Micrel, Incorporated

National Semiconductor Corporation

Stratos Lightware, Inc.

Steven A Martinez

David J Kunst

Peter Chambers

Joseph James Judkins

Luis Torres

Robert James Lewandowski

Farhood Moraveji

Thomas A Lindsay

Paul Michael Henry

Joshua William Caldwell

Tom Lindsay

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.

Automatic control of laser diode current and optical power output

A current limiting circuit. The current limiting circuit includes a device coupled to an output node of the current limiting circuit. The device is responsive to magnitude of a signal at the output node. Moreover, the device has a first mode and a second mode, depending on the magnitude of the signal. The current limiting circuit also has a regulation component that regulates a voltage at the output node when the device is in the first mode. The current limiting circuit also has an element having a current that limits current at the output node when the device is in the second mode.

Current limiting voltage regulation circuit

Systems and methods for the measurement of optical power in optical fiber are disclosed. The optical signal is converted to an electrical signal, which is then converted to a digital output code that indicates the relative strength of the optical signal in terms of logarithmic units.

Measurement of optical power in optical fiber networks

To generate a signal delay, a current source, a reference voltage generator and a comparator are turned on. Once turned on, the current source raises the voltage across an initially discharged capacitor to a minimum required threshold. The comparator then compares the capacitor voltage to the reference voltage thereby to generate the delay signal. Thereafter, the current source, the reference voltage generator and substantial blocks of circuitry in the comparator are switched off to reduce quiescent power consumption.

Micropower delay circuit

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Steven A Martinez