Slope efficiency measurement apparatus for a laser device and method therefor

摘要

Known techniques to measure the slope efficiency of a laser diode involve making a temporary adjustment to a modulation current applied to the laser diode and measuring a corresponding change in the average output power of the laser diode. However, such techniques require the adjustment to the modulation current to be small in order to avoid impairment of transmission of data by the laser diode. The present invention provides an optical attenuator (122) opposite an output of a laser diode (102) in order to maintain the average power of the light emitted by the laser diode (102) within acceptable operating limits, thereby avoiding impairment of transmission of data. <IMAGE>