Analysis and Design of the High-power Laser Diode Drive circuit Based on MAX797

Manli LI, Huiying XU* Department of Electronic Engineering, Room 508, Research Building 2, Haiyun Campus, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R.China,361005
ABSTRACT
According to the principle of the laser diode (LD) power supply, this paper uses the chip-MAX797 as a stabilized drivencurrent source to design the circuit. And the output current of the source can reach 4 A, its output voltage can be adjustable between 2.5V and 6V. The efficiency of the drive circuit is up to 96%, and the shutdown current is only 1 A . Then make the necessary analysis about the design of the circuit. The whole circuit diagram is made up of three parts which there are an invariable driven-current source, a programmable soft-start circuit and a protection circuit of the over current and the restrained ripple. The adapter supplies the input voltage which is between 4.5V and 30V. And it adds a resistance to limit the current of the LD at last. The theory of this circuits design is simple, and the function is as much as the conventional, but its size is smaller than the conventional driven-current source. Then summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the soft-start circuit between this paper and the traditional, and corresponding to analysis of the components selecting, it used the preferred components in the design of the circuit. Finally, there is a summary and expectation in high-power laser diode power supply design in the future. Keywords: MAX797, high-power LD drive circuit, soft-start, over current protection circuit

1. INTRODUCTION
The semiconductor LD is used in the electronic-transition, which is caused by the photon-excited and the oscillator and a generic term for the optical amplifiers. Laser diode is a small size, light weight, high reliability, single-chip integrated features and it is used in optical fiber communications widely, medical, optical discs, laser printers, and so on[1]. As the vulnerability of the PN junction in the semiconductor lasers, the design requirements of the drive circuit are higher than the general drive circuit. The surge which is caused by the ambient conditions will damage the semiconductor LD. So when the circuit is designed, it must avoid the surge. For example, the power is turned on or turned off in the same electrical power grid etc.
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Fig.1 The diagram of the high-power semiconductor LD power supply.

*huiyingxu@126.com; Tel: 0592-5342380

2008 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Optical Systems and Optoelectronic Instruments edited by Yunlong Sheng, Yongtian Wang, Lijiang Zeng, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7156, 71562U 2009 SPIE CCC code: 0277-786X/09/$18 doi: 10.1117/12.811350 Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7156 71562U-1

There are the main characteristics of the linear V/I regulator circuit and the switching regulator circuit as follows: The linear V/I regulator circuit: high- stability of the output voltage, the small ripple voltage, bulky, fast response, circuit simple, the high of the transistors power consumption, and the power conversion efficiency is low etc. The switching regulator circuit: the transistor is working on the in the switch state; and low power consumption; high power conversion efficiency; small size, light weight; possible to omit the power transformer, but the ripple of the output voltage isnt well. Switching the laser power advantages: (1) it is conducive to the miniaturization size; (2) use of switching power supply technology can improve the output capacity of laser power and reliability; (3) saving power, because the light Power conversion efficiency of the laser is relatively low[1]. The LD works continuously which is driven by the DC, and the output of the optical power is also very sensitive to the drive current. The specialized feedback and offset technology are used to preserve the proper working condition. In this paper, according to the traditional switching power supply and the laser supply technology, it uses MAX797 as a stabilized supply source to design a high-power semiconductor LD driven power supply. Then, it analyses the stability of its output current, the protection circuit and the soft start circuit, which there are some advantages and disadvantages. The status of semiconductor LD power supply in China as following, it controls the power supply with the different of the current and temperature. The analog technologies achieve the stability of the output current, and also the implementation procedures of digital technology (such as MCU, DSP, etc.) can control the stability of output current[5]. While the developed technology in semiconductor LD power supply is superior to domestic in Germany, the United States, Britain and Japan which arrive at a high developing level[3]. The laser can work stably, because the drive power supply must include a form of feedback, that is, optical power feedback or current feedback. And this chip takes the current negative feedback. And the current feedback is automatic adjustment. The theory of the stabilized current source comes from the current feedback[3]. Figure 1 shows the diagram of semiconductor LD power supply.

