Hubner Cobolt Odin Series User manual

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin ™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
Cobolt Odin™Series
3264 nm
3431 nm
4330 nm
Compact | Tunable | Mid-IR OPOs

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
2| 36

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
3| 36
CONTENTS
Introduction 5
Safety 6
General 6
Safety features 7
Equipment Safety 7
Warning and Identification Labels 8
Overview 9
Model number 9
Configuration 9
Laser Head 10
Controller 11
Controller Cable 11
Thermal Management 12
Power Supply Requirements 12
System Description 13
Specification 13
Mechanical Drawings 15
Remote Interlock Connector 17
Direct ON/OFF control 17
Pin assignment 18
Operating Instructions 19
Installation start-up operation 19
Shutdown procedure operation 19
Operating modes 20
Wavelength tuning 21
Operation via data port 22
Remote Interface Configuration 22
Establishing serial port communication 22
Communication commands 23
Installation of the USB driver 25
Cobolt Monitor™Software 27
Installation 27
Software instructions 27
Troubleshooting 32
Warranty and Maintenance 32
Service 32
Compliance (CDRH models only) 33
Disclaimer 34

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
4| 36

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
5| 36
Introduction
The Cobolt Odin™Series is an ultra-compact and industrial-grade mid-IR source based on a fully contained
temperature tunable Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) with integrated pump laser. Periodically poled
nonlinear optical crystals are used for efficient and spectrally flexible generation of mid-IR emission.
The Cobolt lasers are manufactured in Sweden by Cobolt AB, a part of HÜBNER Photonics. Using proprietary
HTCure™technology the lasers are packaged into a sealed laser head, offering an outstanding level of robustness
and reliability, and making these lasers highly suitable for OEM integration into demanding environments.
The Cobolt Odin™Series lasers provide up to 80 mW average output power at a center wavelength freely
selectable over the range of 3.1 –4.6 µm through tailoring of the nonlinear crystal. Other wavelengths might
be available upon request, please contact your local sales representative for more information. The lasers can
be tuned in wavelength over tens of nanometers via temperature adjustments. The emission is generated in
nanosecond pulses (< 5 ns) at high pulse repetition rate (7 kHz or 10 kHz) and very low pulse-to-pulse jitter (< 1
µs).
The combination of compact format, high level of robustness, spectral flexibility and low power consumption
makes the Cobolt Odin™Series lasers ideal light sources for a large variety of industrial and scientific
applications related to molecular spectroscopy. They are suitable for integration into analytical instrumentation
for fast, accurate and sensitive gas detection used in environmental monitoring applications as well as for
control and limitation of pollution emissions in petrochemical, automotive and energy production industries.

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
6| 36
Safety
General
Cobolt Odin™series are Class IIIB (CDRH), Class 3B (IEC) laser products that emit less than 500 mW of radiation
in the Mid-IR spectrum. Residual emissions from the pump diode, the pump laser and the OPO cavity are
contained within the laser head housing via filtering optics. The residual emission does not exceed laser Class 1.
Eye and skin exposure to direct or reflected laser light is hazardous and may be extremely harmful. Always wear
eye protection appropriate to the beam wavelength and intensity. Laser radiation may pose a risk of igniting
flammable materials and in event of ignition gasses and fumes may be generated. All equipment used in close
proximity to the laser beam should be suitably fire resistant and the facility should be properly ventilated. It is
advised to perform a risk assessment for the facility and equipment prior to using the laser. In the case of
integration into a larger system, laser safety compliance must be evaluated on the end product.
The device must be handled by skilled personnel experienced with lasers, in a laboratory environment and with
access to adequate laser safety equipment. The laser head clearly displays a yellow warning label that shows
the location of the laser beam aperture. This label must be visible unless the laser beam is totally enclosed.
The table below describes the nominal lasers operation parameters.
Product
Average Power
(mW)
Pulse Duration
(ns)
Pulse Repetition Rate
(kHz)
Pulse Energy
(µJ)
Cobolt Odin™3.0-4.5 m
> 80
< 5
> 7 / > 10
> 11 / >8
The table below describes the maximum energy density in J/cm2used for safety calculations and the appropriate
level of eye protection in terms of optical density (OD) for each product line.
Product
Laser
Class
Warning
Label Power
(mW)
Max Pulse
(µJ)*
Max Energy
Density (J/m2)**
Eye Protection
Requirement***
Cobolt Odin™3.0-4.5 m
IIIB
150
21
27
> OD 2 / I,R L1
* Max Pulse (µJ) = Warning Label Power (W) Repetition Rate at bottom tolerance (Hz)
** Max Energy Density (J/cm2) = Warning Label Pulse (J) Beam Area at bottom tolerance (cm2)
*** Eye protection (OD) = Log10( 60825-1 Emission Limit : Class 1 (µJ)  Max Pulse (µJ) ) , rounded up to the next integer/See EN 207

