Abstract: Circuitry for reliably regulating the current driving a laser diode or other current-driven load is described. In particular, a dual-current driver circuit is described that uses both a current source circuit and a current sink circuit. The current source circuit and the current sink circuit may each independently control the laser diode drive current within a desired operating tolerance. The current driving the laser diode will be maintained within tolerance despite the failure of either the current source circuit or the current sink circuit. This is because the current source circuit and the current sink circuit are combined with the laser diode in series, such that the current driving the laser diode will be controlled at the lower of the two currents driven by the current source circuit and the current sink circuit.

Abstract: Circuit arrangements for the operation of a pulse laser diode and methods for operating a pulse laser diode include a current source to supply a direct current to the pulse laser diode. The circuit arrangement can provide operation of the pulse laser diode that can be stable and without unintentional shifts in wavelength.

Abstract: An optical emission module including an optical emission element, which is driven by a current. A fuse is placed in the current's path. The fuse limits the current through the optical emission element and thereby guarantees that the optical output power of the optical emission element is limited to a maximum level which ensures eye safety.

Abstract: One embodiment of a laser driver for high speed interconnections includes a buffered level shifter to shift the input voltage level to an appropriate level. In some embodiments the buffered level shifter may be tuned to provide a desired level shift with impedance matched to the driving load. Another embodiment converts a digital signal to a current train of a bias mode to represent logical zero and of a modulation mode to represent logical one, wherein one or both of the bias mode and modulation mode may be adjusted, for example by a programmable control circuit or by an adaptive control circuit. Some embodiments also provide circuitry for reducing overshoot of the output signal.

Abstract: Both a system and method are provided for modulating the intensity of an output beam generated by semiconductor laser. The exemplary system includes a source of pulsating current connected to the laser that generates a pulsating beam of laser light, an external modulator having an input that receives the pulsating beam, and an output controlled by pulsating control signal, wherein the output beam transmitted by the external modulator output is modulated by changing a relative phase angle between the pulsating current powering the laser, and the control signal of the external modulator over time. The external modulator may be an intensity-type modulator whose output is controlled by a gate signal having a constant phase, and the source of pulsating current powering the laser may be variable phase in order to modulate the output beam with an external modulator having a simple structure.

Abstract: A circuit for driving a semiconductor laser, in particular a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser that comprises a differential amplifier for driving the semiconductor laser directly. The semiconductor laser is differentially driven by means of the differential amplifier, a first output of the differential amplifier being direct-current-coupled to a first terminal of the semiconductor laser and a second output of the differential amplifier being alternating-current-coupled to a second terminal of the semiconductor laser.

Abstract: Even though a laser diode is within the operation guarantee temperature range, the rise time characteristics required to protect and maintain the writing quality right away may not be present at a lower temperature. By sufficiently increasing the rise time, a laser diode control method of the present invention makes it possible to write readily. A laser diode control device includes a temperature sensor for detecting temperature of a laser diode. When a detected temperature by the temperature sensor is equal to or below a predetermined value within the operation guarantee temperature range, a seek motor controls the position of a pickup to move the pickup to a region outside a recording region of a recording medium. In this way, a current exceeding a threshold current value is supplied to the laser diode, and the writing operation starts after the laser diode temperature is increased up to a level where the rise time characteristics required to protect and maintain the writing quality is present.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus uses a laser driver which can measure the frequency of the high-frequency superimposed current of the semiconductor laser simply and accurately. The apparatus includes a semiconductor laser which emits a laser beam onto the optical disk, a laser driver which drives the semiconductor laser with a current, with the high-frequency current being superimposed thereon, and measures the frequency of the high-frequency current, and a main controller which controls the frequency of the high-frequency current produced by the laser driver by using the frequency measured by the laser driver.

Abstract: A laser diode driver circuit includes: a current source for generating a laser drive current which drives a laser diode; a switch for switching the passage/non-passage of the laser drive current into the laser diode; an APC circuit for controlling the magnitude of the laser drive current such that the optical output power of the laser diode is equal to a predetermined value; a switch control circuit for controlling the operation of the switch according to an input signal; and a ringing suppression circuit connected to an output terminal through which the laser drive current is supplied to the laser diode, the filter circuit having a variable time constant. Herein, the switch control circuit and the ringing suppression circuit respectively switch the drive power to the switch and the time constant in conjunction with the control of the magnitude of the laser drive current by the APC circuit.

