US 12,327,982 B2
Laser diode drive circuit
Shota Ando, Nagaokakyo (JP); and Naomi Takimoto, Nagaokakyo (JP)
Assigned to MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., Nagaokakyo (JP)
Filed by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nagaokakyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/706,807.
Application 17/706,807 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/023941, filed on Jun. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-180505 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0224076 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. H01S 3/00 (2006.01); H01S 5/00 (2006.01); H01S 5/042 (2006.01); H01S 5/0683 (2006.01); H01S 5/40 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01)
CPC H01S 5/0428 (2013.01) [H01S 5/0057 (2013.01); H01S 5/06835 (2013.01); H01S 5/4025 (2013.01); G01S 7/484 (2013.01); H01S 5/042 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laser diode drive circuit comprising:
a plurality of laser diodes each having cathodes connected in common;
a driving capacitor connected in series to the plurality of laser diodes and configured to supply a current to each of the plurality of laser diodes;
a driving switching element connected in series to the driving capacitor and configured to switch between an ON state in which a current is supplied to the plurality of laser diodes and an OFF state in which the current is not supplied;
a driving power supply configured to supply a current to the driving capacitor; a restriction element connected in parallel to the plurality of laser diodes and in series to the driving power supply and the driving capacitor, with the restriction element configured to restrict a flow of the current in a direction of charging of the driving capacitor; and
a plurality of current suppression elements disposed on anode sides of the plurality of laser diodes, respectively, with the current suppression elements being configured to suppress a flow of a current that flows, during a discharging of the driving capacitor, between adjacent laser diodes of the plurality of laser diodes that are connected in series to each other.