Optiswitch Technology Corporation

Omnipulse Technology Corporation

Jay Philippbar

David M Giorgi

James Long

A pulsed diode light source driver includes a variable output power supply, an output capacitor, a switchable linear current driver, a temperature sensor, a conditioning circuit, and a voltage monitor. The temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the capacitor while the voltage monitor circuit monitors the output voltage level. The conditioning circuit and the voltage monitor cooperatively control the output voltage of the variable output power supply, so that temperature-related changes in the characteristics of the capacitor are compensated for, and a constant current is maintained through the diode load over a desired range of temperature. The driver is suitable for laser diodes and light emitting diodes.

Temperature compensated driver for pulsed diode light source

To achieve both a fast risetime and a desired flat top current pulse, or to be able to independently specify a risetime and pulse width (energy), a supplemental or 'fast' voltage discharge stage (or multiple supplemental or 'fast' voltage discharge stages) having a faster and shorter voltage discharge characteristic and a higher starting voltage relative to the main or &#x201c;slow&#x201d; voltage discharge stage is used in parallel with the slow voltage discharge stage. The energy storage element of the slow voltage discharge stage has sufficient energy storage at an appropriate voltage level for maintaining the desired flat top current throughout the pulse duration, while the energy storage element of the fast voltage discharge stage has less energy storage capability but a higher starting voltage for achieving the desired fast current pulse risetime. Preferably, a single closing switch is used to couple all energy storage elements to the laser diode to pulse it, although respective separate switches may be used to couple the energy storage elements of the various voltage discharge stages to the laser diode.

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San Clemente, CA, United States of America

Jay Philippbar