ILX Lightwave LDC-3700B Series User manual

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User’s Guide
LDC-3700B Series
Laser Diode Controller
ILX Lightwave Corporation P. O.Box 6310 Bozeman, MT, U.S.A. 59771 :· · · 1-800-459-9459 · ·
www.ilxlightwave.com
U.S. & Canada International Inquiries: 406-586-1244 Fax [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
70027304 01_9/02
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LDC-3700 Series i
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Figures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
List of Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Safety and Warranty Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Safety Information and the Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix
General Safety Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix
Safety Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Safety Marking Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Returning an Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Claims for Shipping Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Comments, Suggestions, and Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii
Chapter 1 Introduction and Specifications
Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Initial Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Installing the LDC-3700B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Grounding Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
AC Line Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
GPIB Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The GPIB Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tilt-Foot Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Rack Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Operating the LDC-3700B Laser Diode Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
How to Obtain Repair Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Available Options and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ii LDC-3700 Series
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Chapter 2 Operations
Applying Power to your LD Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Power On Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Power On State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
37x4B Series Default Configuration: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Connecting to the Laser Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Connecting the Laser Current Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Interlock Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Photodiode Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Setting the PD bias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Grounding considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Connecting to the TE Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
TEC Grounding Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Operating from the Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The Laser Controller Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Operating a laser in Constant Current “I” Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Set Up the Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Set the Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Select the Laser Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Adjusting the Set Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Set Current Source Limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Automatic Shutoff Conditions for Laser Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Operating a Laser in Constant Power Mode, P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Entering Photodiode Responsivity values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
LASER Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Operating the TE Controller from the Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
The TEC display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Operating the Controller in Temperature Mode, T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Setting up the Temperature Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Temperature Controller Sensor Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Setting Temperature Sensor Constants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Setting TE Control Loop Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Setting Temperature Controller Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Adjusting the Temperature Set Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Automatic Shut Off Conditions for TEC Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
TEC Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
7/01 LDC-3700 Series iii
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Functions and Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Saving and Recalling from the Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using the Laser Compliance Voltage Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Using the LDC-3700B Controller’s Trigger Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Modulating the Controller Laser Current Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Boosting the TE Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Chapter 3 Remote Operation
Basic GPIB Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Data and Interface Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Talkers, Listeners, and Controllers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
GPIB Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
The GPIB Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Reading the GPIB Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Changing the GPIB Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Changing Operation from Local to Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Command Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
White Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Terminators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Command Separators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Command Tree Stucture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Syntax Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
IEEE488.2 Common Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
LDC-3700B Commonly Used Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Status Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Event and Condition Registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Operation Complete Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Output Off Registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Command Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Sequential/Overlapped Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Query Response Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Chapter 4 Command Reference
GPIB Command Reference Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Command Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
iv LDC-3700 Series
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Chapter 5 Calibration and Troubleshooting
Calibration Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Recommended Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Local Calibration of the LDC-3700B Temperature Controller . . . . . . . . . 115
Calibrating the Thermistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
AD590 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
LM335 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
ITE Current Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Local Calibration of the Laser Current Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Current Source Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
IPD Current Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Laser Forward Voltage Measurement Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Remote Calibration of the LDC-3700B Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Thermistor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
AD590 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
LM335 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
ITE Current Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
TEC Voltage Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Current Source Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
IPD Current Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Laser Forward Voltage Measurement Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index-i
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LDC-3700 Series v
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1 LDC 3700B Series Controller Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Figure 1.2 LDC-3700B Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Figure 2.1 Laser Diode Connection Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Figure 2.2 Back Panel LD Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Figure 2.3 Rear Panel TEC Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Figure 2.4 LDC-3700B Series Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Figure 2.5 Rear Panel TEC Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Figure 3.1 GPIB Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Figure 3.2 GPIB Connector Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Figure 3.3 Command Path Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Figure 3.4 Common Command Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Figure 3.5 Status Reporting Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Figure 3.6 LASER Output Off Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Figure 3.7 TEC Output Off Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Figure 5.1 IPD Calibration Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
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LDC-3700 Series vi
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LDC-3700 Series vii
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1 Temperature Controller Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 1.2 General LDC-37x4B Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Table 1.3 Options and Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Table 2.1 Laser Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Table 2.2 SENSOR SELECT Switch Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Table 2.3 TEC Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Table 3.1 Substitute Parameter Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Table 3.2 Invalid Syntax Command Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Table 3.3 LDC-3700B Commonly Used Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Table 3.4 Default Settings for Output Off Registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Table 4.1 GPIB Command Summary Reference List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Table 5.1 Recommended Test Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Table 5.2 Required Calibration Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Table 5.3 Symptoms and Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Table 5.4 Error Code Classifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Table 5.5 Error Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
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LIST OF TABLES
viii LDC-3700 Series
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LDC-3700 Series ix
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S AFETY AND W ARRANTY I NFORMATION
The Safety and Warranty Information section provides details about cautionary symbols used in the
manual, safety markings used on the instrument, and information about the Warranty including
Customer Service contact information.
Safety Information and the Manual
Throughout this manual, you will see the words Caution and Warning indicating potentially
dangerous or hazardous situations which, if not avoided, could result in death, serious or minor
injury, or damage to the product. Specifically:
!
CAUTION
Caution indicates a potentially hazardous situation which can result in minor or
moderate injury or damage to the product or equipment.
WARNING
Warning indicates a potentially dangerous situation which can result in serious injury or
death.
WARNING
Visible and/or invisible laser radiation. Avoid direct exposure to the beam.
General Safety Considerations
If any of the following conditions exist, or are even suspected, do not use the instrument until safe
operation can be verified by trained service personnel:
•Visible damage
•Severe transport stress
•Prolonged storage under adverse conditions
•Failure to perform intended measurements or functions
If necessary, return the instrument to ILX Lightwave, or authorized local ILX Lightwave distributor,
for service or repair to ensure that safety features are maintained (see the contact information on
page xii).
All instruments returned to ILX Lightwave are required to have a Return Authorization Number
assigned by an official representative of ILX Lightwave Corporation. See Returning an Instrument on
page xi for more information.
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SAFETY SYMBOLS
x LDC-3700 Series

