Patent ID: 7158551

Claim:
A driver circuit for driving a semiconductor laser in accordance with a data signal including data generated in bursts, comprising: first bias current supply means for generating, at least at a time of non-output of data, a first bias current for driving the semiconductor laser in a predetermined area within a spontaneous emission area, to supply the first bias current to the semiconductor laser; signal processing means for generating a pulse current control signal in which the data signal is delayed, using only the data signal, and generating a second bias current control signal that rises more rapidly by a predetermined time than the rise of the burst data included in the pulse current control signal; pulse current supply means for generating a pulse current in accordance with the pulse current control signal generated in said signal processing means, to supply the pulse current to the semiconductor laser; and second bias current supply means for generating a second bias current for driving the semiconductor laser in a predetermined area within the spontaneous emission area in accordance with the second bias current control signal generated in said signal processing means, to supply the second bias current to the semiconductor laser.