Controlling Current Or Voltage To Laser Patents (Class 372/38.07)
  • Patent number: 11933910
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pulse radar apparatus including a clock generator generating a transmission clock signal, a reception clock signal, and a sensitivity adjustment interval signal, a transmitter radiating a transmission pulse based on the transmission clock signal, and a receiver receiving a first pulse and a second pulse, which are associated with the transmission pulse, with different sensitivities based on the reception clock signal and the sensitivity adjustment interval signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Pil Jae Park, Seongdo Kim, Bon Tae Koo
  • Patent number: 11894656
    Abstract: A pulsed laser diode driver includes a refresh circuit configured to generate a refresh current using a received input voltage. A current amplitude of the refresh current is controlled by the refresh circuit based on a voltage level of a source voltage received by the refresh circuit. A source capacitor of the pulsed laser diode driver is configured to receive the refresh current and to develop the source voltage therefrom. An inductor of the pulsed laser diode driver has a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to the source capacitor. One or more switches of the pulsed laser diode driver are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce a high-current pulse through a laser diode that corresponds to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at an anode of the laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Joseph H. Colles, Steven E. Rosenbaum, Stuart B. Molin
  • Patent number: 11865782
    Abstract: A printing system is disclosed which comprises a writing module, and a member having an imaging surface configured to carry a polymer and movable relative to the writing module. The writing module is configured to direct onto the imaging surface a plurality of individually controllable light beams that are spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the imaging surface, incidence of a light beam on a spot on the imaging surface serving to soften or liquefy the polymer carried by the imaging surface at the spot. The polymer softened or liquefied at the spot can transfer to a substrate or serve as an adhesive on the imaging surface. The writing module comprises a plurality of integrated electronic modules each having an array of individually controllable light sources, each light source producing a respective one of the light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Landa Labs (2012) LTD.
    Inventors: Nir Rubin Ben Haim, Michael Nagler, Abraham Keren, Ofer Aknin, Benzion Landa
  • Patent number: 11789129
    Abstract: In some implementations, an electrical drive circuit may generate a rectangular optical pulse using cathode pre-charge and cathode-pull compensation. The electrical drive circuit may include an anode and a cathode to connect an optical load, a switch, a first source connected between the anode and a ground, a rectifier connected between the cathode and the switch, a capacitor connected in parallel with the rectifier, a second source connected to the ground, and an inductor connected between the switch and the second source. In some implementations, when the switch is closed and the optical load is connected, a first current is provided to the optical load through the first source, the rectifier, and the switch, and a second current is provided to the optical load through the first source, the capacitor, and the switch, where a rise time of the first current complements a fall time of the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hao Huang, Mikhail Dolganov, Lijun Zhu
  • Patent number: 11743982
    Abstract: A light sensor having a control complexity reducing mechanism is provided. When light is emitted to a photodiode by both of an ambient light source and a light-emitting component, a first coarse count value is counted by a counter and then is sampled and held by a first sample and hold circuit. When light is emitted to the photodiode by only the ambient light source, a second coarse count value is counted by the counter and then is sampled and held by a second sample and hold circuit. After the coarse count values are held, the counter performs a fine counting operation on light intensity of the light emitted by both of the ambient light source and the light-emitting component to generate a first fine count value, and on light intensity of the light emitted by only the ambient light source to generate a second fine count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jia-Hua Hong, Chih-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11672059
    Abstract: A light source device that includes a first resistor that is connected to a given potential, a light emitting element that is connected in series to the first resistor, a second resistor that is connected to the given potential, and a first current source that is connected in series to the second resistor and that is configured to supply a freely-selected current within a given range are included. A first voltage is taken out from a first connection part where the first resistor and the light emitting element are connected to each other and a second voltage is taken out from a second connection part where the second resistor and the first current source are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Masuda, Mitsushi Tabata, Koichi Okamoto, Yasuo Oba
  • Patent number: 11594964
    Abstract: A circuit includes a controller circuit configured to receive an output voltage of a converter and adjust a switching frequency of the converter in response to a status of an output load and an output load sensing circuit configured to determine the status of the output load and provide the peak current to the controller circuit. The output load sensing circuit may include a first timer configured to provide a delayed first signal to a peak current control in response to the output load being a heavy load. A second timer may be configured to provide a delayed second signal to the peak current control in response to the output load being a light load. The peak current control may be configured to adjust a peak current based on the received first signal and the second signal and configured to provide the peak current to the controller circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jae Won Choi, Dan Shen, Balakishan Challa, Lorenzo Crespi, Ketankumar B. Patel
