Menhir 1550 User manual

MENHIR-1550

Ultrafast Laser System

Manual

Manual: V1.1-191110

(October 2019 - Subject to change without notice)

Menhir Photonics AG

Thiersteinerallee 71

CH-4053 Basel, Switzerland

Tel.: +41 61 331 45 45

email: contact@menhir-photonics.com

Web: http://www.menhir-photonics.com

This document aims to describe how a MENHIR-1550 from Menhir Photonics AG can be

operated and controlled safely and in adequation to the intended usage.

Contents

Safety Instructions and Warnings.......................................................................................................... 3

Description of the system........................................................................................................................ 4

Front Panel.............................................................................................................................................. 4

Back Panel............................................................................................................................................... 5

Multiport connector.............................................................................................................................. 5

USB connector....................................................................................................................................... 7

RF OUT –SMA connector .................................................................................................................... 8

PZTs connector...................................................................................................................................... 8

Connecting and starting up the system ............................................................................................... 9

Description of the software and digital interface.............................................................................10

1. USB connection setting .............................................................................................................10

2. Data connection via USB...........................................................................................................11

3. Data connection via RS232.......................................................................................................12

4. Commands ...................................................................................................................................12

Commands without parameters (values accessible by the user) ............................................13

Commands with parameters (values accessible by the user)...................................................13

Service........................................................................................................................................................14

Safety Instructions and Warnings

The MENHIR-1550 is manufactured according to the Laser Safety Standard EN 60825-1:2014

and complies with US laws 21 CFR §1040.10 and §1040.11.

Before operating the MENHIR-1550 Laser System please read this manual

carefully to prevent damage to the device and injury to persons. The following

safety instructions must always be followed.

During installation, maintenance and service, all persons in the room must wear appropriate

laser safety goggles while the laser is in operation. The recommended protection stage is

dependent on the laser system. Use appropriate eyewear and other protective means in

order to keep radiation exposure below the maximum permissible levels allowed by

applicable regulations.

The MENHIR-1550 laser system is NOT intended to be used in medical related applications

or in link with bio-medical applications.

The MENHIR-1550 laser system should be ONLY operated by a person having received the

adequate laser safety training and having the required skills to operate such laser system

with appropriated safety measures.

Description of the system

All control elements to be operated by the user are located on the front panel of the

laser. All connections except the main optical output fiber are located on the back panel of

the laser system.

Front Panel

Key switch (“Power”): The key switch completely disconnects the laser from the power supply.

After switching on the power supply and turning the key switch, the laser performs a self-

test, which takes about 10 seconds. During this time the laser cannot be switched on. (see

chapter 3). After a successful self-test, the laser goes into standby mode and waits to be

switched on.

Emission button: This button has two functions. It switches on the laser emission and displays

the status of the laser by the integrated color ring light.

1) Push button function: Press it one time and it will turn the laser emission on.

Press again, laser switches off again.

2) Display of the laser status: Three status are displayed via the color of the ring of

the ring light.

•Green flashing: Laser is in standby mode and can be switched on.

•Permanent blue light: Laser is running (laser light is emitted).

•Permanent red light: Critical error has occurred. Laser cannot be switched

on.

Figure 1: Front View

Figure 2: Rear view (Version B)

Back Panel

The back panel has all the connectors needed to control and monitor the laser. It

comprises a “multiport” connector, a USB connector, a SMA connector, two BNC connectors

for the PZTs and the optical monitor output (APC/FC connector).

Multiport connector

This connector is a DFK-MC 1,5/16-GF-3,81 –1829471 from Phoenix contact (link). It

is an industrial-grade connector made to simplify the integration of the MENHIR-1550 into a

system. 3 types of adaptors can be used to connect easily to the laser (Phoenix Contact Nbr.

1852503 (Crimp connection), 1851371 (Push-in spring connection) or 1850990 (Front screw

connection). Available from worldwide distributors such as Digikey, Mouser, Farnell.

Name

Description

GND

(INPUT) 0 V, reference potential for power, all inputs and outputs including the

interfaces. Not connected to the housing

+5 V

(INPUT) System supply voltage. 5 Vdc +/-5%, max. 2 A (typically 1000-1100 mA is

enough)

RSD

(INPUT) Remote shut down. Used for the interlock function. This input must be

open or connected to a voltage higher than 2 V and less than or equal to 5 V

(74HCTXX logic level).

If this input is connected to GND, the following happens:

PZT

fast

Opt 1

USB

Multiport

RF OUT

PZT

Slow

GND

+5V

RSD

Ready

On/Off

I-Tune

f-Tune

Sync

Alarm

Stat-1

Stat-2

Pw Out

Res.

Gate

•The laser light is switched off immediately and can no longer be switched

on as long as the error persists.

•The “Ready”output goes to 0 V.

•The “Alarm”line and the “Status1”line go to 5 V.

If the “Interlock”function is reset, the “Ready”output goes back to 5 V, “Alarm”and

“Status1”are 0 V again. The laser must be started by the user, either with the push

button on the front panel, the On/Off input or via software/digital commands.

Ready

(OUTPUT) The “Ready”line always goes to 5 V if the laser emission can be switched

on or if it is switched on.