Abstract: A high speed optical channel including an optical driver and a photodetector in a CMOS photoreceiver. The optical channel driver includes a FET driver circuit driving a passive element (e.g., an integrated loop inductor) and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diode. The VCSEL diode is biased by a bias supply. The integrated loop inductor may be integrated in CMOS technology and on the same IC chip as either/both of the FET driver and the VCSEL diode. The photodetector is in a semiconductor (silicon) layer that may be on an insulator layer, i.e., SOI. One or more ultrathin metal electrodes (<2000 ?) on the silicon layer forms a Schottky barrier diode junction which in turn forms a quantum well containing a two dimensional electron gas between the ultrathin metal electrode and the Schottky barrier diode junction.

Abstract: A laser modulating and driving device comprises a modulation signal generating unit configured to generate a laser modulation signal consisting of a pair of small swing differential signals based on pixel data, and a driving unit configured to drive a laser according to the laser modulation signal supplied from the modulation signal generating unit.

Abstract: The bias current of a current injection-type light-emitting element is set very close to the threshold current, and to guarantee a stable optical output and high-speed initiation of the light-emitting operation. In the bias current supply circuit 12, particularly in closed-loop circuit 20, feedback operation of bias APC with variable bias current Ib is performed so that monitor voltage VM1 comes to equal reference voltage VA1. With this feedback operation, the steady state of VM1=VA1 is reached, and drive current Ib (Iba+Ibb) sent to laser diode 10 converges to a constant value. After a prescribed time, S/H circuit 34 is switched to hold mode. As a result, drive current Ib (Iba+Ibb) is temporarily held to a constant value corresponding to the prescribed optical output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to automatically control an output power of a laser diode, include generating an error voltage between an output voltage of the laser diode sampled during an automatic power control period and a reference voltage, and performing proportional-integral processing on the error voltage to generate a compensated control voltage and applying the compensated control voltage to the laser diode.

Abstract: A high speed optical channel including an optical driver and a photodetector in a CMOS photoreceiver. The optical channel driver includes a FET driver circuit driving a passive element (e.g., an integrated loop inductor) and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diode. The VCSEL diode is biased by a bias supply. The integrated loop inductor may be integrated in CMOS technology and on the same IC chip as either/both of the FET driver and the VCSEL diode. The photodetector is in a semiconductor (silicon) layer that may be on an insulator layer, i.e., SOI. One or more ultrathin metal electrodes (<2000 ?) on the silicon layer forms a Schottky barrier diode junction which in turn forms a quantum well containing a two dimensional electron gas between the ultrathin metal electrode and the Schottky barrier diode junction.

Abstract: An automatic power control filter circuit that outputs a signal corrected to make a laser drive current for driving a laser light emitting element irradiating an optical disc with a laser beam become a desired value, on the basis of a signal obtained by sampling and holding a light emission monitor signal corresponding to an output current of a photodetector for detecting output power of the laser light emitting element.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing an output optical power from a laser source against drifts induced by temperature and/or aging, said output optical power including a target optical-modulation amplitude around a target average value includes: a power sensor for sensing the output optical power from the laser source and generating a power sensing signal indicative thereof, and a controller sensitive to the power sensing signal and configured for selectively adjusting the bias (IB) and modulation (IM) currents of the laser source by: detecting an error between the actual average output optical power from the laser source and the target average value,comparing the error against a given error threshold, and when the error reaches the threshold adjusting the bias (IB) and modulation (IM) currents to bring the output optical power from the laser source (1) back to the target average value (Ptarget) and the target optical modulation amplitude (OMAtarget) around the target average value (Ptarget).

