Altechna PowerXP User manual

PowerXP
Compact Motorized
Attenuator
User Manual
2017 version L.3.00

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Contents
1. Introduction 6
1.1. PowerXP short description 6
1.2. General safety requirements 6
1.3. Symbols 7
1.4. Regulation 7
1.5. Operating and storage conditions 8
2. Operation Principle 10
3. Package contents 11
3.1. Optics (dis)assembling 11
4. PowerXP Soware Description 13
4.1. Computer requirements 13
4.2. Soware installation 14
4.3. Program rst run 19
4.4. PowerXP “Selector” window 20
4.5. Calibration 22
4.6. PowerXP “Control” window 24
4.7. Program preferences 30
4.7.1. GUI input method options 30

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4.7.2. Controller buttons. Speed of attenuation 31
4.8. Red error signs in control window 32
4.9. Writing So ware for PowerXP 33
5. PowerXP Controller Hardware 34
5.1. Controller speci cations 34
5.2. Controller usage 35
5.3. PowerXP connector pin out 37
6. Main dimensions 38
6.1. PowerXP 38
6.2. PowerXP Controller 39

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PowerXP
January 2018
Copyright © 2018 Altechna, UAB. All rights reserved.
No part of this manual, including the products and soware described
in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval
system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except
documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purpose, without the
express written permission of UAB Altechna (hereinaer Altechna).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if:
1. The product is repaired, modied or altered. Unless such repair,
modication of alteration is authorized in writing by Altechna.
2. The serial number of the product is defaced or missing.
Altechna provides this manual “as is“ without warranty of any kind, either
express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties or
conditions of merchantability for a particular purpose. In no event shall
altechna, its directors, employees or agents be liable for any indirect,
special incidental, or cosequential damages (including damages for loss
of prots, loss of business, loss of use or data, interuption of busines
and the like), even if Altechna has been advised of the possibility of such
damages arising from any defect or error in this manual or product.
Specications and information contained in this manual are furnished
for informational use only, and are subject to change at any time
without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by
Altechna. Altechna assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or
inaccuracies that may appear in this manual, including the products and
soware described in it.

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This manual is directly connected to  rmware version. Latest
 rmware, so ware and manual versions can be downloaded from
www.altechna.com.
Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not
be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and
are used only for identi cation or explanation and to the owner’s bene t,
without intent to infringe.

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1. Introduction
This user manual is designed to help to install and operate PowerXP.
Before installing and operating PowerXP please read installation and
operation instructions carefully. Safety instructions must be read carefully.
If there are any questions about contents of this manual please contact
[e-mail]. Altechna reserves the right to update contents of this
manual without any notication.
1.1. PowerXP short description
Compact motorized attenuator - PowerXP is a computer controlled laser
beam attenuation device. It attenuates a free space laser beam/pulse
continuously without introducing additional energy uctuations. PowerXP is
controlled by a computer via USB.
1.2. General safety requirements
Compact motorized attenuator is designed to operate in conjunction with
laser systems. All applicable rules and regulations for safe operation of
lasers must be known and applied while installing and operating PowerXP.
The customer is solely responsible for laser safety while using PowerXP as a
standalone device or integrated into system. The customer must consider
protective measures.
While assembling or operating PowerXP, do not stare at the direct or
scattered laser light even with safety goggles. All parts of the body must
be kept away from the laser radiation. While adjusting laser beam through
PowerXP, laser power must be kept as low as possible. Hazardous laser
radiation can increase while optical components or instruments are used
in combination with PowerXP. Appropriate eye protection must be worn at

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all times. Electrical safety requirements must be complied while assembling
and operating PowerXP.
1.3. Symbols
Warning!
Sections marked with this symbol explain dangerous situations that can
result as personal injury or death. Always read the associated information
carefully, before performing indicated procedure.
Attention!
Paragraphs preceded by this symbol explain hazards that could damage the
instrument and connected equipment or may cause loss of data.
Note
This manual also contains “NOTES” and “HINTS” written in this form.
1.4. Regulation
Attention!
The following statement applies to the products covered in this manual,
unless otherwise speci ed herein. The statement for other products will
appear in the accompanying documentation.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses,
and can create radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference with
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment causes harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
→ Read further

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turning the equipment o and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit dierent from that to
which the receiver is connected
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
Altechna is not responsible for any radio or television interference caused
by modications of this equipment or the substitution or attachment of
connecting cables and equipment other than those specied by Altechna.
The correction of interference caused by unauthorized modication,
substitution or attachment will be treated as responsibility of the user.
Attention!
Cellular phones or other radio transmitters are not recommended to be
used within the range of three meters of this unit since the electromagnetic
eld intensity may then exceed the maximum allowed disturbance values
according to IEC 61326-1.
1.5. Operating and storage conditions
For proper PowerXP functioning please use the assigned controller (found
in the same package). Using unassigned controllers might be harmful to the
device.
Environmental conditions that must be hold while storing, servicing and
operating are:
• Storage temperature should be between -25 °C and +60 °C

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• Operating temperature is 25 °C ± 10 °C
• PowerXP must be protected from humidity, dust and corrosive vapors to
avoid damaging optical components and electronics
• Avoid strong static electricity and electromagnetic  elds

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2. Operation Principle
p-pol
Brewster type
thin film polarizer
Incident linearty
polarized laser beam
Rotating λ/2
waveplate
Beam dump
s-pol
Figure 1. PowerXP operation principle. The intensity of the incident beam is varied by means of
a λ/2 phase waveplate and a polarizer.
PowerXP incorporates a rotating quartz λ/2 phase waveplate and one
polarizer which separates s-polarized and p-polarized beams (g. 1).
The intensity ratio of the two beams may be continuously varied without
alteration of other beam parameters by rotating the waveplate. Proper
functioning of PowerXP requires optimal conguration of optical elements
considering the polarization contrast of the incident laser beam. Higher
incident laser beam polarization contrast leads to higher PowerXP output
polarization contrast.