A system contains a laser output measurement circuit used in a laser
control system (210). The circuits contain a photodiode sensor (109),
sample and hold amplifier (202), IC with synchronizer and delay circuits
(206), and an analog to digital converter (204). The circuits measure the
laser light output (107) while the laser Module (106) transmits signals.
The measurement circuit tracks and stores the laser light output (107)
signal using a Photodiode Sensor (109) and with a Sample/hold (202). The
methods calculate the value of the laser light output (107) from
mathematical relationships, which correlate the light output (107) of the
laser Module (106) to the current value of the drive signal (100). Some
of the distinguishing features in the present invention are 1) feedback
information from the photodiode is obtained in a synchronous manner as a
snapshot of the laser performance, and 2) the measurements are precise
and calibrated, and 3) no disruption of the signal transmission occurs.