US Patent 8204091 Wavelength normalization in phase section of semiconductor lasers

Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to semiconductor lasers and laser projections systems and, more particularly, to schemes for controlling semiconductor lasers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a laser having a gain section, a phase section and a wavelength selective section is configured for optical emission of encoded data. The optical emission is shifted across a plurality of laser cavity modes by applying a quasi-periodic phase shifting signal I/VΦ to the phase section of the semiconductor laser. The amplitude of the quasi-periodic signal transitions periodically between a maximum drive level and a minimum drive level at a frequency that varies randomly over time.