Abstract: To provide a transmitter optical subassembly that provides an enhanced high-frequency response without increasing the power consumption within a CAN-type package. The transmitter optical subassembly includes a semiconductor laser diode, an auxiliary circuit, and a package for installing the semiconductor laser diode and the auxiliary circuit. The auxiliary circuit generates a transient signal synchronized with the leading edge or falling edge of a driving signal for the semiconductor laser diode in an electrode of the semiconductor laser diode for a very short period in order to boost the response speed of the semiconductor laser diode. The auxiliary circuit operated intermittently so that it is not necessary to consider heat caused by the auxiliary circuit even in case the auxiliary circuit is installed in the package.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to semiconductor lasers and laser scanning systems and, more particularly, to schemes for controlling wavelength in semiconductor lasers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of minimizing laser wavelength variations in a semiconductor laser is provided. According to the method, one or more of the laser drive currents is configured to comprise a drive portion and a wavelength recovery portion. The wavelength recovery portion of the drive current comprises a recovery amplitude IR that is distinct from the drive amplitude ID and a recovery duration tR that is less than the drive duration tD. The recovery amplitude IR and duration tR are sufficient to recover carrier density distribution distorted by gain compression effects prior to recovery. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A control method for a laser diode is conducted such that optical output and OMA (optical modulation amplitude) or extinction ratio of the laser diode are controlled while modulating the optical output of the laser diode by applying a bias current and a modulation current to the laser diode. The method has: a first step of measuring the optical output of the laser diode; a second step of measuring a slope efficiency or a corresponding value of the slope efficiency while conducting APC (automatic power control) to adjust the bias current such that the optical output coincides with a predetermined value; and a third step of adjusting the modulation current by AAC (automatic amplitude control) according to the slope efficiency or the corresponding value of the slope efficiency such that the OMA or extinction ratio coincides with a predetermined value.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a laser apparatus, a laser irradiating method and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that make laser energy more stable. To attain the object, a part of laser beam emitted from an oscillator is sampled to generate an electric signal that contains as data energy fluctuation of a laser beam. The electric signal is subjected to signal processing to calculate the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the energy fluctuation of the laser beam.

Abstract: A laser diode driving device capable of obtaining a stable pulse emission state even when variation in the current-light amount characteristic of a laser diode thereof is caused by environmental changes. A photodiode detects the amount of light emitted from the laser diode. A laser controller determines the amount of light to be emitted from the laser diode. Further, the laser controller controls the laser diode to emit light in the determined light amount. A bias current value-determining section determines a bias current value based on results of light emission performed by the laser diode in three or more kinds of light amounts determined by the laser controller.

Abstract: A current output of a drive signal, modulated between two current settings, is applied to a laser diode, e.g. VCSEL. The settings are selected such that laser diode's power output meets the average power and peak power limits of the eye safety standards. The drive signal having a duty cycle toggling between the two settings. The duty cycle is selected such that the average and peak power limits are met for the given upper current setting. The drive circuit may include an analog modulator or digital analog converter (DAC) for maintaining the lower and upper current settings. When the drive circuit is implemented as an integrated circuit, the DAC may be incorporated into the IC. The sensitivity of the DAC is selected to maintain the desired lower and upper current settings.

Abstract: In an optical device, a slab layer includes an active layer sandwiched between cladding layers. The slab layer has a periodic refractive index profile structure in a two-dimensional plane, as a two-dimensional slab photonic crystal structure, and a linear defect region serving as a waveguide in the periodic refractive index profile structure. Regions having different widths of the waveguides, as segments of the waveguide, are connected in series.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling emission of a laser beam in an image forming apparatus. The method includes generating a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage corresponding to a normal mode and a toner save mode, supplying one of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage corresponding to a mode selection signal in a switching manner, generating a first control voltage and second control voltage to control emission of the laser beam, and supplying a drive current corresponding to one of the generated first and second control voltages to a laser diode to control intensity of the laser beam according to the selection mode.

Abstract: A low-noise laser diode module comprises a laser diode for emitting light with a wavelength in the range from UV to IR, a drive circuit for injecting electrical current into said diode, and an automatic power control circuit for monitoring and adjusting laser output power using front-facet photodiode external to the laser assembly and a feedback loop. Said drive circuit produces injection current modulated by an RF signal with variable degrees, depending on the wavelength to be stabilized, the desired spectral bandwidths of the laser output, and/or other applications. Said RF signal can be a sine wave, a distorted sine wave, a rectified sine wave, a non-sine wave, a series of narrow pulses, or repetitive shunt. The present invention encompasses a method for producing stable, broadband, and low-coherent laser. The present invention also encompasses a method for producing stable narrowband or single longitudinal mode laser.