  • Patent number: 11585909
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate compliance of a laser device with a laser safety threshold. An example method includes receiving, from a sensing circuit, an operating voltage that is indicative of a charge of a capacitive element of a laser pulser circuit. The method also includes comparing a first voltage indicative of the operating voltage and a second voltage indicative of a reference voltage. The method additionally includes providing an output value based on the comparing. The method yet further includes evaluating compliance with the laser safety threshold based on the output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Rahim Pardhan, Blaise Gassend
  • Patent number: 11539444
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical system and method for outputting a modulated signal comprising a single multimode interference (MMI) device having at least two inputs configured with a fixed phase and an output, wherein the output modulated signal is controlled by modulating the input power of at 5 least one of the inputs. The invention only requires a single MMI device to operate as the relative phase between the two inputs are fixed relative each other and one of the inputs can be used to modulate the output by modulating the power at a single input. In further embodiments, the invention shows how correct phases can be set by a single MMI device. Thus, no more than two 10 MMIs are required in conjunction with phase or amplitude modulating elements to fully generate a BPSK or QPSK signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: University College Cork—National University Of Ireland, Cork
    Inventors: Frank Peters, Shane Duggan
  • Patent number: 11510297
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide control systems and methods for controlling a pulsed laser diode and a sensing device including a pulsed laser diode. An exemplary control system includes a distance detector configured to generate a distance signal indicating a distance between the pulsed laser diode and an object reflecting pulsed laser beams emitted by the pulsed laser diode. The control system may also include a controller configured to dynamically control power supplied to the pulse laser diode based on the distance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Yibo Yu, Yang Yang, Lingkai Kong, Youmin Wang, Zuow-Zun Chen
  • Patent number: 11495941
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a laser diode having a cathode terminal and an anode terminal, which is connected to a driving voltage. A driver is coupled to drive current pulses through the laser diode from the anode terminal to the cathode terminal. A discharge switch has a first switch terminal connected to the cathode terminal and a second switch terminal connected to a discharge voltage, which is equal to or greater than the driving voltage, and is configured, when closed, to raise the cathode terminal to the discharge voltage. A switch control circuit has an input connected to the cathode terminal and an output connected to close the discharge switch in response to the current pulses occurring at the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Ido Luft
  • Patent number: 11482829
    Abstract: A method for a calibration of at least one laser diode, in particular at least one laser diode of a laser projection device. The at least one laser diode is calibrated on the basis of a comparison of at least one currently acquired characteristic value of the at least one laser diode with at least one characteristic value, stored in at least one database, of a model laser diode that is at least substantially identical in construction to the at least one laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Julian Heinzelmann, Qipeng Hu
  • Patent number: 11374381
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a driver die including drive circuits and first bond pads on a front surface of the driver die. An emitter die is mounted on the front surface of the driver die and includes one or more vertical emitters and second bond pads connected to the vertical emitters. An encapsulation layer contains the emitter die and has an inner surface adjacent to the front surface of the driver die. Conductive vias extend through the encapsulation layer and have inner ends connected to the first bond pads and outer ends at an outer surface of the encapsulation layer. A redistribution layer is disposed over the outer surface of the encapsulation layer and includes conductive traces, each of which is connected to at least one terminal selected from a group of terminals consisting of the second bond pads and the outer ends of the conductive vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Moshe Kriman, Ido Luft
  • Patent number: 11211770
    Abstract: A circuit includes a laser diode and a switched-capacitance charge pump coupled to control the laser diode. The charge pump can include a capacitor and a switching circuit that is capable of triggering a charge and discharge of the capacitor. The switching circuit can include a switch and an inverting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventors: Samuel Rigault, Nicolas Moeneclaey
  • Patent number: 11156574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring apparatus for characterizing the electrical resistance of a measurement object, comprising an electric energy source having two poles, a voltage measuring device having two measuring inputs, four connecting contacts for the connection of four contact electrodes, and a switching device for the variable electrical pairwise connection of each one of the poles and measuring inputs to each one of the connecting contacts, forming different wiring configurations, wherein the measuring device is configured to carry out at least two measuring sequences with different wiring configurations and to determine the series resistance of the measurement object by incorporating the current and voltage signals acquired in these wiring configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf E.V.
