Patent ID: 8059967

Claim:
An optical pulse generator comprising: a light emitting element that emits an optical pulse; and a driver configured to apply a pulse driving current to the light emitting element to allow the light emitting element to emit an optical pulse, the driver being also configured to apply a preliminary driving current to the light emitting element in a period of time between before and after starting the application of the pulse driving current, and wherein the preliminary driving current is lower than a minimum level that needs to cause a stimulated emission of light, wherein the driver further comprises: a driving signal generator configured to generate a driving signal; a driving unit configured to receive the driving signal from the driving signal generator, the driving unit being also configured to apply the pulse driving current to the light emitting element based on the driving signal; a preliminary signal generator configured to generate a preliminary driving signal; and a preliminary driving unit configured to receive the preliminary driving signal from the preliminary signal generator, the preliminary driving unit being also configured to apply the preliminary driving current to the light emitting element based on the preliminary driving signal.