Laser navigation sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a diode laser;
a current source interconnected with the diode laser;
a first limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit peak current flowing to an anode connection of the diode laser;
a second limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit peak current flowing from a cathode connection of the diode laser, wherein the second limiting circuit is independent from the first limiting circuit;
a third limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit average current flowing through the diode laser; and
a fourth limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit average current flowing through the diode laser, wherein the fourth limiting circuit is independent from the third limiting circuit.
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Abstract
The apparatus includes a diode laser, a current source interconnected with the diode laser, and four limiting circuits. The first limiting circuit limits peak current flowing to an anode connection of the diode laser. The second limiting circuit limits peak current flowing from a cathode connection of the diode laser, wherein the first and second limiting circuits are independent from each other. The third limiting circuit limits average current flowing through the diode laser. Finally, the fourth limiting circuit limits average current flowing through the diode laser, wherein the third and fourth limiting circuits are independent from each other. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
126 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a diode laser; a current source interconnected with the diode laser; a first limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit peak current flowing to an anode connection of the diode laser; a second limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit peak current flowing from a cathode connection of the diode laser, wherein the second limiting circuit is independent from the first limiting circuit; a third limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit average current flowing through the diode laser; and a fourth limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit average current flowing through the diode laser, wherein the fourth limiting circuit is independent from the third limiting circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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emitting laser light from a laser device; providing current to and receiving current from the laser device; monitoring and limiting peak current flowing to an anode connection of the laser device; monitoring and limiting peak current flowing from a cathode connection of the laser device in an independent manner from said limiting of peak current flowing to the anode connection; monitoring and limiting time-averaged current flowing to the anode connection of the laser device; and monitoring and limiting time-averaged current flowing from the cathode connection of the laser device in an independent manner from said limiting of time averaged current flowing to the anode connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a first limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit average current flowing through the diode laser; and a second limiting circuit in the current source configured to monitor and limit average current flowing through the diode laser, wherein the second limiting circuit is independent from the first limiting circuit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification