Automatic power controller

摘要

An automatic power controller includes a photo detector for detecting the output power of the laser light source and generating a detection signal, a comparator for comparing the detection signal with a reference signal and outputting a comparison signal, a signal source for providing the reference signal with different voltages representing different output power levels of the laser light source to be set, and a gain-adjustable amplifier for receiving the comparison signal and generating an output signal. The gain of the gain-adjustable amplifier is adjusted so that the voltage difference between the steady-state voltage of the comparison signal and the voltage of the reference signal is kept substantially unchanged regardless of the output power of the laser light source, the occurrence of charging/discharging the capacitor in the comparator is reduced. Therefore the automatic power controller can rapidly reach its new steady state while changing the laser output power.