Patent ID: 7864827

Claim:
A single ended laser driving circuit system, comprising: a thin oxide gate switched by a data signal, the thin oxide gate configured to output a switching signal; a thick oxide current source configured to generate a bias current and a modulation current at a laser operating voltage, the modulation current based upon the switching signal, the thick oxide current source further configured to provide the bias current to the laser; wherein the laser is configured to operate at the laser operating voltage based upon the modulation current and the bias current; wherein the thin oxide gate is coupled to a ground and is configured to activate the laser by causing current supplied by the thick oxide current source to flow through the laser and to the ground when the data signal indicates that the laser should be activated; wherein the thin oxide gate further comprises a first at least one n-channel field effect transistor and the thick oxide current source further comprises a second at least one n-channel field effect transistor having an oxide thickness greater than the first at least one n-channel field effect transistor; and wherein the thick oxide current source further comprises a current mirror circuit configured to step up a switching voltage of the switching signal, wherein the laser operating voltage is greater than the switching voltage, the current mirror circuit further configured to provide a modulation current and a bias current to the laser.