S AFETY S YMBOLS
This section describes the safety symbols and classifications.
Technical specifications including electrical ratings and weight are included within the manual. See
the Table of Contents to locate the specifications and other product information. The following
classifications are standard across all ILX Lightwave products:
•Indoor use only
•Ordinary Protection: This product is NOT protected against the harmful ingress of moisture.
•Class I Equipment (grounded type)
•Mains supply voltage fluctuations are not to exceed ±10% of the nominal supply voltage.
•Pollution Degree II
•Installation (overvoltage) Category II for transient overvoltages
•Maximum Relative Humidity: <80% RH, non−condensing
•Operating temperature range of 0 °C to 40 °C
•Storage and transportation temperature of ˘40 °C to 70 °C
•Maximum altitude: 3000 m (9843 ft)
•This equipment is suitable for continuous operation.
Safety Marking Symbols
This section provides a description of the safety marking symbols that appear on the instrument.
These symbols provide information about potentially dangerous situations which can result in death,
injury, or damage to the instrument and other components.
Caution,
refer to
manual
Earth
ground
Terminal
Alternating
current
Visible and/or
invisible laser
radiation
Caution, risk
of electric
shock
Protective
Conductor
Terminal
Caution, hot
surface
Frame or
chassis
Terminal
On: In position of a bistable push control. The
slash (I) only denotes that mains are on.
Off: Out position of a bistable push control.
The circle (O) only denotes that mains are off.
or
(I) or
(O)
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WARRANTY
LDC-3700 Series xi

W ARRANTY
ILX LIGHTWAVE CORPORATION warrants this instrument to be free from defects in material and
workmanship for a period of one year from date of shipment. During the warranty period, ILX will
repair or replace the unit, at our option, without charge.
Limitations
This warranty does not apply to fuses, lamps, defects caused by abuse, modifications, or to use of
the product for which it was not intended.
This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including any implied warranty
of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. ILX Lightwave Corporation shall not be liable
for any incidental, special, or consequential damages.
If a problem occurs, please contact ILX Lightwave Corporation with the instrument’s serial number,
and thoroughly describe the nature of the problem.
Returning an Instrument
If an instrument is to be shipped to ILX Lightwave for repair or service, be sure to:
1Obtain a Return Authorization number (RA) from ILX Customer Service.
2Attach a tag to the instrument identifying the owner and indicating the required service or
repair. Include the instrument serial number from the rear panel of the instrument.
3Attach the anti−static protective caps that were shipped with the instrument and place the
instrument in a protective anti−static bag.
4Place the instrument in the original packing container with at least 3 inches (7. 5 cm) of
compressible packaging material. Shipping damage is not covered by this warranty.
5Secure the packing box with fiber reinforced strapping tape or metal bands.
6Send the instrument, transportation pre−paid, to ILX Lightwave. Clearly write the return
authorization number on the outside of the box and on the shipping paperwork. ILX
Lightwave recommends you insure the shipment.
If the original shipping container is not available, place your instrument in a container with at least 3
inches (7.5 cm) of compressible packaging material on all sides.
Repairs are made and the instrument returned transportation pre−paid. Repairs are warranted for the
remainder of the original warranty or for 90 days, whichever is greater.
Claims for Shipping Damage
When you receive the instrument, inspect it immediately for any damage or shortages on the
packing list. If the instrument is damaged, file a claim with the carrier. The factory will supply you
with a quotation for estimated costs of repair. You must negotiate and settle with the carrier for the
amount of damage.
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WARRANTY
xii LDC-3700 Series

