The present invention is to provide a control algorithm of a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) for a laser diode (LD) where a rush current accompanied with the stepwise change of the target temperature of the TEC. First, the controller stops the TEC driver prior to the setting of the target temperature, and sets the present temperature of the LD. Subsequently, the controller gradually increases the reference temperature of the TEC in stepwise to the target temperature. Thus, the controller suppresses the rush current accompanied with the instantaneous increase of the reference temperature of the TEC.