Semiconductor laser driver

• US 4,796,264 A
• Filed: 05/20/1985
• Issued: 01/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Application Number:
  US06/735,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 372/32, 372/29, 372/38, 307/311, 307/270, 331/107 R, 455/609
• US Class Current: 372/29.015
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/042 Electrical excitation ; Circuits therefor monolithically integrated laser drive components H01S5/0261
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0427 for applying modulation to the laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/06213 Amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/06223 using delayed or positive feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0658 Self-pulsating

Abstract

A semiconductor laser driver comprises a high frequency amplifier. Positive feedback from a load, including a semiconductor laser, is input to the amplifier. This arrangement provides self-sustained oscillation of the circuit at the relaxation oscillation frequency of the semiconductor laser, thus eliminating the need for an external oscillator.

Claims

1. A semiconductor laser oscillator comprising:

a semiconductor laser having a threshold level;

a means, electrically connected to a first electrode of said semiconductor laser, for supplying a bias current to said semiconductor laser beyond the threshold level of said semiconductor laser;

a high frequency amplifier means, electrically connected to said first electrode of said semiconductor laser, for amplifying a high frequency input to produce a high frequency output current, said high frequency output current being superposed with said bias current and provided to said semiconductor laser;

means, electrically connected between said first electrode of said semiconductor laser and an input terminal of said high frequency amplifier means, for providing positive feedback from said semiconductor laser as said high frequency input of said amplifier means; and

wherein said high frequency amplifier means electrically oscillates near the relaxation oscillation frequency of said semiconductor laser, and said semiconductor laser generates laser light in the longitudinal multimode oscillation.