High-Speed LED Driver for ns-Pulse Switching of High-Current LEDs

This letter analyzes the intrinsic optical switching response of state-of-the-art high power, multiquantum wells, thin-film, and surface-textured infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs). For the switching time response of such devices, the theoretical basics are presented and their predictions are experimentally verified. In the second part of this letter, a novel, fast switching LED driving circuit is presented which enables nanosecond-pulse operation. The circuit reduces significantly the optical rise and fall time of LEDs from 10/15 ns, respectively, down to 2.6 ns at 2-A pulse current without compromising the peak output power.