MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
Efficiency improved driver for laser diode in optical communication

Abstract:

A circuit and method provide a headroom voltage for a laser driver driving a laser diode such that the laser diode provides signals to an optical communications device. The circuit includes a headroom control circuit receiving the headroom voltage from the laser driver, the headroom control circuit generating a controlled voltage based on the headroom voltage, and a DC-DC converter receiving the controlled voltage from the headroom control circuit generating a voltage Vout based on the controlled voltage, and applying the voltage Vout as an input to the laser diode. The headroom control circuit and the DC-DC converter are connected in a feedback loop with the laser diode to continuously provide the voltage Vout to the laser diode, and the DC-DC converter modifies the voltage Vout to compensate for burn-in characteristics or temperature drift of the laser diode over time to maintain an optimized headroom voltage for the laser driver.