Abstract: A laser diode is controlled such that a writing operation can be performed readily even at a low temperature and equal to or below the operation guarantee temperature range of the laser diode. A laser diode control device includes a temperature sensor for detecting temperature of a laser diode. If a detected temperature by the temperature sensor is equal to or below the operation guarantee temperature range, a current equivalent to a threshold current value is supplied to the laser diode. After a predetermined time lapses, laser light is outputted to increase temperature of the laser diode to the operation guarantee temperature thereof. Finally, a writing operation is then carried out.

Abstract: A laser control apparatus and control method thereof includes multiple laser elements, a photodetector for monitoring optical outputs of the laser elements, a modulation. circuit for modulating with respect to each laser element based on data, a first drive source for applying a bias current to each laser element, a second drive source for generating a modulation current in the modulation circuit, and a controller for controlling the first drive source and the second drive source to couple an amount of a variation of a drive current as a test current to the bias current and the modulation current and for controlling the bias current according to an amount of variation of the optical output which occurs by coupling of the test current and an amount of the bias current.

Abstract: Included are: a gain chip having a gain unit and a phase control region; a current supply for causing a positive current to flow to the phase control region; a voltage supply for applying a bias voltage to the phase control region; and a control unit for selectively driving the current supply or the voltage supply depending on a direction of the wavelength shift. The control unit drives the current supply when a laser wavelength is to be shifted to a shorter wavelength side from a wavelength with the current supply and the voltage supply being turned off, and drives the voltage supply when the laser wavelength is to be shifted to a longer wavelength side from a wavelength with the current supply and the voltage supply being turned off.

Abstract: A laser diode drive circuit includes a first transistor having a collector connected to an anode of a laser diode; a second transistor having a collector connected to a cathode of the laser diode; a constant current circuit connected between a ground point and emitters of the first and second transistors; a first high-pass filter connected between the base and the collector of the first transistor; and a second high-pass filter connected between the base and the collector of the second transistor.

Abstract: A laser diode driver circuit can comprise fast loop portion and a closed-loop portion. The closed-loop driver portion can provide a part of the current for a laser diode. The closed-loop drive portion output can be independent of a photodetector. The fast-loop driver portion can provide a second part of the current for the laser diode. The fast-loop driver portion can use the output of the photodiode to determine the output of the fast-loop driver portion.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an optical transponder includes a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA). In one embodiment, the electrical ground of the TOSA may be DC-isolated from chassis ground of the transponder using a blocking capacitor that couples the AC signal path to VDD and that allows the case of the TOSA to float. In an alternative embodiment, the electrical ground of the TOSA may be DC-isolated from chassis ground of the transponder using a blocking capacitor that couples the AC signal path to VDD and a resistor that couples the DC bias level path to internal electrical ground or transponder case ground.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for biasing a laser. In one example, a feedback circuit establishes a bias current in a laser. A stabilizing capacitor is coupled to the feedback circuit, the stabilizing capacitor slowing the response of the feedback circuit to a feedback input. A capacitor charging circuit is included in the feedback circuit. The capacitor charging circuit is activated upon a start-up of the feedback circuit to charge the stabilizing capacitor. Thereafter, the capacitor charging circuit is deactivated when a charge on the stabilizing capacitor reaches a predefined charge threshold.

Abstract: A laser driver system is disclosed that includes a first monitor current output node, a power set node, and a first feedback path. The first monitor current output node provides a first monitor current output signal that is representative of one of a bias current and a modulation current of the laser driver system. The power set node receives a power ratio set signal that represents a desired relationship of a power required for the laser driver to produce a high power level threshold to a power required for the laser driver to produce a low power level threshold. The first feedback path extends from the first monitor current output node to the power set node, and may be used for adjusting the power set signal when the monitor current output signal becomes non-linear.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical transmitter that enables to distinguish failure modes of the auto-power control (APC) of the laser diode (LD). The transmitter provides the APC circuit comprised of the driver for supplying the driving current, the LD, the PD for monitoring a portion of the output light from the LD, and the control unit for setting the driving current. The control unit monitors, at regular intervals, the bias current to the LD and the time differential of the bias current. The control unit only stops the APC circuit when both the bias current and the time differential of the bias current exceed respective references.

