Abstract: A circuit and method for operating a circuit with a terminal for connecting a photodiode to output an output current dependent on the photocurrent of the photodiode, with a resistance device for generating a voltage drop dependent on a photocurrent of the photodiode, with a control loop connected to the resistance device for generating the output current dependent on the photocurrent, with a switching means connected to the terminal with first switch positions for a first operating mode for operating the photodiode in the reversed bias and with second switch positions for a second operating mode for operating the photodiode in the photovoltaic mode, wherein in the first operating mode in the first switch positions of the switching means, the resistance device and the control loop are bridged and/or are not connected, and in the second operating mode in the second switch positions of the switching means, the terminal is connected to the resistance device.

Abstract: A laser driver circuit comprising an amplifier device with a plurality of switchable subamplifiers, which can be or are connected to an output for connection of a laser, ith an analog switching device for switching of analog input signals, a plurality of analog inputs for the analog input signals, a plurality of control inputs for receiving digital control signals, wherein each switchable subamplifier has a switching device for switching the amplification by one of the digital control signals, a digital switching device connected to an input of each switching device for the selectable connection of the input of the switching device of each switchable subamplifier to a control input. Whereby each switchable subamplifier has an analog input, which is connected to the analog switching device for the selectable switching of an analog input signal to the analog input.

Abstract: A laser drive circuit and use of digital-to-analog converters is provided, each with a current input and a current output to set current values of partial currents switchable by means of digital channel signals to provide a laser current pulse at least on the basis of a sum of partial currents, wherein at least one current output of one of the digital-to-analog converters is connected to at least one current input of an additional digital-to-analog converter via an analog switch.

Abstract: A circuit and method for operating a circuit with a terminal for connecting a photodiode to output an output current dependent on the photocurrent of the photodiode, with a resistance device for generating a voltage drop dependent on a photocurrent of the photodiode, with a control loop connected to the resistance device for generating the output current dependent on the photocurrent, with a switching means connected to the terminal with first switch positions for a first operating mode for operating the photodiode in the reversed bias and with second switch positions for a second operating mode for operating the photodiode in the photovoltaic mode, wherein in the first operating mode in the first switch positions of the switching means, the resistance device and the control loop are bridged and/or are not connected, and in the second operating mode in the second switch positions of the switching means, the terminal is connected to the resistance device.

Abstract: A laser driver circuit comprising an amplifier device with a plurality of switchable subamplifiers, which can be or are connected to an output for connection of a laser, ith an analog switching device for switching of analog input signals, a plurality of analog inputs for the analog input signals, a plurality of control inputs for receiving digital control signals, wherein each switchable subamplifier has a switching device for switching the amplification by one of the digital control signals, a digital switching device connected to an input of each switching device for the selectable connection of the input of the switching device of each switchable subamplifier to a control input. Whereby each switchable subamplifier has an analog input, which is connected to the analog switching device for the selectable switching of an analog input signal to the analog input.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a laser threshold of a laser diode, which is operated by a drive circuit as a function of a first signal in a first feedback and a second signal in a second feedback, the first feedback being supplied via an optical coupling of an optical output signal of the laser diode.

Abstract: A laser drive circuit and use of digital-to-analog converters is provided, each with a current input and a current output to set current values of partial currents switchable by means of digital channel signals to provide a laser current pulse at least on the basis of a sum of partial currents, wherein at least one current output of one of the digital-to-analog converters is connected to at least one current input of an additional digital-to-analog converter via an analog switch.

Abstract: A driver circuit is provided, which includes a differential amplifier whose output signal controls the driving input signal, a reference signal generator that supplies a reference input of the differential amplifier, an external feedback that applies a signal, which is dependent on the output signal, to a feedback input of the differential amplifier, an adapter circuit, and an internal feedback activated in a compensation mode as an alternative to the external feedback, which internal feedback provides a signal to both the feedback input and the adapter circuit even for input signals that do not exceed the first threshold. The adaptor circuit generates and stores a compensation signal that compensates an offset signal acting alone at the reference input when the reference signal generator is switched off, and feeds the stored compensation signal, together with a reference signal, to the reference input or feedback input when the external feedback is activated.

Abstract: An amplifier array includes a servo amplifier, which has a reference signal input, a return signal input, and an output signal connection, which supplies an output signal path, a reference signal generator, which supplies reference signals with different level heights to the reference signal input, and with a return, which supplies a signal, attenuated by a value of the feedback attenuation, from the output path as a return signal to the return signal input, whereby the servo amplifier supplies an amplified difference between the reference signal and return signal in the output signal path. The amplifier array has a connectable bypass gain path, which in the connected state is supplied phase-coupled to the reference signal generator and which supplies a bypass output signal in the output path.

