An integrated circuit for multiplexing and driving injection lasers

A monolithic silicon integrated circuit has been designed to provide feedback-stabilized biasing and high-speed modulation for semiconductor injection lasers. The circuit is capable of selectings and controlling any one of a group of four lasers, and in the event of laser darkening, it automatically switches to a replacement laser. The laser driver consists of a high-speed modulator and a feedback loop that incorporates the selected laser and an external backlight photodetector. The feedback controls the bias current of the laser so as to stabilize its light output against variations due to aging, replacement, or environmental changes. The feedback loop itself is compensated to allow arbitrary variation in the duty cycle or frequency of the modulation signal. Prototypes of the laser driver have been integrated in a junction-isolated bipolar technology. The integrated circuit is capable of supplying bias currents of 500 mA and modulation currents as high as 100 mA. At lower currents, modulation rates in excess of 100 Mbits/s have been achieved.