Thorlabs.com - 4-Channel Fiber-Coupled Laser Source
http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9_pf.cfm?guide=10&category_id=19&objectgroup_id=3800[2/12/2016 5:39:20 PM]
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Communications Port
USB 2.0
Com Connection
USB Type B connector
Required Cable
2 m USB Type A to Type B Cable
(Replacement Part Number USB-A-79)
Front Panel
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Back Panel
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For in-depth operation instructions, please view the operating manual. A printed copy of this manual is included with each MCLS1 Laser Source.
Viewing Information
Thorlabs' Multi-Channel Laser Source (MCLS) uses a single four
quadrant LCD display to access the information for each output
channel (see photo to the right for details). Rotate the control
knob to the left of the display to scroll through the channels until
the desired channel is selected. The control knob is also a select
switch that allows access to the laser current and temperature
parameters (see below for more information).
Top Left:
Indicates the
selected
channel.
Top Right: Indicates the wavelength of the selected
channel.
Bottom Left: Indicates the power level of the laser diode
output. If disabled, the power level will read "0.00 mW." If
the selected diode does not include a monitor diode, this
will read "No PD."
Bottom Right: Indicates the actual temperature (in °C)
that the laser is stabilized to. The default temperature is
set to 25.00 °C and is user adjustable. The temperature
control is always active and requires 5 to 10 minutes to
properly stabilize.
Adjusting the Laser Output Power and
Temperature
After selecting a channel, the output power and temperature of
the selected laser can be adjusted. The control knob utilizes an
intelligent speed control. Turning the knob slowly corresponds to
fine adjustment while turning the knob quickly corresponds to coarse adjustment. The laser current adjustment translates to real-time adjustment of output
power. The default setting upon first turning on the unit is output power fully off. Note that lasing occurs at the threshold current value, which is different for
every source.
Once the desired channel is selected, the Laser Current and Temperature parameters can be adjusted by pressing the control knob in. Pressing in the knob
once will select the Laser Current, pressing it a second time will select the Temperature Set Point, and pressing it a third time will revert back to the display
mode and lock the selected parameters. The parameter to be adjusted is indicated with blinking text. The resolution is 0.1 mA for the current adjustment and
0.01 °C for the temperature adjustment.
Modulating the Laser Output
The Analog In input can be used to modulate the laser output or to set the laser output remotely using a 5 V power source. The 5 V maximum input
corresponds to the maximum calibrated power of each channel. The resulting actual output power is dependent on the set current and operating temperature.
In addition, in order to eliminate a dead zone in the power control knob, the output of the unit is offset to the threshold current of the coupled laser diode.
Adjusting the knob below threshold will immediately set the current to 0.0 mA (i.e., Standby mode). Therefore, there are two modes of modulation available.
Setting the control to "Standby" first allows the analog modulation to utilize the full 0 to 5 V input range. The drawback to this modulation mode is that a
minimum voltage is needed to operate above the threshold current. The second mode is to adjust the control knob so that the laser is at or above threshold.
The analog modulation voltage will be limited to less than 5 V, but a DC offset will not be required. This DC offset should be kept in mind when using the
modulation input since it will limit the actual input voltage range.
O P E R A T I O N