2. THE STABILIZED DRIVE CIRCUIT

2.1 Introduce MAX797 in the power supply MAX797 is a PWM DC / DC converter with a reverse mode, and it is a voltage regulator with the high efficiency and the synchronous rectifier circuit. The main circuitry of the driven-current produces a precise output voltage which is adjustable and an output current which is stable, and the performance of the chip is reliable. The maximum value of the output current can reach 10 A. The efficiency of this circuitry can arrive as high as 96%, but the efficiency of the general linear regulators power supply only reach between 30% and 60%[3]. With the performance of the soft-start, the limit current circuit, and the synchronal rectifier filter circuit, it is much convenient to design the driven-circuit. The value of the LD drive-current is controlled through the testing current and the controlling soft-switch. Since the chip has the excellent performance, it can be used in the higher requirements of the occasion, such as the highpower laser diode driven-current in this paper. Change the external conformation of the chips circuit to choose the appropriate value of the output voltage and the output current. It can preset 3.3 V and 5V outputs, and it can also be adjustable between 2.5 V to 6V output. The output voltage in this paper is adjustable. The output currents can be 1 A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 10A. These values of the current can meet the needs of the general high-power supply, and it isnt necessary to add another amplification current circuit. In addition, if the external circuit changes, the output voltage can be changed lower than 2.5 V, and it can also be higher than 6 V. For the details, refer to the MAX797 manual[9]. The input voltage is supplied by an adapter, and the range is between 4.5V and 30V. So the laser can work continuously, and when it works the circuit can reduce the noises and enhance the anti-interference capability of the power supply. The traditional power source is constituted by the transistors or some voltage regulators, the stability of the current is quite poor, especially the stability of the temperature. And the quiescent current is about 375 A in this paper, and the shutdown current is smaller, about 1 A . The functions of chips pins and the parameters of the components are in the reference[9-11]. More about the introduction of the chips details, please refer to the information in the datasheet of the MAX797.

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The value of the output current is 4 A in this paper, and the output voltage is adjustable between 2.5V and 6V. Figure 2 shows the schematic diagram of the stable current supply circuit in this paper, it is based on MAX797 for the control of the core driven-current circuit. 2.2 Analysis of the main circuit As mentioned above, the input DC voltage is provided by the adapter. The input and output capacitors play the role of filtering. The MOSFET Q1 is a synchronous switch, and the MOSFET Q2 is the synchronous rectifier. The synchronous rectifier Q2 and the rectifier diode D1 work together in the continuous conduction mode. The signal diode D2 is boostsupply. The current-limit circuit turns off the high-side MOSFET switch when the voltage different between the currentsense inputs CSH and CSL. For the high-current, 10A, it must be useful to wire the current-sense inputs with a twisted pair, but it isnt necessary in this paper. The circuitry is working in the low noise mode in this paper. And the pin SKIP is tied to GND in order to minimize the quiescent supply current. And it can reduce the power consumption and the noise of the chip, so it can improve the efficiency of the circuit. The shutdown pin SHDN connects V+ for automatic start-up. The internal regulator (VL) produces the +5V supply with the low current only 5mA for the external loads. The reference (REF) voltage 2.505V is accurate to 1.6% over temperature, and supply up to 1mA for external loads. And it is used in the over-current protection circuit. There is a capacitor bypass the VL and the REF. Because of the performance, the driven-current circuit can work stably, and the laser diode can also work normally.

5V OUTPUT INPUT
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01 Li

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DI
4

12

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15

Dl

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13

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CSH

Cs'
EF ONDSYNC FP

Fig.2 Stable power-supply based on MAX797

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2.3 The principle of the chips stability The principle of the chips step-down stability is a series-wound step-down switching power supply. Q1 is the step-down control of the power switch, and the high-power MOSFET. And it has a higher power and the breakdown current than the transistor (see from the model parameters). Q1, rectifier diode D2, and the inductor constitute a buck-switching power supply of the main circuit. Its concrete status can see the reference books about soft-switching [2-3]. Q2 is the synchronous rectifier driver. Synchronous rectification reduces conduction losses in the rectifier by shunting the normal Schottky diode with a low-resistance MOSFET switch. The synchronous rectifier also ensures proper start-up of the boost-gate driver circuit. The pin 7 is adjustable output feedback. Adjusting the main output voltage Vout with external resistors R2 is easy for any of the devices in the MAX797 family via the circuit of the Figure 2. To achieve a 2.505V nominal output, simply connect FB to CSL directly. The normal values for the rheostat R2 range from 5 k to 100 k [9].