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
7| 36
Safety features
The laser is equipped with all required safety features as described in the laser safety standard 60825-1.
Disabling any safety features negate the CE/CDRH compliance of this product.
Remote Interlock Connector
The remote interlock connector is a connector which permits the connection of external controls placed apart
from other components of the laser product. When the terminals of the connector are open-circuited, emission
is interrupted and no radiation will be accessible. The remote interlock connector permits easy addition of an
external interlock in laser installation. See section 4.3 for a detailed description of the remote interlock circuit
and operation.
Manual Shutter (Beam Stop)
The laser head is equipped with a manual shutter, which functions as the beam stop, capable of preventing
human access to laser radiation. The aperture location and the open and close positions of the shutter are
indicated on the top surface of the laser head.
Key Control
The CDRH compliant model comes with a key-switch on the Controller which must be connected for the laser
to operate. When the key is in the OFF position, the laser is prevented from emitting. The key must be actively
turned to the ON position each time the laser is powered on. When the key is removed from the system laser
radiation is not accessible.
Laser Radiation Emission Warning
The Controller incorporates information LEDs which display whether power is connected, the laser is on, or a
fault has occurred. The “ON” LED is illuminated whenever the device is emitting or could emit light. See section
0 for details on the controller. The emission warning indicators are also visible in the Cobolt Monitor™software,
see Section 9 for details on the control software.
Equipment Safety
Always install all power supplies used in the laser system to properly grounded power outlets. The laser head
and controller must be mounted on a common ground plane, such as an optical table. Cobolt lasers contain a
laser diode which is sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD).

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
8| 36
Warning and Identification Labels
The upper face of the laser head contains a yellow label with laser safety warning and classification information,
the wavelength and maximum power of the unit. It also shows the location of the laser beam from the aperture
and indicates the open and close positions of the manual shutter. This label must be visible unless the laser beam
is totally enclosed. A silver label showing information about the laser model, manufacturer date and location,
and the power supply voltage and current, is located on the laser head. Lasers shipped to customers in the USA
also contain a label of CDRH compliance.
Laser Notice No. 56 Label
CDRH models shipped to USA
CE marking for CDRH models only
OEM Label
Aperture Warning Labels
Manufacturer Identification Labels

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
9| 36
Overview
Cobolt Odin Series laser systems consist of four main parts: the laser head, the controller, the cable and the power
supply (not shown). The cable provided should always be used to connect the laser head with the controller. Always
install the laser system to a properly grounded power outlet.
Model number
Cobolt lasers are sold in two configurations: CDRH and OEM, described in section 3.2. The model numbers are
composed as described below.
Configuration
CDRH Compliant
The CDRH compliant system is supplied with a key switch on the controller, which must be connected, along
with a remote interlock connector. Once power is supplied, laser radiation starts when the key is turned from
the OFF position to the ON position. The status of operation can be monitored via LEDs on the Controller.
Setting the key to its OFF position puts the laser in stand-by mode. The CDRH model is CE compliant.
The standard CDRH model consists of:
•Laser head
•Controller with key switch
•Keys
•1(m) Controller Cable
•15V/4.2A power supply unit
Wavelength Indicator
Laser Head
Model
Power
Configuration, communication:
500 = CE / CDRH compliant, RS-232
600 = OEM, RS-232
700 = CE / CDRH compliant, USB
800 = OEM, USB
xxx = OEM customization
XXXX –05 –72 –XXXX –XXX