On/Off

(INPUT) A rising edge on this input starts the laser emission, a falling edge switches

the laser light off. The function of the On/Off signal corresponds to the push

button on the front panel.

I-Tune

(INPUT) Voltage input to modulate the pump current (>10 kHz). Maximum

allowable amplitude: +/-5 V. The modulation depth is factory set according to the

customer's needs. The default setting is 10% pump current change per volt. The

input impedance is 50 Ohm.

This input allows to modulate the pump power of the laser or to ensure long-term

power stability of the laser output.

By default, this input is deactivated in factory.

f-Tune

Not connected. Reserved for future use.

Sync

(INPUT) The sync input is used to read an external control signal via the laser

control software.

Example: The laser and an external clock are synchronized via an external

electronics. As soon as the laser and the clock run synchronously, a Sync signal is

set to logic 1 by the synchronization electronics. This signal is connected to the

Sync input and can be read-out by the user without the need of an additional

interface. Use 74HCTXX logic levels.

Alarm

(OUTPUT) The alarm signal goes to logic 1 if a monitored parameter of the laser

exceeds or falls below a certain value. Monitored parameters are:

•Temperature of main board, microcontroller and heat sink

•Laser output power (if this option is installed).

•Back-facet monitor signal of the pump diodes.

An alarm does not affect the laser's operation but should be checked promptly.

Use the "lac" command to do this. (See Software section)

Status1

(OUTPUT) This signal goes to logic 1 whenever a critical error occurs.

•Temperature too high on the main board, uC or heat sink.

•A malfunction of a temperature controller.

•A trip of the interlock safeguard.

The laser light is switched off for safety reasons and cannot be switched on again

until the fault has been corrected. The "lec" command can be used to identify the

fault. (See Software section)

Status2

(OUTPUT) "Emission on" signal. This signal indicates whether the pump diodes are

switched on. However, it is not checked whether laser light is actually being

emitted. The signal PwOut is intended for this purpose.

PwOut

(OUTPUT) A DC signal proportional to the output power of the laser.

This output is only functional together with the option “Internal Photodiode”.

Res.

(IOUTPUT) Connected to GND as standard. Can be used by the customer for the

RS232 connector.

Gate

Not connected. Reserved for future use.

(INPUT) The Rx signal of the RS232 interface. Transfers the data from the PC to

the laser. Connected by default to pin 3 (TXD) of the DSub9 connector of a

standard RS232 port.

(OUTPUT) The Tx signal of the RS232 interface. Transfers the data from the laser

to the PC. Connected by default to pin 2 (RXD) of the DSub9 connector of a

standard RS232 port.

USB connector

Use a USB Micro B port to connect the laser to a computer.

Opt1 –Optical Monitor Output (APC/FC fiber connector)

If installed (option “Optical Monitor”): This is an optical output corresponding a few %

of the actual laser output. In practice > 2 mW of optical power could be expected on this

output.

The fiber connector is an APC/FC connector and it uses PM fiber. Please take the

adequate precaution when connecting a fiber to this connector.

RF OUT –SMA connector

If installed (option “Internal Photodiode”): RF output signal from a photodiode with a

bandwidth > 9 GHz using a small fraction of the laser output. Standard SMA connector.

PZTs connectors (Version B)

These connectors allow to drive the piezo actuators that can be installed in the laser

as options (fast and slow/coarse).

Each PZT has dedicated BNC connector as described on Figure 2 : Rear View. Both

PZTs are directly connected to the outside without using the laser internal electronics.

The operating voltage of the piezo actuators range from 0 to 100 V. Never

change the polarity (or apply a negative voltage). The piezo actuators could

be destroyed.

Connecting and starting up the system

The laser is already set up on delivery and can be put into operation without additional

settings. Simply connect the provided power supply to the voltage supply inputs of the laser

The black cable (GND) of the power supply unit is connected at position 1, the white cable

(+5 V) at position 2.

After the key switch has been turned the laser performs a self-test. This test takes about 10 s

and is indicated by a slowly changing color of the "Emission" button. After a successful self-

test, the laser goes into stand-by mode, which is indicated by a green flashing of the

"Emission" button. Thereafter, the laser emission is ready to switch on.

Press the "Emission" button once to turn on the laser light, a second time to turn off the laser

light again, and so forth.

The laser emission is switched on immediately. The laser light is

dangerous, especially for the eyes. Please take the necessary steps to

ensure that nobody is endangered.

The laser has various connections serving as control and monitor ports. These connections

are described in detail in chapter 2 in the paragraph "Multiport".

Figure 3: Power-supply of the laser

The laser has 2 different PC interfaces. One USB interface and one RS232 interface. These

communication ports allow to control the laser remotely and to check its condition in detail.

Description of the software and digital interface

The laser can currently be controlled and monitored via RS232 command.

1. USB connection setting

After the laser and PC are connected for the first time, Windows detects the laser and

automatically installs a driver. This so-called CDC driver sets up a virtual COM port on the PC.

This port is very easy to access. A simple terminal program such as Hyperterminal or Putty is

enough.

The number of the installed Com Port can be found as follows:

-Press the "Windows key" together with the "r" key to open the "run" input window.

-Type hdwwiz.cpl.

Figure 4: Start the device manager

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