    Inventors: Tobias Kosub, Denys Makarov
  • Patent number: 10979141
    Abstract: An optical line terminal receives a sequence of optical power test transmissions from an optical network unit, wherein the sequence of optical power test transmissions includes a first plurality of consecutive optical transmissions, a second plurality of consecutive optical transmissions, and a third plurality of consecutive optical transmissions. The optical line terminal decides whether the optical network unit is malfunctioning based on an extinction ratio and an average transmit power, wherein the extinction ratio is based on the first plurality of consecutive optical transmissions and the second plurality of consecutive optical transmissions, and the average transmit power is based on the third plurality of consecutive optical transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Joseph Smith, Roy Tebbe
  • Patent number: 10666013
    Abstract: A driver circuit configured to increase or decrease a drive current flowing to a light emitting element in accordance with an input signal, the driver circuit including: an output terminal configured to be electrically connected between a bias current source and the light emitting element, and configured to draw an output current inward; a shunt circuit configured to generate a first current in accordance with the input signal; and a waveform shaping circuit configured to detect a rising transition of a voltage of the output terminal and generate a second current based at least in part on a result of detection, wherein the first current and the second current constitute the output current, Wherein the first current increases when the input signal increases, and decreases when the input signal decreases, and wherein the voltage of the output terminal rises when the output current decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10643520
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a pixel circuit, an array substrate, a display device and a controlling method thereof. The pixel circuit includes: a pixel display unit consisted of n sub-pixel display units, n?3; and a data signal control unit coupled to the pixel display unit, n data lines for driving the pixel display unit and a control line. The data signal control unit is configured to, under a condition that a first control signal is input through the control line, couple the n sub-pixel display units to the n data lines for driving the n sub-pixel display units respectively; and when a second control signal is input through the control line, couple one of the n data lines for driving the pixel display unit to at least one of the n sub-pixel display units in the pixel display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li Xiao, Dongni Liu, Xiaochuan Chen, Shengji Yang, Lei Wang, Pengcheng Lu, Jie Fu, Han Yue
  • Patent number: 10608413
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laser assembly, wherein, in one embodiment, the laser assembly (1) comprises a plurality of laser groups (2) each having at least one semiconductor laser (20). Furthermore, the laser assembly (1) contains a plurality of photothyristors (3), each laser group (2) being clearly assigned one of the photothyristors (3). The photothyristors (3) are each connected electrically in series with the associated laser group (2) and/or integrated in the associated laser group (2). Furthermore, the photothyristors (3) are each optically coupled to the associated laser group (2). A dark breakdown voltage (Ut) of each photothyristor (3) lies above an intended operating voltage (Ub) of the associated laser group (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Gerhard, Clemens Vierheilig, Andreas Löffler
  • Patent number: 10510296
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pixel driving circuit, comprising a driving control circuit, a first driving circuit and a second driving circuit. The driving control circuit is configured to control one of the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit to be turned on under the condition the first scanning line outputs an effective voltage signal, and control the other of the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit to be turned on under the condition the second scanning line outputs an effective voltage signal. The first driving circuit is configured to drive the light emitting circuit to emit light under control of the driving control circuit. The second driving circuit is configured to drive the light emitting circuit to emit light under control of the driving control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mo Chen, Xiong Xiong, Jilei Gao, Songmei Sun
  • Patent number: 10509166
    Abstract: A tunable optical source includes a substrate, a light source disposed on the substrate, and a wavelength selecting element configured to select light of a specific wavelength as output light, from light emitted from the light source, in accordance with a control signal. On the substrate, a wavelength filter including multiple output ports and a photodetector are disposed. The wavelength filter is configured to receive a part of the output light and to output light beams to the respective output ports. The photodetector is configured to receive the light beam output from one of the output ports. The tunable optical source further includes an inspection waveguide connecting to the photodetector at one end, and an inspection light input unit for inputting inspection light provided at the other end of the inspection waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10461851
    Abstract: The amount of current provided to a laser diode of an optical network transceiver device is monitored, the amount of current reaching a threshold limit is detected, and the power output of the optical network transceiver device is monitored. Based at least in part on the detection that the amount of current has reached the threshold limit and the monitored power output of the optical network transceiver device, a likelihood of failure of the optical network transceiver device is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: WenSheng Zeng, Abhijit Chakravarty, Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Edward Galley
  • Patent number: 10404379