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
10 | 36
OEM
The OEM system is supplied without a key switch on the controller. Connecting the power supply to the
controller initiates an automatic start-up sequence. If the remote interlock is connected, laser radiation will start
automatically as soon as power is supplied and internal temperatures are stabilized.
The OEM model consists of:
•Laser head
•Controller
•Controller Cable
•15V/4.2A power supply unit
Laser Head
The Laser Head contains a passively Q-switched diode-pumped solid-state nanosecond pulsed laser cavity, an
integrated Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO), beam shaping optics and thermoelectric coolers (TEC). The
Laser Head also contains an optical feed-back loop which measures the average power of the output radiation
and a pulse monitoring feed-back loop that measured the repetition rate of the pump laser. The beam shaping
optics to provide a collimated, circular beam.
Cobolt Odin™laser head (back view)
The Laser Head gets electrical power and control signals from the Controller via a 26-pin cable. The Laser Head
has a manual shutter, a manufacturer’s identification label and a laser hazard and classification label. In
addition, the Laser Head features an SMA connector for direct monitoring of pulse parameters and delivering a
trigger-out signal from the measured pump OPO pulse.

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
11 | 36
Controller
The Controller supplies driving current and control signals to the laser head. All Laser Heads are delivered with
a controller. The operation set points are specific to each Laser Head and have been fixed during manufacturing.
The operation set points are stored in the laser head so the controller can be interchanged or replaced.
The status of the laser operation is given via LED indicators:
POW (green light) Power is supplied.
ON (orange light) Laser light is on in constant current mode.
LOCK (orange light) Laser light is on and the output power has been locked to set point.
The laser is operating according to specifications.
ERR (red light) An error has occurred. No laser light.
When power is supplied to the Controller, regardless of on/off state, the temperature control elements are
operating to reach set point values. The Controller includes a remote interlock connector, pin 1-2 according to
Section 4.3. The operation of the laser can be controlled and monitored via the data port that supports either USB
or RS-232 commands. See Section 8.3 for further details. RS-232 controllers may also be delivered with a RS-232 to
USB adaptor.
Controller Cable
The controller cable connects the laser head to the Controller. The standard (CE compliant) cable length is 1 m
long. The cable has a minimum bending radius 8 cm. When connected care should be taken not to bend or break
any of the 26 pins.

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
12 | 36
Thermal Management
To ensure operation within given specifications and for the warranty to be valid, the Laser Head must be
attached to a heat sink providing a thermal resistance of <0.2 K/W. This value is the difference between the
maximum allowed Laser Head base plate temperature (50ºC) and the maximum specified ambient temperature
at the air-heatsink interface (40ºC), divided by the maximum power dissipated from the laser (~50 W for the
highest power models at high ambient temperatures). The mounting surface should be flat (within 0.05 mm
over mounting surface). It is recommended to use a thermal heat compound between the Laser Head and the
heat sink to provide good thermal contact. The Cobolt ‘HS-04 Laser Head Heatsink with fans’ meets these
requirements, hubner-photonics.com for more information on heat sinks.
For assistance in thermal management and system integration, please contact by HÜBNER Photonics’s
technical support.
Heat Sink Requirements and typical maximum heat dissipation for Cobolt Odin Series.
Power Supply Requirements
An appropriate power supply unit (PSU) is supplied by Cobolt with the laser and must be plugged into a properly
grounded standard power outlet. The output from this PSU is 15 VDC/6 A. The power supply accepts 100 –240
V AC and 50-60 Hz. Ripple and noise 1% peak-peak max, 20 MHz bandwidth. The accepted voltage range is 11
V - 28 VDC; full performance is only guaranteed at 15 VDC/6A.