Abstract: A method for compensating for changes in output power or wavelength of an optical source with temperature. Many optical sources have power and/or wavelength variations with temperature which can be compensated by open- or closed-loop methods if a method of accurately measuring the optical source temperature is available. The voltage across a semiconductor junction varies with temperature. Measuring the optical source power or wavelength variation with temperature and tracking the voltage across the semiconductor junction provides a means for compensating an instrument for temperature induced optical output power or wavelength variations. An important field of application is optical density or turbidity measurements in cellular media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus, such as an integrated circuit, to control the optical midpoint power level and the extinction ratio of a semiconductor laser and maintain the optical midpoint power level and the extinction ratio substantially constant at corresponding predetermined levels. Apparatus embodiments include a semiconductor laser, a modulator, a photodetector, an optical midpoint controller, and an extinction ratio controller. The semiconductor laser is capable of transmitting an optical signal in response to a modulation current. The modulator is capable of providing the modulation current to the semiconductor laser, with the modulation current corresponding to an input data signal. The photodetector, which is optically coupled to the semiconductor laser, is capable of converting the optical signal into a photodetector current.

Abstract: This invention makes it possible to meet a requirement of high-quality image printing and high-speed driving of a semiconductor laser driver in a laser beam printer or the like while suppressing radiant noise. A laser circuit substrate includes a first wiring pattern and second wiring pattern connected to a main wiring pattern, a first circuit which is connected to the first wiring pattern and has a semiconductor laser element and a driving circuit for driving the semiconductor laser element, a second circuit which is connected to the second wiring pattern and compensates noise generated by the first circuit, a first capacitor which is connected to a first point in the first wiring pattern, and a second capacitor which is connected to a second point in the second wiring pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for providing phase modulated current to a semiconductor laser to control beam wavelength. A first current is received into a gain portion of the semiconductor laser and a second current is received into a DBR portion of the semiconductor laser. The second current is phase modulated based upon a required intensity value. An output beam is generated by the semiconductor laser based upon the received first current and the received second current.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing a time-averaged coherence of laser radiation for current-tunable lasers, and a laser apparatus realizing the method, by modulating the laser drive current using a modulation function optimized for obtaining a pre-determined time-averaged spectral profile of the laser radiation. In a preferred embodiment, the pre-determined time-averaged spectral profile has a substantially Gaussian shape. The method is described in reference to laser diodes.

Abstract: A laser diode is employed to output light. A laser driver is employed to drive the laser diode. A laser driver control unit is employed to control the driving, such that carrier concentration of the laser is substantially forced to a desired concentration as photon level of the laser initially arrives at a desired level. In one embodiment, the laser driver outputs a drive pulse to drive the laser diode, with the drive pulse having a complex waveform. In one embodiment, the complex waveform includes different transition time periods, and transient rates to raise the drive pulse from an initial level to a peak level. In another embodiment, the complex waveform includes different transition time periods and transient rates to raise the drive pulse from an initial level to a transition peak level and then drop the drive pulse back to an intermediate low level and then finally transition to a final peak level.

Abstract: A circuit for driving a semiconductor laser including a semiconductor integrated circuit, which controls the drive of the semiconductor laser, and is connected to one end of the semiconductor laser. Moreover, the driving circuit incorporates a first power source +Vcc that supplies by way of the semiconductor integrated circuit a drive voltage to one end of the semiconductor laser and a second power source ?Vcc, which is connected to the other end of the semiconductor laser and supplies a drive voltage to the other end. Furthermore, the drive circuit incorporates a voltage clamp circuit, connected to a connection terminal connecting the semiconductor laser and the semiconductor integrated circuit, for adjusting the electric potential of the connection terminal.

