January 11, 2013

Pulse-Width Modulation Temperature Control

Computer Control for Your Wavelength Laser Drivers and Temperature Controllers — Now with 64-bit Compatibility

FL519FL — The Full-Featured FL500 Evaluation Board

December 12, 2012

December 5, 2012

 

COMPUTERIZE THE WAVELENGTH ADVANTAGE
Expand the capabilities of your Wavelength Electronics controllers with the USBKIT and QuickConnect™ software. The USBKIT provides convenient computer control of most Wavelength chassis mount controllers and evaluation boards at a surprisingly low price.

The software provides an intuitive virtual control panel that allows you to leverage the low-noise, high-stability laser diode and temperature control capabilities of Wavelength’s components to save time and money. The QuickConnect™ software is easily loaded onto your computer with the automated installer, and is compatible with x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) PCs.

BIG FEATURES IN A SMALL PACKAGE
The USBKIT loads many features into one small package, making it a terrific value-add for your laser lab or manufacturing floor.

• The USB board includes D/A for remote setpoint control and A/Ds for monitoring actual temperature or current.
• The software provides control of one laser diode driver, one temperature controller, an auxiliary monitor, and full graphing and datalogging of selected parameters.
• Multiple USBKITs can be attached to the same computer, allowing for control of complex systems.
• Setup configurations can be saved for repeating experiments or manufacturing testing routines.
• The QuickConnect™ software includes on-screen wiring diagrams for the selected Wavelength modules, making set-up a snap.
• Two strip charts graph laser and temperature data as a function of time. Selected data can be continuously logged.

PLUG-IN CONVENIENCE FOR OEMS
Build the USBKIT into your OEM laser system and enjoy the convenience of closed-cover system calibration and troubleshooting—all you need is the USB cable that comes with the USBKIT.

The software is built on the Windows .NET framework so you can write your own code for a manufacturing test system, field-calibration kit, or laboratory applications.

COUNT ON WAVELENGTH ELECTRONICS
Our experienced Sales Engineers are available to help you decide which temperature controller is right for your application. Call today or visit our website to find out how Wavelength Electronics can help you to be successful.

August 23. 2012

AN-LDTC01: The Principle of the Safe Operating Area

AN-LD11: How to Add Complex Technology — Build or Buy?

July 20, 2012

12.5 A Laser Diode Driver with Improved Heat Dissipation

POWERFUL AND EASY-TO-USE
These high current PLD drivers couple the high-reliability architecture of Wavelength Electronics’ lower-current PLD Series with a robust high-current output stage.

To speed product development, the PLD10EV Evaluation Board can be configured within minutes to take full advantage of the versatility and functionality offered by the PLD10000 and PLD12500 drivers.

PRACTICAL FEATURES FOR SAFETY AND VERSATILITY
The PLD10000 and PLD12500 can drive lasers with compliance voltage as high as 27.5 V, and both include laser safety features designed to protect your laser investment and enhance system reliability:

• Remote enable can be tied to a safety interlock and a temperature controller, such as Wavelength’s PTC Series.
• Built-in constant current and constant power operating modes minimize your electronics overhead.
• On-board controls mean quick and easy driver setup.
• Analog setpoint input gives you remote external control of the laser current and modulation.
• Latching current limit safely switches off output if current limit is reached.
• Slow start and current ramp protect the laser during operation.
• Mechanical shorting relay protects the laser while the driver is powered off.

Tens of thousands of PLD drivers are deployed in laser systems around the world, proving beyond doubt the reliability and stability of the design. PLD Series drivers are found in fiber laser pumping, materials processing, pyrotechnic ignition, industrial welding and cutting applications, and laser diode LIV testers.

Call or email Wavelength Electronics to find out how the PLD10000 or PLD12500 can enhance your laser control system.

February 3, 2012

Practical, Powerful and Easy-to-Use PCB-Mount Control

TIME-TESTED RELIABILITY
The PTC Series PCB-Mount Temperature Controllers are based on our long-proven PTC-CH controllers, and deliver the stable performance and long-term reliability you expect from Wavelength Electronics. PTC Series controllers are found in such diverse applications as particle and droplet measurement, communications, manufacturing test, and medical systems.

