the laser diode, and a drive current control circuit connected to a cathode of the laser diode to control a current of the laser diode. The power supply circuit generates a start-up voltage which is equal to the sum of the maximum drive voltage that is larger than the drive voltage and a predetermined first reference voltage, acquires a cathode voltage of the laser diode while the start-up voltage is generated, generates a voltage by lowering from the start-up voltage so as to diminish the difference between the acquired cathode voltage and the first reference voltage, and the first reference voltage is the minimum cathode voltage necessary to supply a predetermined current to the laser diode by the drive current control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kamatani
  • Patent number: 8724669
    Abstract: A power supply for laser systems is configured with a DC power source having an output source voltage, an energy accumulator operatively connected to the output of the DC power source, and a pump. Coupled between the accumulator and source is a first DC to DC stage with at least one switched-mode power converter which is operative to charge the accumulator with voltage. The charged voltage may be same or different from the source voltage. The power supply further includes a second DC to DC stage with at least one switched-mode power converter coupled between the accumulator and pump and operative to discharge accumulator to the same or different output voltage. The DC to DC converters are configured so that current pulses at the input of the pump each have a peak value greater than the power source current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: Sergey Guskov
  • Publication number: 20140092929
    Abstract: An optical power beam transmission systems, with a directional light transmitter and receiver. The transmitter contains an amplifying laser medium, and this together with a retroreflector in the receiver, forms a laser resonator. When lasing sets in, the receiver can extract optical power through an output coupler and convert it to electrical power. The gain medium may be a disc having a thickness substantially smaller than its lateral dimensions. The laser resonator is operated as a stable resonator to ensure safe operation. This is achieved by use of an adaptive optical element, for reducing the diameter of the energy beam impinging on the gain medium, thereby increasing the overlap between the energy beam and the gain medium. As the transmitter-receiver distance is changed, such as by movement of the receiver, the adaptive optical element focal length changes to ensure that the cavity remains within its stability zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: WI-CHARGE LTD.
    Inventors: ORTAL ALPERT, RUDIGER PASCHOTTA
  • Publication number: 20140029635
    Abstract: Techniques are described for maintaining the extinction ratio of an output optical signal over temperature and aging. In some examples, the techniques may determine the instantaneous slope efficiency of the laser outputting the optical signal, while the laser is outputting the optical signal. Based on the determined slope efficiency, the techniques may determine the needed drive current components (e.g., at least one of the bias current and the modulation current) that results in maintaining the extinction ratio to within a desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: CALIX, INC.
    Inventors: Mark R. Biegert, Peter O. Lee, Mark T. Paulsen, Joel K. Lagerquist
  • Publication number: 20130314613
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventor: Soraa, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130308668
    Abstract: A power supply for laser systems is configured with a DC power source having an output source voltage, an energy accumulator operatively connected to the output of the DC power source, and a pump. Coupled between the accumulator and source is a first DC to DC stage with at least one switched-mode power converter which is operative to charge the accumulator with voltage. The charged voltage may be same or different from the source voltage. The power supply further includes a second DC to DC stage with at least one switched-mode power converter coupled between the accumulator and pump and operative to discharge accumulator to the same or different output voltage. The DC to DC converters are configured so that current pulses at the input of the pump each have a peak value greater than the power source current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sergey Guskov
  • Patent number: 8553740
    Abstract: A method of driving a GaN-based semiconductor light emitting element formed by laminating a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer having a first conductive type, an active layer having a well layer, a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer having a second conductive type, includes the steps of: starting light emission by the start of the injection of carrier; and then stopping the injection of the carrier before a light emission luminance value becomes constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Ippei Nishinaka
  • Patent number: 8548018
    Abstract: A command apparatus (10) for a plurality of laser power supplies (11, 12) comprises: a command generating section (5) generating commands for the laser power supplies; and a separating section (36) separating the generated commands into a bias command, an output command, an offset command and a gain command, wherein the bias command and the output command are common to the laser power supplies, the offset command and the gain command are defined at least in accordance with the discharge tubes corresponding to the laser power supplies respectively, wherein the command apparatus further comprises a transmitting section (37) transmitting, to the laser power supplies, the bias and the output command which are common to the laser power supplies and, transmitting the offset and the gain command defined at least in accordance with the discharge tubes corresponding to the laser power supplies respectively, corresponding to the laser power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Honda, Hajime Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 8542711
