Patent ID: 8787415

Claim:
A method of operating a laser diode driver comprising: producing a bias current comprising a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a duty cycle that is less than 100%, the PWM signal having a current level that is less than a threshold current for turning on a laser diode; applying the bias current to the laser diode, whereby the laser diode remains dark when being driven by the bias current; producing a main drive current; and applying the main drive current to the laser diode, wherein the sum of the current level of the bias current and a current level of the main drive current exceeds the threshold current for turning on the laser diode, wherein producing the main drive current includes receiving a trigger signal, and in response to receiving the trigger signal, producing a current pulse, and wherein the current pulse is narrower than a first pulse of the bias current and has a falling edge that coincides with a falling edge of the first pulse of the bias current.