Patent ID: 6901094

Claim:
A method for deriving a target operating point for a laser unit having a laser mode selection and being adapted to provide a laser signal in accordance to a laser control parameter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a plurality of pairs of values for the laser control parameter and a laser operation parameter indicative of the laser unit's operation to provide the laser signal, and (b) deriving the target operating point from the determined pairs of values in conjunction with a model and a selection criterion for selecting the target operating point, wherein the model represents an assumed relationship between the laser control parameter and the laser operation parameter, wherein the step b comprises the steps of: approximating a curve for the relationship between the laser control parameter and the laser operation parameter based on the determined pairs of values in conjunction with the model, limiting the curve on at least one side having a defined boundary in a range where mode hopping is likely, and selecting the target operating point on the approximated curve based on the selection criterion.