Toshiba 350 User Manual

Page of 302
e-STUDIO350/352/353/450/452/453
LASER OPTICAL UNIT
8
8 - 7
© 2003 - 2008 TOSHIBA TEC CORPORATION All rights reserved
Fig. 8-302 shows a block diagram of the semiconductive laser control circuit. The semiconductive la-
ser performs monitor efficiency regulation (a process to control monitor current for the light amount),
and laser itself is adjusted to initial output emission of approx. 2.11 mW (approx. 421 µW on the drum
surface). The regulated voltage of the monitor output is fed back to the laser power comparison cir-
cuit. This monitor output voltage is compared with the laser power voltage set for the control circuit for
every scanning. Laser driver circuit increases the forward current if the laser power is insufficient, and
decreases the current when the power is excessive to maintain a constant optical output.
8.3   Laser Diode
The laser used in this equipment is a AlGaAs type semiconductive laser. It is generated in the single-
horizontal mode, and its wavelength is approx. 785 nm. This semiconductive laser outputs 5mW with
standard  DC  power  supply.  Laser  intensity  is  controlled  by  using  the  output  from  the  PIN  diode  for
monitoring light output in the semiconductive laser.
Fig. 8-302
Fig. 8-301
Threshold current
Forward current
Montor current
Current (mA)
O
pt
c
al
 O
ut
pu
( m
W
)
Low temp.
Hgh temp.
Regulaton
The relation between the current and optical output
of  the  semiconductive  laser  is  as  shown  at  right.
Light  emission  is  started  when  the  forward  cur-
rent reaches or becomes larger than the threshold
current  and  outputs  the  monitor  current  which  is
proportionate  to  the  optical  output. The  threshold
current  and  monitor  current  differs  depending  on
each semiconductive laser. So optical output has
to be adjusted to maintain a constant value.
Since  the  optical  output  of  the  semiconductive
laser is decreased as the temperature of the la-
ser rises, APC control needs to be performed to
maintain a constant optical output.
Montor output
Montor eff-
cency regula-
ton crcut
Laser power
comparson
crcut
Laser drver
crcut
Semconductve laser
Constant
optcal output
Power source