Laser driver circuit and optical transmitter using the same

Abstract

An LD driver circuit includes an adjustment circuit to which a power supply voltage is applied. The adjustment circuit receives an input signal through an input terminal, generates a shifted input signal shifted in voltage from the input signal by a predetermined shift amount, and outputs the shifted input signal from an output terminal. The LD driver circuit also includes a transistor with its base receiving the shifted input signal, its collector electrically connected to an anode of a driven LD, and its emitter electrically connected to a cathode of the LD and ground, which transistor varies an amount of a shunt current flowing from the collector to the emitter in accordance with the shifted input signal. The adjustment circuit includes a comparator which compares a voltage in the collector and a threshold voltage, and increases or decreases the predetermined shift amount in accordance with an output of the comparator.