Bell Telephone Laboratories

Joseph F Svacek, Iii

Richard W Dixon

The apparent differential output power or quantum efficiency of a semiconductor laser, such as a double heterostructure laser diode, is reduced by means of a circuit which shunts the laser and includes a threshold device. The I-V characteristic of the shunt circuit intersects that of the laser at V.sub.x such that at voltages below V.sub.x the current through the laser exceeds that through the shunt, and conversely above V.sub.x. Specific embodiments of the shunt circuit include a resistor in series with either a zener diode or one or more forward-biased conventional diodes.

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Jamesburg, NJ, United States of America

Joseph F Svacek, Iii