Laser driver designs to reduce or eliminate fault laser firing

Laser driver designs that aim to reduce or eliminate the problem of fault laser firing are disclosed. Various laser driver designs presented herein are based on providing a current dissipation path that is configured to start providing a resistance for dissipating at least a portion, but preferably substantially all, of the negative current from the laser diode. Dissipating at least a portion of the negative current may decrease the unintentional increase of the voltage at the input to the laser diode and, therefore, reduce the likelihood that fault laser firing will occur. A control logic may be used to control the timing of when the current dissipation path is activated (i.e., provides the resistance to dissipate the negative current from the laser diode) and when it is deactivated.