Precision Medium-Power Laser Diode Drivers: Design Principles and Functional Features

Laser diodes are semiconductor emitting crystal enclosed in a single package, as well as a number of additional optical and electronic components. Such diodes are widely used in high-tech systems and equipment and are among the most important elements of the entire class of modern optoelectronic devices. To control the operation of laser diodes, specialized devices are used - laser diode drivers, which structure and operation principles can be fundamentally different. The paper considers the typical structures of medium power laser diodes in butterfly and 14pin-DIL package-types, and their application areas. Basic approaches to current driver circuitry and thermal stabilization process are described. An example of a digital driver with a microprocessor-based control system is shown.