Abstract: Provided herein are optical sensor systems that can be used for ambient light detection, proximity detection and motion detection, as well as to larger systems that include such an optical sensor system, and to related methods. In an embodiment, the optical sensor system includes a front end, an ambient light channel, a proximity channel and a motion channel. In an embodiment, offset and gain of the proximity channel is adjusted based on motion detected by the motion channel.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid laser diode drivers (LDDs) that drive a laser diode in response to receiving enable signals from a controller. In accordance with specific embodiments, a hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, one or more write channel each to selectively output a write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, in specific embodiments the hybrid LDD includes a state machine that receives the enable signals from the controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by the read, write and oscillator channels.

Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid laser diode drivers (LDDs) that drive a laser diode in response to receiving enable signals from a controller. In accordance with specific embodiments, a hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, one or more write channel each to selectively output a write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, in specific embodiments the hybrid LDD includes a decoder that receives the enable signals from the controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by the read, write and oscillator channels.

Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid laser diode drivers (LDDs) that drive a laser diode in response to receiving enable signals from a controller. In accordance with specific embodiments, a hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, one or more write channel each to selectively output a write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, in specific embodiments the hybrid LDD includes a state machine that receives the enable signals from the controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by the read, write and oscillator channels.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid laser diode drivers (LDDs) that drive a laser diode in response to receiving enable signals from a controller. In accordance with specific embodiments, a hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, one or more write channel each to selectively output a write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, in specific embodiments the hybrid LDD includes a decoder that receives the enable signals from the controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by the read, write and oscillator channels.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for damping out parasitic resonance within a packaged integrated circuit (IC) are provided. A conductive path including a resistor and a conductor is added in parallel with a conductive path that provides power to components within a die of the packaged IC. When implemented in a packaged laser driver integrated circuit (IC), a conductive path including a resistor and a conductor in placed in parallel with a conductive path that provides a laser driver output, of the packaged laser driver IC, to a laser diode. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: Provided herein are optical sensor systems that can be used for ambient light detection, proximity detection and motion detection, as well as to larger systems that include such an optical sensor system, and to related methods. In an embodiment, the optical sensor system includes a front end, an ambient light channel, a proximity channel and a motion channel. In an embodiment, offset and gain of the proximity channel is adjusted based on motion detected by the motion channel.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid laser diode drivers (LDDs) that drive a laser diode in response to receiving enable signals from a controller. In accordance with specific embodiments, a hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, one or more write channel each to selectively output a write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, in specific embodiments the hybrid LDD includes a decoder that receives the enable signals from the controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by the read, write and oscillator channels.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid laser diode drivers (LDDs) that drive a laser diode in response to receiving enable signals from a controller. In accordance with specific embodiments, a hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, one or more write channel each to selectively output a write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, in specific embodiments the hybrid LDD includes a state machine that receives the enable signals from the controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by the read, write and oscillator channels.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to current driver circuits and methods for driving a load. The current driver circuit includes a first transistor (Q1) and a second transistor (Q2) each having a gate, a drain and a source. The drain of the second transistor (Q2) forms the output of the current driver circuit. The first and second transistors (Q1) and (Q2) function as a current mirror when the gates of the first and second transistors (Q1) and (Q2) are selectively connected together. The current driver circuit also includes a current source, a load mimic circuit, and a control loop (e.g., including an op-amp), which are configured to cause the voltage at the drain of the first transistor (Q1) to substantially equal the voltage at the output of the current driver circuit.

Abstract: Double buffering of serial transfers is provided in order to allow for increased serial transfer rate without requiring increased internal processing speeds. A laser driver serial controller serially receives a word including address bits and data bits. During a write operation, the address bits are serially shifted into an address shift register of the laser driver, and the data bits are serially shifted into a data shift register of the laser driver. After the address bits and data bits are completely shifted into the respective address and data shift registers, the address bits and data bits are transferred in parallel to address and data holding registers of the laser driver. After the parallel transfers of the address bits and data bits from the address and data shift registers to the address and data holding registers, the address and data shift registers are available to serially receive additional address bits and data bits of an additional word.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing multiple devices to share the same serial lines (e.g., SDIO, SEN and SCLK) are provided. Such devices can be located, e.g., on an optical pick-up unit. Each device includes a serial interface, a device enable number (DEN) that differs from the DEN of each other device, and a plurality of registers, with at least one register being designated a device select register (DSR). The DSRs of the plurality of devices share a common address. The plurality of serial interfaces are collectively enabled and collectively disabled (e.g., via the SEN line). However, only one of the plurality of serial interfaces can be selected at one time, with the remaining of the plurality of serial interfaces being deselected. The serial interface of a device is selected when the DEN of the device is the same as the content of the DSR of the device, and deselected when the DEN of the device is not the same as the content of the DSR of the device.

Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: Double buffering of serial transfers is provided in order to allow for increased serial transfer rate without requiring increased internal processing speeds. A laser driver serial controller serially receives a word including address bits and data bits. During a write operation, the address bits are serially shifted into an address shift register of the laser driver, and the data bits are serially shifted into a data shift register of the laser driver. After the address bits and data bits are completely shifted into the respective address and data shift registers, the address bits and data bits are transferred in parallel to address and data holding registers of the laser driver. After the parallel transfers of the address bits and data bits from the address and data shift registers to the address and data holding registers, the address and data shift registers are available to serially receive additional address bits and data bits of an additional word.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the harmonic content of an oscillator are provided. More specifically, waveforms with reduced harmonics are provided, as are waveform generators for producing such waveforms. Such waveform generators can be used in or with a laser driver. However, the present invention is not meant to be limited to use with laser drivers. Rather, embodiments of the present invention are useful anywhere where harmonics resulting from an oscillating waveform need to be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for automatic power control of a laser diode, e.g., in a laser driver. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a power controller includes a detector circuit adapted to detect the output of the laser diode and to produce a measured output therefrom. A comparator compares a desired output to the measured output, and produces an error signal therefrom. The error signal is provided to an integrator circuit that produces an integrated error signal. At least one digital-to-analog converter (DAC) uses the integrated error signal to produce a current drive signal that drives the laser diode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing multiple devices to share the same serial lines (e.g., SDIO, SEN and SCLK) are provided. Such devices can be located, e.g., on an optical pick-up unit. Each device includes a serial interface, a device enable number (DEN) that differs from the DEN of each other device, and a plurality of registers, with at least one register being designated a device select register (DSR). The DSRs of the plurality of devices share a common address. The plurality of serial interfaces are collectively enabled and collectively disabled (e.g., via the SEN line). However, only one of the plurality of serial interfaces can be selected at one time, with the remaining of the plurality of serial interfaces being deselected. The serial interface of a device is selected when the DEN of the device is the same as the content of the DSR of the device, and deselected when the DEN of the device is not the same as the content of the DSR of the device.