POWERFUL AND EASY TO USE
The PTC controllers operate from a single power supply between 5 V and 30 V, and two models drive ±5 amps or ±10 amps to a Peltier thermoelectric cooler or a resistive heater. These controllers mount directly to your circuit board. PTC controllers interface with a variety of temperature sensors, and the bias current is adjustable in order to maximize controller sensitivity and stability for your application. You can use the PTCEVAL board to quickly configure the PTC controller for prototyping. Using the same controller for development and production helps guarantee there are no surprises when it’s time to release the final design.

PRACTICAL FEATURES FOR VERSATILITY AND SAFETY

Valuable features make your product more robust to real-world conditions and minimize your electronics overhead:

• Onboard controls, combined with the ability to remotely control the PTC allows maximum application versatility.
• Built-in heatsink and fan simplifies thermal management of the controller.
• If the remote temperature setpoint signal is lost, the controller defaults to a standard “safe” temperature setpoint (25ºC when a 10 kΩ thermistor is used). The safe temperature can be changed at the factory; call for details.
• An onboard trimpot is used to set the output current limit to prevent over-driving the TEC, and helps protect your load from thermal runaway situations.
• Proportional gain is easily adjusted with an onboard trimpot.
• Low temperature-coefficient design remains stable across a wide range of ambient conditions.

COUNT ON WAVELENGTH ELECTRONICS
Our experienced Sales Engineers are available to help you decide which temperature controller is right for your application. Call today or visit our website to find out how Wavelength Electronics can help you to be successful.

December 12, 2011

Visit Wavelength Electronics at booth #2103 South Hall.

Our engineers have been busy since last January: We’ve upgraded some of our best-selling products, and are introducing the new PTC PCB Temperature Controller and the USBKIT Interface Board with QuickConnect™ Software. We are also pleased to announce our new Product Variation service to make custom product modifications to suit your unique application requirements.

Application Engineers will be at the show to share details of product improvements and provide expert technical advice on maximizing Wavelength product performance in your application.

PCB-Mounted High Current Temperature Control
The brand new PTC Temperature Controller Series delivers high power, precision control. and excellent stability in a compact, PCB-mount package. With bipolar output current up to 10 amps, and the ability to operate with nearly any temperature sensor, the PTC series offers unmatched versatility for OEM applications. On-board controls and the available evaluation board make for plug-and-play simplicity. The fan and heatsink are integrated, making this controller ideal for applications where stability is critical and space is tight.

Computer Control for Your Wavelength Laser Drivers and Temperature Controllers
Leverage the high performance of your Wavelength drivers and controllers with the budget-friendly USBKIT interface board and software. The QuickConnect™ virtual control panel provides out-of-the-box functionality with on-screen wiring diagrams, full-featured control panels, strip charts, and datalogging. The bus-powered USB 2.0 interface board is compact and easily wired using on-board screw terminals.

Custom Product Variations to Suit Your Application Requirements
Wavelength Electronics is pleased to announce our new custom Product Variation service. Since we design and manufacture our products in-house, we have the unique ability to quickly customize them to suit exactly your application. Examples of past Product Variations include: 4 amp output HTC controller, 12.5 amp PLD driver, modified input voltage range, and custom heatsink configurations.

Our Application Engineers will be present to answer questions about our products, brainstorm solutions to difficult design problems, and talk about laser and temperature control topics. Wavelength Electronics’ mission is to support the design efforts of the OEMs and researchers in laser and temperature control.

September 27, 2011

Leverage your low-noise, high-stability Wavelength Electronics control system with the budget-friendly USBKIT interface board and software package. The QuickConnect™ virtual control panel provides out-of-the-box functionality. The strip chart graphs show real-time laser system status and selected raw data can be saved to a text file. The bus-powered USB 2.0 interface board is easily wired using onboard screw terminals.

One laser diode driver and one temperature controller can be simultaneously operated with the USBKIT. Multiple USBKITs can be attached to the same computer, allowing for control of complex systems.

