QUASI-RESONANT DIODE DRIVE CURRENT SOURCE

摘要

A quasi-resonant diode drive current source provides high power pulsed current that drives light emitting diodes, and the like. The pulsed output current of the quasi-resonant diode drive current source is sensed, and is regulated by a control loop to a level required by the light emitting diodes. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a zero-current-switched full wave quasi-resonant buck converter is described that provides a high amplitude pulsed output current required to drive light emitting pump diodes used in a solid state diode pumped laser. The use of a quasi-resonant converter as a pulsed current source provides a much higher conversion efficiency than conventional laser current sources. This higher efficiency results in less input power drawn from a power source and cooler operation, resulting in a higher reliability current source.