© 2022
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WLD SERIES LASER DIODE DRIVERS
TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM
POTENTIAL CAUSES
SOLUTIONS
Driver will not switch on
Improperly configured power
supply
Standalone:
Carefully check the wiring diagram according to
.
Evaluation Board:
See
for details regarding power supply
connections.
Output will not enable
ENABLE pin not held low
Standalone:
Refer to the SHD pin specifications in
and
make sure this pin is held at zero volts or left floating.
Evaluation Board:
Ensure that the ENABLE switch is fully rockered
to the ON position.
Laser output power too
low in Constant Current
mode
Laser current setpoint too low
Increase the setpoint by increasing the voltage at Pin 2 (V
SET
).
Evaluation Board:
The setpoint can be increased using the onboard
SET trimpot, and/or using the SET input on the terminal strip.
Laser current limit too low
Standalone:
for instructions on setting the laser
driver current limit.
Evaluation Board:
Refer to
for instructions on setting the
laser driver current limit.
Laser driver is compliance
limited
Check the laser diode specifications to determine the forward
voltage (V
F
). Make sure that the WLD is not compliance limited.
Refer to the Electrical Specifications table on
If the
driver is compliance limited, V
DD
may need to be increased.
Verify that the WLD will be operating within the Safe Operating
Area if V
DD
is increased.
Laser does not reach
desired output in
Constant Power mode
Photodiode feedback current
is out of range for the WLD
Refer to the laser diode datasheet to determine the approximate
photodiode (PD) current at the desired output power level. If the PD
current exceeds the chosen WLD photodiode current range, either:
Standalone:
see
for instructions on how to properly set
the photodiode current range by choosing R
PD
.
Evaluation Board:
for instructions on how to increase
the PD RANGE jumper value.
Modulation is not working
V
SET
improperly configured
Standalone:
for details for modulating using V
SET
.
Evaluation Board:
See
configuration for modulation.
Cannot zero the trimpots
Evaluation Board:
The trimpots that are installed on the
WLD33ND-EV are 12-turn trimpots. This means that after 12 full
turns counterclockwise, they will be set to zero, even though they
will turn continuously.
Photodiode feedback is
inaccurate
Improperly configured R
PD
or
PD RANGE jumper
Standalone:
see
for instructions on how to properly
choose the photodiode current range by choosing R
PD
.
Evaluation Board:
for instructions on how to change
the PD RANGE jumper value.
Transfer functions are
inaccurate
Improperly configured
CC/CP Mode
If CC/CP Mode is improperly configured, this can lead to
inaccuracies in the transfer functions.
Standalone:
or
for proper wiring
diagrams.
Evaluation Board:
Make sure the MODE switch is fully rockered to
the desired operating mode.