• Hardware includes D/A for remote setpoint control & A/Ds for monitoring actual temperature or laser diode current.
• Software includes control of one laser diode driver, one temperature controller, an auxiliary monitor, and full graphing and datalogging.
• Setup configuration can be saved for repeatable experiments or manufacturing testing.

The QuickConnect software includes a wiring diagram for the Wavelength module to be controlled, making set-up a snap. Using the full-featured graphic user interface (GUI) you can set the desired setpoint voltage for your temperature sensor as a voltage or a temperature in degrees Celsius. For a laser diode, the setpoint can measure laser diode current (constant current mode) or photodiode current (constant power mode). Maximum and Minimum Temperature Limits can be established, as well as whether Laser Diode Current is disabled if temperature limits are exceeded.

Depending on the sensor selected, several GUI tools are included to aid the Resistance / Temperature pair calculation for Steinhart-Hart and Callender/Van Dusen equations or to convert the measured sensor voltage to temperature using slope-intercept linear calculation.

Graphing: Two strip charts graph data as a function of time. Raw voltages, as well as translated current and temperature values are listed. The top graph is associated with data from the Temperature Controller. The lower graph is associated with data from the Laser Diode Controller. Auxiliary Monitors can be associated with either graph. The Measurement Period, which determines how frequently data is acquired, can be set between 100 msec and 10 seconds.

If your application requires additional functionality, program customization is available.

Wavelength Electronics has simplified advanced laser diode drive and thermal control technology for OEM and research applications since 1993. Our high performance specifications are supported by a team of experienced sales and design engineers and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

To learn more about the USBKIT and Wavelength’s complete line of high precision, low-noise, ultra-stable laser diode drivers and temperature controllers call 406-587-4910 or visit us at www.teamWavelength.com. Evaluation units are available from stock.

August 1, 2011

Wavelength Electronics, Inc. was pleased to participate in the Mid-InfraRed Technologies for Health and the Environment (MIRTHE) Summer Workshop held at Princeton University. Wavelength Electronics’ poster presentation highlighted the importance of driving quantum cascade lasers with a very low noise current source.

Noise data from a typical laser diode driver was presented and compared to the noise spectrum from a purpose-built low-noise QCL driver. An approximated output spectrum, showing the impact of driver current noise, was presented based on linewidth data from cited sources.

The poster is now posted here.
Additional product information on the QCL Series is available here.
Contact Wavelength Electronics Technical Support for more information on QCL driver applications.

May 24, 2011

The PLD-CH Chassis Mount Series has a NEW 12.5 A Model – the PLD12.5K-CH

The popular PLD-CH Series is now available in a 12.5 A model. This new driver supports fiber-coupled lasers used in applications such as medical, dental, micro-machining, material processing, semiconductor inspection, and imaging.

The PLD-CH Series offers single-supply low voltage operation from +5 V DC, which minimizes heat dissipation. For applications that require a higher forward voltage, a separate laser diode power supply input allows for flexible compliance voltages up to +28 VDC.

Safety is paramount on all Wavelength Electronics controllers. The PLD-CH Series safety features include:

• Slow start circuit
• Mechanical shorting relay
• Active Current Limit

These offer maximum protection for your laser diode even when power is removed. The Active Current Limit not only protects your laser diode, but ensures that you are operating with maximum stability. Two photodiode ranges provide variable sensitivities for optimum performance. You can maintain excellent stability in both Constant Current and Constant Power mode. The PLD-CH Series supports all laser diode / photodiode pin configurations. The 12.5 A model has a 50 kHz Bandwidth with < 0.05% output stability, one-hour stability of < 200 ppm and a < 200 ppm/ºC temperature coefficient.

Other features include:

• Remote Enable/Disable
• Remote monitoring
• Analog modulation of setpoint current
• Drivers can be paralleled for up to 25 A of stable output current

Wavelength Electronics has simplified advanced laser diode drive and thermal control technology for OEM and research applications since 1993. Our high performance specifications are supported by a team of experienced sales and design engineers and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

To learn more about the PLD12.5K-CH, the PLD-CH Series improvements and Wavelength’s complete line of high precision, low-noise, ultra-stable laser diode drivers and temperature controllers call 406-587-4910 or visit us at www.teamWavelength.com. Evaluation units are available from stock.