US 12,230,939 B2
Pre-charge modulation of a laser array for 3D imaging applications
Steve Troyer, Wilmington, DE (US); Jonathan Ashbrook, Wilmington, DE (US); Theron Jones, Wilmington, DE (US); Richard Davis, Wilmington, DE (US); and Andrew Zocher, Wilmington, DE (US)
Assigned to II-VI DELAWARE, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by II-VI Delaware, Inc, Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/443,110.
Prior Publication US 2023/0024188 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. H01S 5/042 (2006.01); G01B 11/24 (2006.01); H03K 5/13 (2014.01); H03K 17/687 (2006.01)
CPC H01S 5/0428 (2013.01) [G01B 11/24 (2013.01); H03K 5/13 (2013.01); H03K 17/6871 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A driver for driving a laser comprising:
a pulse input for receiving one or more logical pulse control signals;
a delay circuit adapted to delay the one or more logical pulse control signals as one or more delayed pulses, wherein the one or more delayed pulses is offset, respectively, from the one or more logical pulse control signals by a delay ΔT, wherein the delay circuit comprises:
a delay tap multiplexor for selecting at least one of the one or more delay segments and the delay circuit comprises a delay selection input configured to select the number of delay segments; and
one or more delay segments, and each delay segment is adapted to provide a delay of τ;
a main pulse output adapted to trigger the laser's main current source; and
a precharge pulse output adapted to trigger the laser's precharge current source; and
control circuitry adapted to receive the one or more logical pulse control signals and the one or more delayed pulses and configured to selectively drive the main pulse output and the precharge pulse output to power the laser based on the received signals.