Patent ID: 6834065
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
Apparatus for digitally driving a laser with a current in a passive optical network, comprising:a programmable voltage source; an output terminal directly connected to the laser to thereby provide a drive current to the laser of a magnitude that is a direct function of the magnitude of a voltage on the output terminal; the programmable voltage source having a plurality of output pins, each of the output pins selectively having a voltage thereon, and each of the output pins being individually connected to the output terminal through a resistor; and a controller connected to supply a control signal to the programmable voltage source, the control signal specifying which of the plurality of output pins are to have a voltage thereon, to thus determine the magnitude of a voltage to be applied to the output terminal and the magnitude of a current to be supplied to the laser from the output terminal.