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
13 | 36
System Description
The information presented here is believed to be accurate and is subject to change without notice. The
specifications contained herein cannot be guaranteed outside of normal operational conditions. Specifications
are guaranteed at 100% of nominal power.
Specification
Optical Specifications
Product Name
Cobolt Odin™
Center wavelength 1
3264 ± 4 nm
3431 ± 4 nm
4330 ± 4 nm
Spectral Bandwidth
< 0.3 nm
< 0.5 nm
Wavelength tuning range
± 25 nm
± 20 nm
Wavelength resolution
< 0.007 nm
Average output power
> 80 mW
> 60 mW
Long term power stability (8hrs, ±3°C) 2
< 3 %
Repetition rate 3
> 10 kHz
> 7 kHz
> 10 kHz
> 7 kHz
Pulse energy
> 7 µJ
> 10 µJ
> 5 µJ
> 8 µJ
Pulse duration
3-5 ns
Pulse-to-pulse Jitter
< 1 μs
Beam divergence (full angle, 1/e2)
< 8 mrad
Beam diameter at aperture (1/e2)
1.9 ± 0.5 mm
Polarization extinction ratio
> 100:1, vertical
Beam symmetry at aperture
> 0.90 : 1
Long-term repetition rate stability (8 hours, ±3ºC)
< 3 %
Beam position accuracy
< 0.5 mm
Beam angle accuracy
< 5 mrad
All specifications given above are valid at nominal output.
1. The wavelength is specified in air. Other center wavelengths from 2.5-5µm available upon request.
2. Average power stability measured at a fixed wavelength. Power may vary during tuning.
3. The repetition rate can be chosen at time of purchase in combination with any available wavelength.

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
14 | 36
Operation and Environmental Specifications
Power supply
15 VDC, 6 A (11-28 VDC accepted)
Sysem power consumption (Laser Head + Controller)
< 63 W (typical ~30 W)
Maximum heat dissipation of Laser Head
< 50 W (typical ~20 W)
Maximum Laser Head baseplate temperature
50ºC
Warm-up time, from OFF
< 5 min
Ambient temperature, operation
10 –40 ºC
Ambient temperature, storage
-10°C to +60 ºC
Humidity
0-60 % RH non-condensing
Ambient Air pressure
950-1050 mbar
Heat sink thermal resistance, Laser Head
< 0.2 K/W
Electrical Interfaces
Interfaces
Connector
Function
Input power
Kycon KPJX-45, 4-pin
Power supply to Controller
Laser Head to Controller
HD-sub 26-pin, male
Connection to Laser Head
Controller to Laser Head
HD-sub 26-pin, female
Connection to Controller
Data port
USB-type mini B
Control and monitoring via control commands
Remote interlock & Analog
signals
Molex 90130-3206
Analog input 5 –12 V => Laser ON
Analog input <2.7 V => Laser OFF
Trigger output
SMA Female
Output signal from pulse monitor
Mechanical Interfaces
Dimensions:
Laser Head
Controller
PSU dimensions
125x70x45 mm (4.9x2.8x1.8 inches)
190x72x28 mm (7.5x2.8x1.1 inches)
115x50x35 mm (4.6x2x1.4 inches)
Fixation holes, Laser Head
= 4x 4.5mm ; 115mm x 55mm
Fixation holes, Controller
= 4x 6.4mm ; 178mm x 51mm
Cable (Laser Head –Controller)
1 m length, >8 cm bending radius
Laser Head weight
0.6 kg

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
15 | 36
Mechanical Drawings
Laser Head
Laser head mechanical outline. Dimensions in mm [inches].
Connector location Laser Head
Controller Cable
Trigger Output

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
16 | 36
Controller
Controller mechanical outline. Dimensions in mm [inches].
Connector location Controller
Power
connector
Data
connector
Analog & remote
interlock connector

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
17 | 36
Remote Interlock Connector
The remote interlock connector is located at pin 1 and 2 of the Molex connector on the controller. The connector
can be short-circuited with an interlock jumper (included at delivery) for operation of the laser. To use the
remote interlock connector with an external switch, connect a pin 1 and 2 on a Molex plug. After the remote
interlock connector has been opened the laser will need to be reset by disconnecting from and then
reconnecting to the power supply in order to start again. Alternatively, it can be re-started using a special
sequence of commands, see Section 8.3 for further details. The signal level is between 0V and +5V with a pull up
resistor, and the current required to ground the remote interlock connector is 5 mA. The time delay in the
hardware is <1ms, but after filtering by the firmware the reaction time is extended to < 20ms.
Direct ON/OFF control
The Direct On/Off Control feature enables turning the laser ON/OFF using a 5-12 VDC signal. After having
configured the Controller for Direct Control operation (factory set or by executing @cobasdr 1), the laser can
only start-up when 5-12V VDC (max 12.5 VDC) is applied to pin 3 on the analog connector with 0 VDC on pin 2
as reference. Shifting the signal to 0 VDC on pin 3 will turn the laser off and put the laser in stand-by mode (status
LED:s is POW and not flashing).
This function is not available for CDRH compliant models.
!Note:This input only controls the on/off state of the laser and cannot be used to modulate the power output.

