A light source is disclosed. The light source has a light-emitting chip
that includes an LED that generates light in an active region thereof.
The LED emits a light signal in a forward direction, and infrared
radiation generated in the active region is emitted in a side direction
in the form of a first infrared signal. The first light signal is
determined by a first drive signal coupled to the LED. The light source
also includes an infrared detector positioned to collect a portion of the
infrared signal. The infrared detector generates a heat signal indicative
of the amount of infrared radiation detected. A controller generates the
drive signal so as to maintain the heat signal at a first target value.
In light sources having LEDs that emit in different spectral ranges, the
infrared detectors can all detect heat in the same spectral range.