Vout = Vref (1 +

r ) r'

(1)

Where r + r ' = R2 , and Vref = 2.505V(NORMAL). To achieve the output voltage Vout between 2.5V to 6V, just adjust the resistor R2, and the main output current is stable. And also change the external circuit to achieve the output voltages lower than 2.5V or higher than 6V. Of course, the main output current can achieve 10A when the circuit of the external components is different, then the tolerance of the components is higher. And it need consider the temperature tolerance, or the limit of the breakdown current, and so on. With its own internal feedback, substitute the traditional amplifier of the power supply to amplify the external current. 2.4 The choice of the main components The input capacitors include C1, C2, C3, C4 and C11. The capacitor C11 is a small ceramic capacitor, only 0.1 F . And other electrolytic capacitors are input filter capacitors according to input current requirements and voltage. The output filter capacitors C6, C7, C8 are generally determined by effective series resistance and voltage rating requirements. The inductor L1s value which is decided according to the output current, the output voltage, the input voltages min value and the max value, the ratio of AC to DC inductor current is typically 0.3. The current sense resistor R1s value is calculated according to the worst-case-low current-limit threshold voltage and the peak inductor current[9], and it is usually only a few dozen m . And the value varies with the different output current. The two high-current N-channel MOSFETs are logic-level types with on-resistance specifications. The synchronous rectifier Q2, can place a small-signal MOSFET instead of the synchronous power for the cost. The rectifier diode D1 is a Schottky type in order to prevent the loss parasitic MOSFET body diode from conducting. Use a 1N5822 type for loads up to 10A. The signal diode D2 can choose the type 1N4148, and it will work well in the circuit. And cant use large power diodes, since high junction capacitance can cause VL to be pumped up to excessive voltages[9].

3. THE SOFT-START CIRCUIT

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As above, the soft-start circuit can restrict the surge that is produced by the ambient. Because the laser diode is a sensitive component, the driven-circuit cant be added before the laser diode. And the design of the soft-start circuit is necessary. The soft-start circuit allows a gradual increase of the internal current-limit level at start-up for purpose of reducing input surge currents, and perhaps for power-supply sequencing[7-8]. There is a soft-start circuit in the chip MAX797 to prevent the surge when the switch turns on or off, but it cant consider the state which the laser diode is working and the surge comes from the ambient, such as turn on or turn off the light with the same power grid suddenly. The soft-start circuit holds the SS capacitor C9 in the figure 2. The semiconductor laser diode can work normally since the soft-start circuit is designed, and the surge is prevented. Here uses the insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) instead of the transistor (GTR) in the traditional circuit, the advantages are following: integrated the power MOSFET and high-power transistors (GTR), the high input impedance, the control simple circuit, switch faster and better thermal stability and so on. Because of these advantages, so choose the IGBT in this circuit. The IGBT will improve the reliability of laser power, but also reduce the size and weight of the power. So it is a component in the application of the power device widely[6]. But there are also some shortcomings, the IGBT will be produced a surge because the switch turns on or off, it must be used the buffer circuit to prevent damaging the device. So it is better to use IGBT to instead of the GTR in the soft-start circuit. Figure 3 shows the soft-start circuit. The input connects the DC voltage of the current source, and the right is the output, providing work voltage and current for the semiconductor LD. The structure of the whole circuit is composed of the twoLC-filter and an IGBT, through the principle of RC charge and discharge to achieve soft-start. Q3 and R3, C14, C15 is formed of the main circuit. The value of R3, C14 and C15 determines the time of the soft-start. The circuit with two LC filters replaces the filters, because the filter is suitable for the small current load, but the current is big in this paper, so using the LC filter instead of the filter. At the same time it can eliminate the burr by R2 in Figure 2. Of course, the soft-start circuit can be controlled by the MCU, DSP or other hardware. And it can achieve very good results, and good stability, but the price of the devices is more expensive, and the design of the circuit is more complex than the circuit in Figure 3.

L3

C17

Fig. 3 The soft-start circuit

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4. OVER-CURRENT PROTECTION
The soft-start circuit can only eliminate the impact in the high frequency current circuit, but it do not take to prevent the impact in the low-frequency current circuit and the DC circuit, so it is necessary to design a protection circuit to keep the laser diode working normally. If the current of the power output goes over the rated load or short-circuit, it will damage the semiconductor LD, so design an over current protection circuit.

