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WARNING
It is possible when using this device to output a full power static beam. Precautions must be made to ensure the output is
adequately terminated to ensure injury or fire does not occur. Always use suitable laser eye protection when working on a
laser projector and ensure that no other humans or animals can become exposed to the laser beam. It is advised that
before starting one should make sure that the laser projector output is terminated to a suitable screen or surface that is
capable of absorbing the laser energy without adverse effects.
Note: To prevent damage to the scanners of the laser projector always connect, disconnect and power up the ILDA Gem
with the laser projector power off. Once connected as described below the laser projector can be powered.
ILDA Gem in use
To use the ILDA Gem, simply connect the ILDA output connector to a laser projector using a standard ILDA lead (25-way
M-F). By removing the nuts on the output connector it may be possible to connect the ILDA Gem directly to the laser
projector ILDA input negating the use of a cable (this will be dependant on the position of the ILDA input connector of the
projector). It is recommended to start with all the slide switches set to the variable output position (toward ILDA input
connector) and the pots turned to minimum. Connect the power adaptor cable to the ILDA input connector and put the
USB connection into a USB port on a computer or if you have an optional mains adaptor you can fit the USB lead into
this. Any USB power source with a standard USB socket will provide a power source for the ILDA Gem.
Power up the laser projector and increase the level of one or more of the pots until you see an output from the projector
which will be in the form of a quadrature square test pattern (see image below left).
To use an ILDA signal from a laser controller such as QM2000, turn the laser projector off and remove the ILDA Gem
power adaptor cable. Then connect the laser hardware to the ILDA Gem ILDA input connector using a standard ILDA
lead and start the projector. When laser output is enabled the 5V or variable level output controls will act as before but the
scanners will output the X/Y content sent from the controller. This output will appear with blanked lines visible as in the
image above right.
Note: when using with and ILDA signal if the slide switches are set for 5V and the scan size is reduced to zero in software
then a full power static beam can be produced. Take care to terminate this beam or injury or fire could result.
Using the UD (user defined) signal lines
The user defined signal lines (as defined by ILDA standard) can be used if required. Each or the lines has a set of 3
solder pads associated with it and each of these allows the user to connect one colour output (as provided by the slide
switches) to one UD line. Simply join the pair of pads required with a small blob of solder as shown below right – Note the
correct way of using these pads with only one pair in each group used at any time. If you choose to join UD1 with the red
channel then anything that is output to the red modulation line will be output to UD1 as well.
What you get in the package – Ilda Gem and 2.5m USB
power lead
Image left shows graphic with blanked lines.
Image right shows normal view without blanked lines
To output full 5V to any one of the
modulation signals change the slide
switch position so that it is towards the
Ilda output connector and that line will
go to full power.
Please note the warning at the top of
this page about output of a high power
beam when 5V output is used.
