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AD9661A
REV. 0
–5–
T HE ORY OF OPE RAT ION
T he AD9661A combines a very fast output current switch with
an onboard analog light power control loop to provide the user
with a complete laser diode driver solution. T he block diagram
illustrates the key internal functions. T he control loop of the
AD9661A adjusts the output current level, I
OUT
, so that the
photo diode feedback current, I
MONIT OR
, into SENSE IN is pro-
portional to the analog input voltage at POWER LEVEL. Since
the monitor current is proportional to the laser diode light
power, the loop effectively controls laser power to a level pro-
portional to the analog input. T he control loop should be peri-
odically calibrated (see Choosing C
HOLD
).
T he disable circuit turns off I
OUT
and returns the hold capacitor
voltages to their minimum levels (minimum output current)
when DISABLE = logic HIGH. It is used during initial power
up of the AD9661A or during time periods where the laser is
inactive. When the AD9661A is re-enabled the control loop
must be recalibrated.
Normal operation of the AD9661A involves the following (in
order, see Figure 1):
1. T he AD9661A is enabled (DISABLE = logic LOW).
2. T he input voltage (POWER LEVEL) is driven to the
appropriate level to set the calibrated laser diode output
power level.
3. T he feedback loop is closed for calibration (
CAL
= logic
LOW, and PULSE = logic HIGH), and then opened (
CAL
= logic HIGH).
4. While the feedback loop is open, the laser is pulsed on and
off by PULSE.
5. T he feedback loop is periodically recalibrated as needed.
6. T he AD9661A is disabled when the laser will not be pulsed
for an indefinite period of time.
Control Loop T ransfer Function
T he relationship between I
MONIT OR
and V
POWER LEVEL
is
I
MONITOR
=
V
POWER LEVEL
±
V
REF
(
R
GAIN
+
50
)
once the loop is calibrated. When the loop is open (
CAL
= logic
HIGH), the output current, I
OUT
, is proportional to the held
voltage at HOL D; the external hold capacitor on this pin
determines the droop error in the output current between
calibrations.
T he sections below discuss choosing the external components in
the feedback loop for a particular application.
Choosing R
GAIN
T he gain resistor, R
GAIN
, allows the user to match the feedback
loop’s transfer function to the laser diode/photo diode
combination.
T he user should define the maximum laser diode output power
for the intended application, P
LD MAX
, and the corresponding
photo diode monitor current, I
MONIT OR MAX
. A typical laser
diode transfer function is illustrated below. R
GAIN
should be
chosen as:
1.6
V
I
MONITOR MAX
R
GAIN
=
±50
4
3
0
2
0
120
20
40
60
80
100
O
CONSTANT WRITE POWER
0
°
C CASE
°
C
25
50
°
C CASE
I
OUT
FORWARD CURRENT – mA
Figure 2. Laser Diode Current-to-Optical Power Curve
POWER-UP
OR LASER
NOT IN USE
CAL
TIME
RECALIBRATE
LASER POWER
MODULATED
DISABLE
CAL
PULSE
LASER
OUTPUT POWER
CALIBRATED LEVEL
HOLD TIME
Figure 1. Normal Operating Mode