Patent ID: 7873087

Claim:
A light source comprising: a laser oscillator; a starting drive current storage device for storing a predetermined starting drive current value for said laser oscillator; and circuitry for controlling said laser oscillator to initiate so as to emit a light at a first start time with a drive current at the predetermined starting drive current value stored in the starting drive current storing device, and thereafter performing constant light output control of said laser oscillator by adjusting the drive current such that the laser oscillator emits light at a constant light output until un-lighting of said laser oscillator, and thereafter controlling said laser oscillator to initiate so as to emit a light at any subsequent start time after the first start time with a drive current at the same predetermined starting drive current value stored in the starting drive current storing device and used for the light emission at the first start time, and thereafter performing constant light output control of said laser oscillator by adjusting the drive current such that the laser oscillator emits light at a constant light output until un-lighting of said laser oscillator.