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.

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3. Package contents
• Compact motorized attenuator - PowerXP
• Controller
• USB cable (2m length recomended but no longer than 3m)
• 12V power supply
• So ware, installation instructions in USB  ash
• Polarizer – (already in the attenuator)
• Waveplate – (already in the attenuator)
3.1. Optics (dis)assembling
In order to get maximum possible attenuation polarizer adjustment
is necessary. The back cover with beam dump can be removed by
untightening two screws showed in  g. 2. A er removing the closure,
3 microscrews will be uncovered (circled in red). Adjusting them while
measuring laser power output, will allow to reach maximum attenuation.
If necessary, the waveplate and polarizer holder can be removed for
example for cleaning purposes. To remove the waveplate just untighten the
retaining ring and take out the waveplate. For removing the polarizer holder
please remove 3 steel screws and carefully pull it from the main PowerXP
body.
→ Read further

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Figure 2. Disassembly of PowerXP. Adjustment microscrews circled in red. To remove the cover
loosen two screws on each side of PowerXP (marked with yellow circle)
λ/2 waveplate

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4. PowerXP So ware Description
4.1. Computer requirements
• Free USB port. PowerXP is compatible with USB 1.1, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
Computer administrator rights (only for installation)
• Windows XP sp3 (32-bit)
• Windows Server 2003 sp2 (32-bit)
• Windows Vista sp1 (32/64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 (32/64-bit)
• Windows 7(32/64-bit)
• Windows 8(32/64-bit)
• Microso .Net framework 4.0 redistributable (installs automatically)
→ Read further

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4.2. Soware installation
1. Check for and download the latest “PowerXP” soware installer package
from http://www.altechna.com/product_details.php?id=1224&product
_name=PowerXP+Compact+Motorized+Attenuator.
2. Run the downloaded “PowerXP-Setup.exe” installation le. In case
the soware is installed on an operating system that does not meet
requirements, only USB drivers will be installed. Click “Yes” to continue.
3. Installation window will appear, click “Next” to continue:

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4. Click “Next”:
5. Select installation directory and click “Next” to begin installation:
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6. “PowerXP” soware requires “Microso.NET Framework 4 Client Prole”
or higher version to be installed. Setup will oer to download it, choose
“Yes” if active internet connection is available. Choose “No” to download
it from www.microso.com/enus/ download/details.aspx?id=17113 and
install it manually. One should choose “No” if newer version of Microso.
NET framework is unwanted, or working internet connection is not
available. This dialog will not appear if framework is already installed.
Download size is 42 Mbytes.
8. Aer download is nished, “Microso .NET Framework 4 Client Prole”
will be installed, wait for it to complete. This can take more than 10
minutes on slower machine.
7. Setup will download “Microso .NET Framework 4 Client Prole”.

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9. Setup will  nish by installing drivers. Click “Next” to continue:
→ Read further

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10. Click “Finish” to end installation. The program cannot be opened if only
drivers were installed (see step 2 for details).
11. “PowerXP” soware icon will appear on “All Users” desktop and “All
Users” start menu.
12. Connect PowerXP to it’s controller.
13. Connect PowerXP controller and PC via USB cable.
14. Plug in PowerXP power supply jack.

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15. Windows will detect new hardware. Wait until windows con gures new
device.
4.3. Program  rst run
Launch “PowerXP” program using “PowerXP” icon on desktop or from “Start
Menu → All Programs → Altechna → PowerXP → PowerXP”. PowerXP “Selector”
window will appear. At least one device must be displayed on the list. If the
list is empty, please check USB cable, power connection. Blue LED must be
active if power is OK. Click “File → Search For Devices” to refresh. For more
information about PowerXP “Selector” window see section”
PowerXP “Selector” window”.
Select PowerXP from a list and click “File → Connect Once connected to
PowerXP, dialog will pop up informing that no calibration  le is found for
new attenuator:
Figure 3. Dialog box, shown if PowerXP calibration  le is not found.
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Select “OK”, calibration window will appear. Use instructions in section
“Calibration” to setup calibration. Aer calibration is done, “PowerXP
“control” window will appear. Use slider to select and set required power.
See section “PowerXP “Control” window” window if more information is
needed.
Column description:
• Name
It is useful to give meaningful titles for each PowerXP, if more than one is
used in the same system. For example, name can be set to “1st Harmonic
WP”, and another attenuator can be named as “2nd Harmonic WP”. New
name is saved into controller’s internal memory, so new name will be
maintained on any computer. Name length is restricted to 20 characters
maximum. PowerXP can be renamed from “PowerXP control” window
“Options->PowerXP Name...” menu option.
4.4. PowerXP “Selector” window
PowerXP “Selector” window contains a list of currently connected and
powered attenuators. This window is used to choose device to work with if
there are several controllers connected to a single computer. Functions of
this window are described in the picture below.
Figure 4. PowerXP “Selector“ window. It is displayed every time program is started. There is
one device attached to PC in shown screenshot. Double click listed attenuator to open control
window for it.