LASER DIODE DRIVER, DIRECT LIGHT AMPLIFICATION DEVICE, LIGHT SIGNAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND LASER DIODE DRIVING METHOD

摘要

In order to prevent the overall excitation laser diode intensity from changing when any of a plurality of in-use excitation laser diodes is switched to a spare excitation laser diode, the present invention provides a laser diode driver which is provided with a driving means which, in response to the output state of a plurality of laser diodes connected in series between two power sources, controls the driving of a prescribed laser diode. The driving means includes a current control means taking as an input a signal corresponding to the output of an individual laser diode and controlling the current supplied to the individual laser diode in response to the input signal, a current path control means for controlling the current control means in response to the input signal, and a laser diode control means for controlling the current supplied between the power sources in response to the input signal.