Abstract: A driver circuit and a method drive an electronic component such as a laser diode with a variable electric current that is controlledly switched between at least two discrete current levels. The driver circuit includes circuit elements that damp ringing or initial transient oscillations that arise when switching the current between the current levels. The driver circuit includes a current mirror having a mirror amplification factor dependent on the frequency of the variable electric current. In order to counteract parasitic capacitances and/or inductances leading to the ringing, an inductance and/or a resistance are connected between the two series circuits making up the current mirror, a capacitance is connected parallel to a reference resistor of one of the series circuits, and/or a capacitance is connected across the voltage supply.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a laser threshold of a laser diode, which is operated by a drive circuit as a function of a first signal in a first feedback and a second signal in a second feedback, the first feedback being supplied via an optical coupling of an optical output signal of the laser diode.

Abstract: An amplifier array includes a servo amplifier, which has a reference signal input, a return signal input, and an output signal connection, which supplies an output signal path, a reference signal generator, which supplies reference signals with different level heights to the reference signal input, and with a return, which supplies a signal, attenuated by a value of the feedback attenuation, from the output path as a return signal to the return signal input, whereby the servo amplifier supplies an amplified difference between the reference signal and return signal in the output signal path. The amplifier array has a connectable bypass gain path, which in the connected state is supplied phase-coupled to the reference signal generator and which supplies a bypass output signal in the output path.

Abstract: A driver circuit that provides a driver pulse sequence with different adjustable driver pulse heights in different time segments is provided. The driver circuit includes n pulse generators that supply pulse height contributions to a summing node, wherein the supplying can be controlled by switching elements individual to the pulse generators, and further includes a control unit that controls at least some of the switching elements as a function of adjustable parameters. The driver circuit also includes a switching matrix with matrix elements, each one of which is associated with a pair having at least one of the time segments and at least one control parameter, and issues a control signal for exactly one switching element of one of the n pulse generators.

Abstract: A driver circuit is provided, which in an operating mode drives a component that only supplies output power when a driving input signal exceeds a first threshold value. The driver circuit includes a differential amplifier whose output signal controls the driving input signal, a reference signal generator that supplies a reference input of the differential amplifier, and an external feedback that applies a signal, which is dependent on the output signal, to a feedback input of the differential amplifier. The driver circuit also has an adapter circuit and an internal feedback that can be activated in a compensation mode as an alternative to the external feedback, which internal feedback provides a signal to both the feedback input and the adapter circuit even for input signals that do not exceed the first threshold.

Abstract: A driver circuit and a method drive an electronic component such as a laser diode with a variable electric current that is controlledly switched between at least two discrete current levels. The driver circuit includes circuit elements that damp ringing or initial transient oscillations that arise when switching the current between the current levels. The driver circuit includes a current mirror having a mirror amplification factor dependent on the frequency of the variable electric current. In order to counteract parasitic capacitances and/or inductances leading to the ringing, an inductance and/or a resistance are connected between the two series circuits making up the current mirror, a capacitance is connected parallel to a reference resistor of one of the series circuits, and/or a capacitance is connected across the voltage supply.

Abstract: A signal when transmitting digital transmission signals between a transmitter unit and at least one receiver unit, one signal lead is generally required as a transmission medium for each digital transmission signal. To permit simultaneous transmission of several digital transmission signals through a common signal lead, the digital transmission signals (S11 . . . S10) are totaled with several logical signal levels in the transmitter unit (1) to form a multilevel signal (m). This multilevel signal (m) is transmitted from the transmitter unit (1) to the receiver unit (3) through a signal lead (2). For the purpose of forming digital received signals (S31 . . . S3n) corresponding to the digital transmission signals (S11 . . . S10), the received multilevel signal (m) is compared in the receiver unit (3) with signal thresholds (V1 . . . Vn) located between the logical signal levels of the multilevel signal (m).

Abstract: Method for automatically controlling a controlled variable. In a feedback control process, a control loop is used to compare the controlled variable with a command variable that determines the setpoint of the controlled variable and minimizes a deviation between setpoint and actual value of the controlled variable with the help of a manipulated variable that acts on the controlled variable. A disadvantage of this process is the transient behavior of the control loop due to temperature influences and degradation phenomena. The method according to the invention is intended to prevent a change in the transient behavior of the control loop. In accordance with the invention, the loop gain (A) of the control loop (1) is regulated to a value at which the actual value of the controlled variable (x) overshoots the setpoint value (s) by a predetermined tolerance value (m) as the result of a pulse-shaped change in the command variable (w).