Patent ID: 6603498
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: B41J,G06K

Abstract:
A diode-laser array module, comprising:a diode-laser bar including a plurality of diode-lasers spaced-apart in a linear array, each of said diode-lasers emitting light in a forward and a reverse direction; a plurality of photodetectors spaced apart in an integrated linear array, said plurality of photodetectors corresponding in number and spacing to said plurality of diode-lasers and arranged such that each thereof receives reverse-emitted light from a corresponding one of said diode-lasers; an application-specific integrated circuit, said application-specific integrated circuit being arranged to individually monitor output of each of said photodetectors in response to said reverse-emitted light received thereby and, based on said monitored photodetector outputs, supply individual drive currents to each of said diode-lasers such that each of said diode-lasers emits a selected output power in the forward direction; and wherein said application-specific integrated circuit is arranged to modulate said drive currents supplied to said diode-lasers at a modulation rate, and wherein said application-specific integrated circuit is spaced apart from said photodetector array by less than about 10 millimeters.