    Abstract: A laser diode driving device (1) of the present invention includes: a variable DC power supply (3) for outputting a voltage for driving laser diodes (LD1 to LDn); a current driving element (4) for causing a current If to flow; a current control section (5) for controlling (i) turning on and off of the current driving element (4) and (ii) the amount of the current If; and a power supply control section (7) for controlling an output voltage of the variable DC power supply (3). The power supply control section (7) controls, on the basis of If-Vf characteristic data (D2), voltage drop characteristic data (D3), and Vds setting data (D4) all stored in a memory section (8), the output voltage of the variable DC power supply (3) so that the current driving element (4) has a constant inter-terminal voltage regardless of the amount of the current If.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Kotaro Shimokoshi
  • Publication number: 20130243018
    Abstract: A laser assembly (10) that generates a beam (20) includes a gain medium (12) having a first facet region (24) that includes a first facet (16), a second facet region (26) that includes a second facet (18), and an intermediate region (28) that separates and connects the facet regions (24) (26). Additionally, the gain medium (12) includes a substrate layer (30) and a core layer (34) that extend between the facets (16) (18). The gain medium (12) is designed so that when current is directed to the gain medium, (i) current flows through the core layer (34) in the intermediate region (28) to generate the beam (20), and (ii) current does not flow through or flows at a reduced rate through the core layer (34) in one or both facet regions (24) (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: DAYLIGHT SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: David P. Caffey
  • Patent number: 8482850
    Abstract: A control circuit for a fiber amplifier having a first stage pump and at least one second stage pump and method of controlling thereof is disclosed. The control circuit includes a control gate controlling a current through the first stage pump. A sensor for detecting a voltage across the first stage pump and providing a measured output of the voltage is provided. The control circuit further includes a control loop configured for selectively controlling the current through the control gate in accordance with the measured output and a set reference point is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: Phil Simmons
  • Patent number: 8428092
    Abstract: A high-power laser unit capable of accurately correcting laser output from low to rated outputs, even when the laser unit has a laser power monitor which may be affected by environmental factors inside or outside the laser unit, by effectively reducing environmental factors. The laser unit has a laser power monitor for measuring laser output, and a laser controller for correcting the laser output by correcting an amount of excitation energy to a laser power supply so that a measurement value coincides with a laser output command value. The laser unit has a laser output commanding part for generating a laser output command. When it is not necessary to correct the laser output command, the laser output command is converted into an excitation energy command value and sent to the power supply. Otherwise, an output correcting part of the laser controller corrects the laser output command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hayano, Atsushi Mori, Yuji Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8369373
    Abstract: An RF powered CO2 gas-discharge laser includes discharge electrodes and a lasing gas mixture between the electrode. The lasing gas mixture is ionized when the RF power is applied to the electrodes and laser action is initiated when the RF power has been applied for a duration sufficient to ignite a discharge in the lasing gas mixture. The gas mixture is pre-ionized by periodically applying the RF power to the electrodes for a predetermined period during which ignition of a discharge is not expected to occur. RF power reflected back from the electrodes is monitored. If the monitored power falls below a predetermined level indicative of the imminent onset of laser action before the predetermined duration has elapsed, application of the RF power to the electrodes is terminated to prevent the laser action from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Allie, Joel Fontanella
  • Patent number: 8320775
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and device for the bias control of an MZ modulator. The method comprises: during startup of an MZ modulator, inputting a linearly changing bias control voltage to the bias electrode of the MZ modulator and obtaining the output optical power of the MZ modulator so as to determine a bias control voltage corresponding to a preset operating point; then enabling a communication electrical signal to be input to the radio frequency electrode of the MZ modulator, carrying out an amplitude modulation on the communication electrical signal by a low-frequency sinusoidal pilot signal, and inputting the determined bias control voltage to the bias electrode simultaneously; and sampling the output optical signals of the MZ modulator, comparing the sampled optical signal with the pilot signal, and adjusting the bias control voltage input to the bias electrode according to the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Jianqing Shen
  • Patent number: 8279902
    Abstract: A laser device comprises: first and second laser excitation regions that are disposed in series each other; a first power supply unit (PSU1) that injects a first energy into the first laser excitation region; and a second power supply unit (PSU2) that injects a second energy into the second laser excitation region, wherein the first power supply unit injects a predetermined excitation energy equal to or higher than a critical injection energy at which laser oscillation starts into the first laser excitation region as the first energy and the second power supply unit injects energy between a preliminary excitation energy needed for preliminary discharge and the critical injection energy into the second laser excitation region as the second energy, so as to control laser power. Consequently, the laser device can stably output very low laser even though it is a high power laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Honda, Koji Hayano, Atsushi Mori
  • Patent number: 8274733
    Abstract: A semiconductor optical amplification module that can suppress ringing without increasing power consumption or circuit size or inhibiting high-speed operation. A semiconductor optical amplifier outputs an optical signal inputted according to driving current outputted from a drive circuit. A diode is connected in parallel with the semiconductor optical amplifier. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress ringing without connecting a large resistor to the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaji Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20120213238
