Timeline for answer to How can I make a regular laser diode pulse in the nanosecond range? by Sam
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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| Jul 3, 2025 at 23:46 | comment | added | Sam | @LandonThong I cannot deny that SMD components are a bit more fiddly to work with, but when you're trying to switch several watts at nanosecond speeds, it's really hard (but not impossible) to avoid the use of SMD components, through-hole parts just tend to have more parasitic inductance which slows rise and fall times (among other problems). The circuit above should drive any small laser pretty fast (just need to change Ri for whatever the new laser's operating current is) | |
| Jul 2, 2025 at 19:28 | comment | added | Landon Thong | While the suggestion to use a LIDAR source is interesting, I took a peek at what you linked and I have honestly no clue on how I would wire that thing to a circuit. I'd love to know if this circuit would be compatible with the new spec sheet I linked in my edited post! | |
| Jun 28, 2025 at 21:56 | comment | added | Russell McMahon♦ | You may wish to extendthe red line from Cap 0V to diode 0V. That's obvious when it's obvious but may not be to some. | |
| Jun 28, 2025 at 16:46 | comment | added | llama | Oop sorry realised too late to edit my comment - you're talking about LIDAR sources, not the diode OP was looking at, in which case those current values are probably sensible (I have no personal experience with LIDAR sources) | |
| Jun 28, 2025 at 16:32 | comment | added | llama | I think a couple of amps of peak laser current is going to fry almost all laser diodes in very short order. Even 50 mA might be too much for a <5 mW diode. Looking at the specs for 10 mW L850P010 from thorlabs (thorlabs.com/drawings/…), the operating current is at most 35 mA. You can't really do the $$P_\rm{Peak} >> P_\rm{Avg}$$ low duty cycle trick with laser diodes because the active area is so small, even a very short overcurrent event kills them. | |
| Jun 28, 2025 at 1:26 | history | answered | Sam | CC BY-SA 4.0 |