The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 07, 2011
Douglas W. Dean, Eagan, MN (US);
Jeremy R. Kuehlwein, Woodbury, MN (US);
Douglas W. Dean, Eagan, MN (US);
Jeremy R. Kuehlwein, Woodbury, MN (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a lasing element, a laser driver and logic. The laser driver is configured to drive the lasing element at multiple current levels, and the laser driver includes a switching network, multiple direct current (DC) loops, and an output circuit. The switching network receives a differential input signal, and each DC loop is coupled to the switching network. The output circuit is also coupled to the lasing element, and the logic is coupled to each of the DC current loops, where the logic selects one or more of the DC loops in each (of several) modes. Each mode generates one or more output lasing currents for the lasing element that corresponds to a one or more of the current levels in response to the differential input signal.