    Abstract: An optical communication apparatus includes: a light-receiving device that receives an optical signal transmitted from another optical communication apparatus through an optical fiber and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal; a first measurement circuit that measures an average power and a modulation power of the optical signal based on the electrical signal; a light-emitting device that transmits the optical signal to the another optical communication apparatus by emitting light in accordance with a driving current; a driver that causes the light-emitting device to transmit the optical signal according to a transmission signal by controlling the driving current based on the transmission signal; and a processor that adjusts the driving current based on the average power and the modulation power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10361537
    Abstract: A system for dynamically adjusting a bias voltage for a laser diode or a light emitting diode is provided. An output voltage of the laser diode is measured and a level of a supply voltage applied to the laser diode is adjusted to change the bias voltage to the laser diode to manage power usage and avoid saturation of the laser diode. Also, a junction temperature of a laser diode may be estimated by mapping a measured output voltage and known current to device characteristic data based on temperature and the supply voltage adjusted in order to bias the laser diode to compensate for a temperature change. Further, data indicating an intensity level of data to be rendered by the laser diode is used to adjust the second supply voltage to bias the laser diode in advance of rendering the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Algird Michael Gudaitis, Niranjan Puttaswamy, Sheethal Somesh Nayak, Raymond Kirk Price, John Allen Tardif
  • Patent number: 10255940
    Abstract: A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording includes a laser diode optically coupled to a waveguide of the slider. A power supply is coupled to the laser diode. A preamplifier is coupled to the power supply. The preamplifier is configured to monitor a forward voltage across the laser diode while operating the laser diode at a constant current during a write operation, detect a change in the forward voltage indicative of laser power instability, and generate a signal in response to detecting the forward voltage change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Declan Macken, Tyler Lenn Perry, Karim Tatah, Andrei Dorobantu, Todd Michael Lammers
  • Patent number: 10256999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a frequency characteristic adjusting circuit disposed between an optical circuit element and a drive circuit driving the optical circuit element. The frequency characteristic adjusting circuit includes a capacitor, and two or more series circuits having a resistor and a switch, the two or more series circuits being connected in parallel with the capacitor, where resistance with respect to the switch that is turned on is changed according to an output voltage of the drive circuit by changing ON or OFF of the switch such that electric charge at a contact point between the optical circuit element and the capacitor is adjusted to be constant regardless of the output voltage of the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuuki Ogata, Toshihiko Mori
  • Patent number: 10012372
    Abstract: A headlamp with a light source, an electrical power source and several states controlling power sources and light beams is presented. The first state corresponds to at least one activated state in which the electrical power source is coupled to a light source to generate a light beam. The second state corresponds to a deactivated state where the electrical power source is not coupled to a light source and no light beam is generated. The third state corresponds to a locked state in which the electrical power source is not coupled to a light source and no light beam is generated; Also included is a switching mechanism to receive a first and a second physical user input through one switching element. A processor is coupled to the switching mechanism and is used to select one among the first, second and third states in response to the physical user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Zedel
    Inventors: Christophe Marie, Raphael Bortolotti
  • Patent number: 9882637
    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 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Malouin, Roberto Marcoccia, George R. Sosnowski, Theodore J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9748582
    Abstract: Disclosed are batteries and methods of manufacturing batteries with improved energy densities. In some embodiments, a first cathode current collector and a first anode current collector are provided on a first side of a substrate. A second cathode current collector and a second anode current collector are provided on a second side of the substrate. A laser is used to form: a first channel through the substrate between the first cathode current collector and the second cathode current collector, and a second channel through the substrate between the first anode current collector and the second anode current collector. A cathode interconnection is formed, via the first channel, between the first cathode current collector and the second cathode current collector. An anode interconnection is formed, via the second channel, between the first anode current collector and the second anode current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 9749059
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a current outputting circuit includes an output node, a first circuit outputting a first signal and a second signal based on an input signal, the first and second signals having phases of complementary relationship, and a second circuit outputting an output current from the output node based on the first and second signals. The second circuit includes a first current source with a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being connected to a first power source, and a first transistor with a third terminal, a fourth terminal and a fifth terminal, the first signal being input to the third terminal, the fourth and fifth terminals sandwiching a first current path controlled by the first signal, the fourth terminal being connected to the second terminal, the fifth terminal being connected to the output node. The second signal is input to the fifth terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uemura