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
18 | 36
Pin assignment
Analog connector & Remote interlock connector
Manufacturer Molex 90130-3206, mates with 90143-0006.
Pin
Function
1
Remote Interlock (connect to pin 2 for enable)
2
0 V - GND
3
Remote On/Off (+5V Input)
4
TST (for the factory use only)
5
LED “Laser on” (5V)
6
LED “Error” (5V)
Power connector
Kycon KPJX-4S, mates with Kycon KPPX-4P. Grounded shield.
Pin
Function
1
0 V
2
+11-28 VDC
3
0 V
4
+11-28 VDC
Data connector
Connector USB-type, manufacturer Hsuan Mao C8320-05BFDSB0, mates with connector mini-B.
Pin
Function
1
+5 V
2
D-
3
D+
4
Not connected
5
0 V (GND)

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
19 | 36
Operating Instructions
As standard, all lasers are delivered with the controller set in uto-start mode. As soon as power is supplied to the
controller the temperature control elements are operating to reach set-point values and the laser emission will
start, unless the key-switch is enabled (CDRH model).
Installation start-up operation
1. Mount the laser head on a suitable heat sink (see Section3.5).
2. Ensure that the remote interlock jumper is connected.
3. Connect the laser head to the controller with the cable and fasten screws at both ends.
4. Connect the 15 VDC power supply to the mains outlet and then to the controller.
5. The laser now goes through the following auto-start sequence:
•Temperature stabilization (1-2 min). Status LEDs: POW flashing, then POW goes on.
•Turn key switch to start the laser. Status LEDs: ON goes on (CDRH model only)
•The laser starts (light is emitted) in a constant warm-up current constant for 60 sec.
Status LEDs: ON goes on.
•The laser locks to pre-set output power (<2 min) and operates according to specifications.
Status LEDs: LOCK goes on.
! Note: If the power does not match the power as stated on the test sheet see Section 12: Service for more
information.
Shutdown procedure operation
1. Turn the key switch to OFF first (CDRH models only).
2. Disconnect PSU from mains outlet.
3. Disconnect Controller from PSU.

OWNERS MANUAL | Cobolt Odin™Series | D0138-F MARCH 2023
20 | 36
Operating modes
Cobolt Odin™series lasers are delivered in constant current mode. CDRH/CE compliant models may be used in
constant current and burst mode only.
Constant current
The pump laser diode delivers a constant current. The constant repetition rate loop is inactive when this mode
is selected. The actual repetition rate will still be displayed in the Cobolt Monitor™software (see Section 9.2)
Burst mode
In burst mode, the laser diode current is modulated which allows in bursts of pulses to be emitted repeatedly. The
“On-Time” sets the time (in ms) where the laser diode current is set to “I-High”, and the “Off-time” sets the time (in
ms) where the laser diode current is set to “I-Low”. Please, refer to Section 9.2 for the Cobolt Monitor software
interface.
The burst mode can be used in numerous ways, but a typical use would be to set the “I-Low” just below the laser
threshold and the “I-High” at a laser diode current giving desired output power. The result would be an on/off
modulation of the laser set by the On/Off-times where a burst of pulses is emitted during the On-time. The pulse
repetition rate is dependent on the laser diode current and consequently the number of pulses emitted in the
On-state is dependent on both the “On-time” and “I-High”.
As an example, if the pulse repetition rate at the set “I-High” is 7 kHz and the On-time is 7ms, there will be a
burst of approximately 49 pulses during the On-time.
Constant repetition rate (OEM only)
The pulse repetition rate is monitored internally and a feed-back loop assures that a constant repetition rate is
delivered by making small adjustments of laser diode current. Using the lasers in constant repetition rate mode
is not compliant with the EMC/EMI 61326 standard for immunity to radiated electromagnetic fields according
to IEC 61000-4-3 and thereby negates the CE compliance.