Dual feedback path linearization of current modulated laser with dual

Abstract

A laser driver mechanism for image reproduction maintains linear operation over a wide frequency an dynamic range of amplitude-modulated input signals by means of a first feedback loop and a second feedback loop. The second feedback loop contains a first amplifier coupled to receive the input signals and an output coupled to a second amplifier that drives an injection laser diode. A photodetector is coupled downstream of and external to a sealed unit in which the injection laser diode emitter, an associated photodetector of the first feedback loop and beam extraction optics are housed. The photodetector of the second loop has an output coupled to the second amplifier, so that the second feedback loop serves to compensate for non-linearities in the laser driver including those of the first feedback loop. Because the second photodetector is supported externally of the sealed unit, the feedback path from the second photodetector effectively forms an outer loop feedback path relative to the first feedback path, so that the ambient operating conditions of the second photodetector are not affected by the operation of the laser. The sealed unit is mounted in a module that effectively equalizes the cross-sectional spatial distribution of optical energy within the light beam emitted by the injection laser diode and ensures that the spatial cross-section of the image spot seen by the photodetector is effectively constant regardless of laser output beam intensity. For precision scanning of the recording medium, the laser output beam is scanned by a linearly swept galvanometer.