  • Patent number: 9713239
    Abstract: An EUV light source is disclosed which may comprise a plurality of targets, e.g., tin droplets, and a system generating pre-pulses and main-pulses with the pre-pulses for irradiating targets to produce expanded targets. The system may further comprise a continuously pumped laser device generating the main pulses with the main pulses for irradiating expanded targets to produce a burst of EUV light pulses. The system may also have a controller varying at least one pre-pulse parameter during the burst of EUV light pulses. In addition, the EUV light source may also include an instrument measuring an intensity of at least one EUV light pulse within a burst of EUV light pulses and providing a feedback signal to the controller to vary at least one pre-pulse parameter during the burst of EUV light pulses to produce a burst of EUV pulses having a pre-selected dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Bjorn A. M. Hansson, Alexander N. Bykanov, Igor V. Fomenkov, David C. Brandt
  • Patent number: 9419410
    Abstract: An optical semiconductor device includes: an electric-optic conversion element that is provided with a diode; and a driving circuit that drives the diode in a forward direction, the driving circuit including a first switching circuit that is provided with a first switch, and a second switching circuit that is provided with a second switch, wherein the first switching circuit constitutes a first signal line that charges the electric-optic conversion element with an electric charge by bringing the first switch into an ON state and the second switch into an OFF state, and the second switching circuit constitutes a second signal line that discharges the electric charge stored in the electric-optic conversion element by bringing the second switch into an ON state and the first switch into an OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Tatsuya Usuki
  • Patent number: 9265108
    Abstract: There is provided a light source apparatus including at least one light emitting diode (LED) string including at least one light emitting diode and at least one inductance unit generating an induced current according to a change in a current applied to the light emitting diode, a main switch controlling power applied to the LED string according to an on/off switching operation, and a capacitor charged with a voltage of the power applied to the LED string when the main switch is switched on and applying the charged voltage to the LED string when the main switch is switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Woo Lee, Sun Ki Kim, Kyung Pil Nam, Sung Min Jang, Ki Won Choi
  • Patent number: 9252563
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for powering up and powering down a laser diode and its driver are disclosed. The disclosed method and apparatus enable the use of deep sub-micron CMOS technology to build a laser diode driver (LDD), while ensuring the low voltage limits prescribed by such technology are not exceeded. Building an LDD with deep sub-micron CMOS technology pushes circuit integration further ahead, bringing cost of LDDs and required board circuits down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra US, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-François Delage, Guillaume Fortin, Tiberiu Galambos
  • Publication number: 20150146752
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes: a light emitting element; and a temperature variable resistive element which is connected to the light emitting element in parallel and is provided so that heat of the light emitting element can be conducted, wherein the temperature variable resistive element has a characteristic in which a resistance value decreases as a temperature increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Tomio IKEGAMI
  • Publication number: 20150146754
    Abstract: A control apparatus for driving a laser diode comprises an output connection for connecting the laser diode, a regulation device for generating an output signal, a detector device which is designed to determine a regulation variable when the regulation device provides the output signal and the laser diode is connected to the output connection. The control apparatus furthermore comprises a computer device for providing a control signal for the regulation device, wherein the computer device provides the control signal independently of the regulation variable. The regulation device is designed in such a way that it generates a level for the output signal depending on the control signal and the determined regulation variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Mario WERKSTETTER
  • Publication number: 20150146753
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes: a light emitting element; and a light variable resistive element which is connected to the light emitting element in parallel and is provided at a position which is irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting element, wherein the light variable resistive element has a characteristic in which a resistance value decreases as an amount of irradiation light increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Tomio IKEGAMI
  • Publication number: 20150130903
    Abstract: A voltage mode laser diode driver selectively turns on and off a laser diode. An output stage has an output node configured to be connected to one of the terminals of the laser diode. Depending upon implementation, an active swing controller drives the output stage in a manner that substantially prevents inductive kickback from causing the output node voltage to swinging above the voltage level at the voltage output of the power supply, or swing below ground. The output stage provides a discharge path around the laser diode to shunt current associated with the inductive kickback, and substantially eliminates ringing on the output node of the output stage while the laser diode is off. A power supply controller adjusts the voltage level of the voltage output of the power supply so that current through the laser diode when on and emitting light is substantially equal to a predetermined desired current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Thompson, Stefan Wurster, Lawrence A. Prather, Dane Snow, Richard McCauley
  • Patent number: 9031102
