
1.8 Optimization of temperature control
Temperature module TED8xxx / page 23
1.8 Optimization of temperature control
1.8.1 Principle set-up and function
When diode laser systems are tempered mainly the following components are
involved:
•
The laser diode to be tempered
•
A temperature sensor (thermistor / AD590 / LM335)
•
A heat source or heat sink (air or water / cooling element)
•
A heat conductor connecting the laser diode to the source/sink (copper, aluminum)
•
A "propulsion" to lead the flow of temperature (TEC element)
laser
sensor
copper bloc
TEC element
heat
sink
Figure 11
Principle set-up of laser temperature control
Influences on the real temperature control loop
1:
Offset and gain errors of the sensor allow only an estimate of the laser
temperature.
The sensor is never fixed directly to the laser chip to measure its “real”
temperature. The inhomogeneous temperature in the copper bloc will influence
the measurement. Even within the laser chip you will find a temperature
gradient.
Possible optimization: calibration of sensor