Abstract: An automatic power control system provides a control signal that regulates the output power of at least one laser diode. Coarse adjustment of the control signal is provided by a first means, preferably a digital variable resistor, while fine adjustment and compensation is provided by a second means, preferably by a digital-to-analog converter that receives an input signal proportional to a sensed control system parameter. The control system includes an operational amplifier having a first input coupled to sense output power, and a second input coupled to a DAC to provide finer resolution control. Memory can store system parameter or system parameter variations that can be coupled to the DAC and/or variable resistor to enhance system stability over ambient variations.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to semiconductor lasers and laser scanning systems and, more particularly, to schemes for controlling semiconductor lasers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a laser is configured for optical emission of encoded data. At least one parameter of the optical emission is a function of a drive current IGAIN injected into the gain section of the semiconductor laser and one or more additional drive currents I/VPHASE, I/VDBR. Mode selection in the semiconductor laser is altered by perturbing at least one of the additional drive currents I/VPHASE, I/VDBR with a perturbation signal I/VPTRB to alter mode selection in the semiconductor laser such that a plurality of different emission modes are selected in the semiconductor laser over a target emission period.

Abstract: The present invention provides an LD driver able to stably control the output power and the extinction ratio of the optical signal without regarding the coupling mode, the AC mode or the DC mode, between the laser diode and the LD driver. The LD driver includes the peak hold and the bottom hold, each detecting the peak level or the bottom level of the monitored signal, respectively. The bias driver adjusts the bias current so as to equalize the peak level of the monitored signal to the reference, REF_PEAK, while, the modulation driver adjusts the modulation current so as to equalize the bottom level of the monitored signal to the reference, REF_BOTTOM. In the present invention, the adjustment of the modulation current by the modulation driver starts with a substantial delay with respect to the stabilization of the bias current by the bias driver.

Abstract: A voltage supplied from a power supply is boosted by a boosting circuit unit to generate a direct-current voltage, and the pulse-shape direct-current voltage is applied to LED while a constant-voltage control unit controls the direct-current voltage. The operation of LED is controlled by a control unit and a PWM unit. When the current is passed through LED, the constant-voltage control unit obtains information on the current passed through LED from a potential difference between both ends of a resistor, and on-and-off control of the voltage applied to LED from the boosting circuit unit is performed at a high frequency based on the information. Therefore, the voltage applied to LED can be controlled to keep the current passed through LED constant.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an optical transmitter with reduced power consumption. The optical transmitter includes two laser diodes connected in series to each other, one of which is connected in the anode thereof to the first driver, while the other of which is connected in the cathode thereof to the second driver. Further, between the anode of the first laser diode and the cathode of the second laser diode connects an impedance device. In the present invention, the first and second laser diodes, and the impedance device have the substantially same impedance to each other within a concerned frequency range.

Abstract: A laser driver comprises a PNP transistor current source, an inductor coupled to the PNP transistor current source, a switch coupled to the inductor, and a current sink coupled to the switch. The PNP transistor current source supplies a first current to a laser if the switch is closed and a second current to the laser if the switch is open. The PNP transistor current source, inductor, switch, and current sink are on a single semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A laser diode driver output stage for driving an associated laser diode device. The laser diode driver output stage includes a driver circuit adapted to receive an input data signal at an input node and provide an output signal to a positive output node and a negative output node in response to the data signal. The laser diode driver output stage further includes a transformer having a positive terminal of a first side coupled to the positive output node of the driver circuit, a negative terminal of the first side coupled to the negative output node, a positive terminal of a second side coupled to the positive output node, and negative terminal of the second side coupled to a bias current generator. The transformer functions to isolate the bias current from fluctuations in the output signal, whereby the output signal and bias current are provided to the associated laser diode device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the power of laser diodes are provided. The apparatus includes an output voltage sensor, which senses output voltages of at least two laser diodes and outputs the output voltages to an optical power controller. The optical power controller generates control voltages for controlling the at least two laser diodes by performing proportional-integral (PI) control on error voltages between reference voltages and the output voltages received from the output voltage sensor.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to adjust the operating point of a laser that can be modulated by a data signal. The operating point of the laser is adjusted by regulating a direct current flowing through the laser; whereby said direct current correlates with the optical characteristics of the laser. In order to carry out said adjustment, the direct current is controlled above an alterable threshold current. A differential current defined from the difference between the direct current and the threshold current or a variable correlating with the differential current is adjusted to a constant value or one that is solely dependent on temperature for the adjustment of said operating point.