    Abstract: A microlaser system includes an optical source, a microlaser, an actuator switch, and a photovoltaic power source. The microlaser, which includes a control element, is optically pumped by at least a portion of light emitted by the optical source. The actuator switch is configured to be activated by a triggering event. Furthermore, the photovoltaic power source is coupled in a series connection with the actuator switch and the control element, the series connection configured to connect the photovoltaic power source to the control element of the microlaser when the actuator switch is activated by the triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Seheon Kim, Axel Scherer, Aditya Rajagopal, Chieh-Feng Chang
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9031103
    Abstract: The existing diodes in an LED or laser diode package are used to measure the junction temperature of the LED or laser diode. The light or laser emissions of a diode are switched off by removing the operational drive current applied to the diode package. A reference current, which can be lower the operational drive current, is applied to the diode package. The resulting forward voltage of the diode is measured using a voltage measurement circuit. Using the inherent current-voltage-temperature relationship of the diode, the actual junction temperature of the diode can be determined. The resulting forward voltage can be used in a feedback loop to provide temperature regulation of the diode package, with or without determining the actual junction temperature. The measured forward voltage of a photodiode or the emissions diode in a diode package can be used to determine the junction temperature of the emissions diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Leo Del Castillo, Dawson Yee
  • 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: 9025629
    Abstract: A laser driver circuit having a differential circuit and an output circuit includes a control circuit receiving a regulated supply voltage that also supplies the differential circuit as an input signal. The control circuit generates a feedback voltage across a first resistor to cause a first current to flow in the first resistor having a current value equal or proportional to the modulation current value. The laser driver circuit includes an operational amplifier receiving the feedback voltage and a reference voltage indicative of a desired modulation current value and to generate the regulated supply voltage. The control circuit and the operational amplifier form a feedback control loop to adjust the regulated supply voltage to regulate the feedback voltage to be equal to the reference voltage, thereby regulating the modulation current value to the desired modulation current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Neumann, Dieter Kuehnel, Maik Pohland
  • Patent number: 9007682
    Abstract: A controller is configured to determine a first amount of current associated with a first power level. The controller is configured further to generate a digital pulse signal based on the first amount of current, where the digital pulse signal may have a second power level and an associated duty cycle. The controller is configured further to convert the digital pulse signal into a second amount of current and output the second amount of current as a pulse signal based on the duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Shia, Yan Han
  • 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: 8995486
    Abstract: There provided is a semiconductor laser control device which including plural light sources that are configured with eight or more semiconductor laser elements, a one detecting section that detects a light power of the light sources, a light power control unit that compares a signal according to a light power detected by the detecting section with a control signal corresponding to a predetermined light power to control a current supplied to the light sources, and a voltage clamp circuit that functions as an overvoltage preventing means for the detecting section when turning on each of the light sources to perform light power control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsufumi Omori, Masaaki Ishida
  • 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: 8995483
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a fast and efficient heating element based on a thick heterostructure which is monolithically integrated in close proximity to one or more components of a photonic or an electronic circuit. Inventive embodiments also relate to methods of use illustrative heating elements to control or tune the characteristics of the electronic or photonic component(s). Inventive embodiments may be particularly useful in the fast spectral tuning of the emission wavelength of single mode QCLs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: EOS Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Diehl, Christian Pfluegl, Mark F. Witinski
  • Patent number: 8989227
    Abstract: In a VCSEL driver for automatic bias control and automatic modulation control, the VCSEL driver includes: a feedback module configured to receive an output of a VCSEL to provide a bias signal through a feedback loop; an automatic bias control block configured to adjust a bias current by switching on or off a plurality of power sources, which are connected in parallel with each other; an automatic modulation control block configured to connect in parallel a plurality of bias transistors that are connected to each of the plurality of power sources, and to adjust modulation current by switching each of the plurality of bias transistors on or off; and a main driver configured to provide the VCSEL with a drive current including the bias current and the modulation current, which are adjusted by control of each of the control blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Choong-Reol Yang
  • Patent number: 8976826
    Abstract: A lasing wavelength of a laser diode is determined by applying a forward current to the p-n junction of the laser diode and measuring a voltage across the p-n junction. The lasing wavelength can be determined by performing a simple wavelength calibration of the laser diode. This allows one to stabilize the lasing wavelength, and also to use the laser diode as a reference wavelength source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Eberhard Löcklin, Georg Rudolph, Jörg Stooss