    Abstract: A high-power laser unit capable of accurately correcting laser output from low to rated outputs, even when the laser unit has a laser power monitor which may be affected by environmental factors inside or outside the laser unit, by effectively reducing environmental factors. The laser unit has a laser power monitor for measuring laser output, and a laser controller for correcting the laser output by correcting an amount of excitation energy to a laser power supply so that a measurement value coincides with a laser output command value. The laser unit has a laser output commanding part for generating a laser output command. When it is not necessary to correct the laser output command, the laser output command is converted into an excitation energy command value and sent to the power supply. Otherwise, an output correcting part of the laser controller corrects the laser output command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji HAYANO, Atsushi MORI, Yuji NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8248140
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit to perform a predetermined function at a plurality of different supply power voltages, a power supply voltage region detector to detect a supply power voltage to output a detection signal, a latch to store the signal output from the power supply voltage region detector and output the stored signal as a power supply voltage region signal, and a reset circuit to generate a reset signal to perform a predetermined reset operation on the internal circuit. The latch stores the output signal from the power supply voltage region detector just after the reset operation for the internal circuit is released, and the internal circuit changes an internal setting according to the power supply voltage region signal output from the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kamatani
  • Publication number: 20120207184
    Abstract: A device for treating oral ulcers or sores comprises a light source for illuminating a sore or ulcer to be treated; a laser diode for directing laser energy at the sore or ulcer; a regulated power supply for powering the light source and the laser diode at selected power levels; a first switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the light source; a second switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the laser diode when the switch is operated by a user to treat the located ulcer or sore; a control device configured to operate the laser diode for a selected time period each time the switch is operated and to then subsequently turn the laser diode off until the switch is operated again; and a portable, handheld housing for housing the laser diode, regulated power supply, switch, and control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Richard Crowder, Adam Crowder
  • Patent number: 8242756
    Abstract: A load such as an LED and a constant-current source are connected in series with each other between the node of a dc-dc conversion type power supply circuit providing an output voltage and the ground. The constant-current source provides a constant current Io, the magnitude of which can be adjusted. The power supply circuit controls the output voltage such that the voltage drop across the constant-current source serving as a detection voltage becomes equal to a reference voltage. Thus, the load current can be varied within a predetermined range while avoiding the power loss due to an increase in the load current, thereby always permitting efficient operation of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadakazu Murakami
  • Patent number: 8238394
    Abstract: The present patent application provides a low power consumption pump driving circuit including a laser cooling chip, a PMOS transistor, a NMOS transistor, a LC filter circuit, a laser, and a voltage sampling circuit. The pulse width modulating signal generated by the laser cooling chip and the control terminal of the PMOS transistor are connected to the gate of the PMOS transistor. The source of the PMOS transistor is connected to a power supply. The drain of the PMOS transistor is connected to the LC filter circuit. The other terminal of the LC filter circuit is connected to the anode of the laser. The cathode of the laser is connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor. The source of the NMOS transistor is connected to the ground. One terminal of the voltage sampling circuit is connected to the laser. The other terminal of the voltage sampling circuit is connected to the laser cooling chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: O-Net Communications (Shenzhen) Limited
    Inventors: Jing Wei Wang, Ai Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8232687
    Abstract: The present invention comprises, in various embodiments, systems and methods for shutting down a laser system in an intelligent and flexible manner. An intelligent laser interlock system includes both hardwired components, and intelligent components configured to execute computing instructions. The hardwired components and the intelligent components are configured to shutdown the laser system to one or more alternative shutdown states in response to one or more interlock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Raydiance, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Stadler, David Goldman, Mark Farley, Michael Mielke
  • Patent number: 8228962
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated driver circuit suitable for driving a light emitter with a signal current I(time) based on a received signal said circuit comprising a differential pair of transistors having a first transistor and a second transistor each respectively forming part of a first branch and a second branch, said first branch comprises a node suitable for connecting to said light emitter and/or said first branch comprises said light emitter, wherein said second branch comprise at least one charge storage device. This charge storage device may be arranged to collect current otherwise wasted in the process of driving the light emitter. This current may be utilized to drive circuitry thereby reduce current consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: IPtronics A/S
    Inventors: Anders S. Mortensen, Ulrich Keil