15A, 40V High Compliance Voltage, High Power Laser Driver

Product Overview:

High Power Laser Driver: Compliance Voltage up to 40 Volts and Current up to 15 Amps:

These precision driver modules offer up to 15 amps of bias current and up to 40 volts to your laser diode. These small footprint drivers were designed to power the latest generation of high power multi-single emitter pumps in the near infrared range. They are used in laser systems to bias lasers in series and pumps that are based on multiple single emitter designs. These model SF6060 drivers are designed for demanding system integration applications which require the highest levels of reliability. They also offer a very affordable choice for laboratory research applications. The SF6060 model has been updated with an integrated NTC thermistor monitor circuit to provide fast shut-down of the output current to the laser if a maximum temperature limit is reached. They also offer an improved 0.01 amp set-point resolution for precise control of the output current.

Sourcing Current to your Laser Diode and Crowbar Clamp Protection:

The modules are initially enabled by applying an active high 3.3V ~ 5V DC compatible logic input signal. The driver sources current and begins to operate when the 5V input enable pin is high. To ensure that the current enable is applied without overshoot, a slow start sequence initiates when the enable pin is set high. The enable pin can also be used in the quasi-CW mode. The output current is set by applying an analog signal to the current set pin on the control connector. The current set pin can be used for analog modulation by applying sign wave, square wave or ramp signal. The output may be pulsed by applying a TTL square signal to enable pin. The minimum pulse duration 500 microseconds.

These high power drivers offer a highly reliable crowbar clamp to quickly short the current and disable power to your laser diode in the event the current there is a surge from the power supply or an over-temperature condition. There is a pin on the control connector which shows the crowbar protection circuit status. The crowbar will short the output while the module is in an over-current shutdown or an over-temperature shutdown mode.

Flexible Control Interfaces and Control Software with GUI Included:

The model SF6060 offers the user multiple interface methods to set and measure the modules parameters. For simple, fast start-up, the module has trim potentiometers which the user can access on top of the control board. This manual mode of control is typically used to make sure the driver is functioning properly prior to connecting the laser. For complete control of all parameters, the user has the choice of using an analog control signal connector or a digital interface. The 8 pin RS23 / UART digital interface and the 14 pin analog control connector are both described in detail in the attached brochure.

Integrated Driver Protection Features:

These drivers provide many protection features for high compliance voltage devices and laser diodes connected in series. They offer a user-set current limit, an over-temperature protection circuit, protection against forward and reverse current transients and crowbar circuit protection. The crowbar circuit shorts the output during an over-current shutdown or over-temperature shutdown sequence. A reverse diode protects the laser diode from reverse current surges. These integrated protection features allow the SF6060 to safely drive non-linear loads such as laser diodes and LEDs. These current sources offer an analog voltage control input as well as RS232 digital interface.