Vref

R4

M3
B

Fig 4 The over-current protection circuit

Fig.4 shows the over current protection circuit. The input voltage of this circuit, Vin , is the output voltage of the soft-start circuit. The MOSEF M1, M2, the operation amplifier A, sampling resistance R6 and the transistor Q constitute the over current protection circuit. When the whole circuit works normally, the value of B(VB) is less than Vref. And the output of the operation amplifier is positive, and M1 is cut off, so the voltage of M2s grid deserves the Vin. With the output current increasing, when VB is higher than Vref, and the output of the operation amplifier is negative, M1 turns on. At this time, the voltage of M2s grid is raised, so the over current is protected[10]. Comparing with the traditional over-current protection circuit, the efficiency of the conversion increased greatly in Figure 4. The resistance R6 and the MOSEF M2 arent series, so there is no loss of the output voltage, and the output current can be limited in the appropriate and narrow range. It is the advantage of the over-current protection circuit in this paper. So it plays the important role of protecting the semiconductor LD. At the time of closure it can also be taken to protect the laser diode working normally. Over-voltage protection depends on the accuracy of the main regulator diode in Fig.2. And its work point is varied with the currents change when the regulator and the environments temperature changes. This chip comes with a limited flowing circuit, which it has brought the great convenience to the designer. The stability of the linear power supply voltage can be very well, and the ripple is also very small, but if the output power is quite high, the efficiency has been a very important technical index. And the efficiency of the power switching

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supply is high, but its ripple relatively large. So the soft-start circuit and the over-current circuit can also limit the ripple when the laser diode is working normally.

5. CONCLUSION
In this paper the power supply of high-power semiconductor LD uses the chip MAX797 which is integrated multiple functions. The standard application circuit of the MAX797 refers to in the reference[11-12]. The circuit in this paper is based on it, and improved. And with its external circuit and its DC input, the output voltage can be adjustable and the stability of the output current is quite well. The main advantage of using this chip is that the size of the power supply is small and the weight is very light, the power conversion efficiency and the reliability are high, but other functions are as much as the general current source. With the soft-start circuit and the over-current protection circuit, the working LD wont damage when the external power supply doesnt work suddenly, because the output voltage cant arrive at the dangerous level. The temperature tolerance of the chip is between -40 C and 80 C [9], so the chip can work normally, and the semiconductor LD can also work normally at the room temperature. The power supply of the high-power semiconductor LD which is controlled by DSP will be designed in the coming year in our lab, and there are more control circuits which will be considered, such as the circuit of the controlling the temperature, and the choice of the components. The output current will arrive at 10A and the output voltage will also be adjustable, the stability and the reliability of the power supply will be well. The power of the driven-current will be higher. At the same time, the size and the weight of the driven-current circuit will be considered in the future.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was supported by the key project of Fujian Province Science & Technology Foundation(2004 HZ 01-1-3) and Fund of National Engeering Research center for Opto- electronic Crystalline Materials (2005 DC 105003).

REFERENCES
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(SO) Boerkefu (. . ), (SO) Baku even Ko (. . ), N G. Sun, S G. Wang Translation, [The power of laser], Science Press, Beijing, (1980). Z F. Wang, C. Li, Y M. Wei, The application and principles of the soft switching power supply, Electronic Industry Press, Beijing, (2006). G Z. Liang, Z L. Liang, [The laser power circuit], Ordnance Press, Beijing, (1995). C L. Song, Laser diode driver and modulation, Harbin institute of Technology June, Harbin, (2006). Q J. Zhang, X. Zhu, P. Ding, Design of DSP Based Laser Diodes Power System, IT Age Oct.15,34-38(2005) [ Semiconductor Laser Basic], Zhou Nan Sheng Translation, Science Press, Beijing (2002) X L. Wang, W C. Huang, Design of a driving source for high power semiconductor laser diode Journal of Optoelectronics Laser,Vol.17 Supply, (2006). H T. MAO,Y H. Yong, J L. Zhang, W. Feng, X L. Xiu, A Design of the Driving Source for Semiconductor, LaserNIU Jin-xing, LI Fang-zheng LOURNAL OF XINXIANG TEACHERS COLLEGE, Vol.19,No.5 Sep.2123(2005) MAX796/MAX797/MAX799 Data Sheet. Revision 3a (11/97) Maximum lntegrated Products N. N. Zhang , Q. Liang , [Design of a Novel Over-Current Protection Circuit], China Intergrated Circuit.5 69-71 (2007)

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[11] [12]

D Y HU, Q S. HU, the Application Circuit of PWM Step-down Controller MAX797 , Semiconductor Technology Vol.26 No.7, 41-44(2001) T .Hang, Microcontroller Dedicated Power Converter MAX796/MAX797/MAX799, IC Application,Vo.1 ,1318(1999)

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