2 – 6
Getting Started
2.2
Operating the TEC controller
On the front panel, the “TEC Control” block has five buttons (see
Figure 2.5).
Figure 2.5: The TEC Control block.
With the TEC o
ff
, press the [Temp
/
Current] button to toggle between
CT and CC modes. In CT mode (constant temperature), the TEC
controller will measure the temperature of the stage, and delivers
the proper current to the TEC module to servo the temperature to
a constant value. In CC mode (constant current), the controller de-
livers a constant current to the TEC module, independent of the
temperature reading.
Assuming you have a laser stage with a TEC module and temperature
sensor, select CT mode.
2.2.1
Sensor configuration
Press the [Config] button to navigate to the TEC configuration menu
tree.
•
Press the [ ] button (beside the 2-line text display) repeatedly
to reach the top of the menu tree.
•
Choose the appropriate temperature sensor type, from the list:
NTC 10
μ
A, NTC 100
μ
A, NTC 1mA, NTC auto (automatic exci-
tation current), RTD, LM335, or AD590. For now, we’ll assume
a 10 k
Ω
NTC thermistor sensor. Press [3] (or wheel to the value
3) followed by the [Enter] button.
•
Press [ ] to choose the sensor calibration model. For NTC ther-
mistors, the choices are:
β
-model, Steinhart-Hart model, or
LDC500 Series Laser Diode Controllers