Comments, Suggestions, and Problems
To ensure that you get the most out of your ILX Lightwave product, we ask that you direct any
product operation or service related questions or comments to ILX Lightwave Customer Support.
You may contact us in whatever way is most convenient:
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 459−9459 or (406) 586−1244
Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (406) 586−9405
Email. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[email protected]
Or mail to:
ILX Lightwave Corporation
P. O. Box 6310
Bozeman, Montana, U.S.A 59771
www.ilxlightwave.com
When you contact us, please have the following information:
If ILX Lightwave determines that a return to the factory is necessary, you are issued a Return
Authorization (RA) number. Please mark this number on the outside of the shipping box.
You or your shipping service are responsible for any shipping damage when returning the
instrument to ILX Lightwave; ILX recommends you insure the shipment. If the original shipping
container is not available, place your instrument in a container with at least 3 inches (7.5cm) of
compressible packaging material on all sides.
We look forward to serving you even better in the future!
Model Number:
Serial Number:
End−user Name:
Company:
Phone:
Fax:
Description or sketch of what
is connected to the ILX
Lightwave instrument:
Description of the problem:
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LDC-3700 Series 1

CHAPTER 1
                 
INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
This chapter is an introduction to the LDC−3700B Series Laser Diode Controllers and contains
unpacking information, instructions on how to install and apply power, maintenance information,
specifications, and listings of the LDC−3700B options and accessories.
Product Overview
The LDC−3700B Series Laser Diode Controllers are a combination current source/temperature
controller. The current source provides a high stability output with a fully redundant current limit and
multiple laser protection features. The built−in temperature controller can work with most
temperature sensors and TE modules to deliver precise laser temperature control over a wide range
of temperatures. The LDC−3700B Series’ fast, sophisticated GPIB option lets you automate your
experiment.
Initial Inspection
When you receive your LDC−3700B Controller, verify that the following items were shipped with the
instrument:
•LDC−3700B Laser Diode Controller
•LDC−3700B Series Manual
•Power Cord
•Shipping Kit
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INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Installing the LDC-3700B
2 LDC-3700 Series
CHAPTER 1

Installing the LDC-3700B
This section provides information about the necessary requirements to install the LDC−3700B and
how to begin operating the instrument.
Grounding Requirements
The LDC−3700B Laser Diode Controller comes with a three conductor AC power cable. The power
cable must be plugged into an approved three−contact electrical outlet or used with a three−contact
to two−contact adapter with the grounding wire connected to an electrical ground (safety ground).
The LDC−3700B supplied power cable meets all applicable national safety standards.
AC Line Power Requirements
You can operate the LDC−3700B Series Controllers from a single phase power source delivering
nominal line voltages of 100, 120, 220, 230−240 VAC (all values RMS) from 50 to 60 Hz. The line
power voltage can vary +10%. Maximum power consumption is 360 VA (Volt−Amps). The
instrument’s operational voltage is configured at the factory and cannot be changed. However,
check to make sure the voltage printed on the back panel of the instrument matches the power−line
voltage in your area.
Before connecting the LDC−3700B Laser Diode Controller to a power source, verify that
the AC power source matches the setting of the LDC−3700B’s voltage printed on the rear
panel of the instrument.
To avoid electrical shock hazard, connect the instrument to properly earth−grounded
electrical receptacles only. Failure to observe this precaution can result in severe injury
or death.
GPIB Connector
The IEEE 488.2 GPIB interface connector is located on the rear panel, directly above the power
input module and fuse (See Figure 1.2 on page 4). Attach the GPIB cable to the 24−pin connector
located on the rear panel. The connector is tapered to ensure proper orientation. Finger tighten the
two screws on the cable connector.
A total of 15 devices can be connected together on the same GPIB interface bus. The cables have
single male/female connectors on each end so that several cables can be stacked. This allows
more than one cable to be attached to any one device. However, the maximum length of the GPIB
cables must not exceed 20 meters (65 feet) total, or 2 meters (6.5 feet) per device.
The GPIB Address
The talk and listen addresses on the LDC−3700B Series Laser Diode Controller are identical. This
GPIB address is read locally by pressing the GPIB LOCAL switch with the address displayed on the
"TEC" display. The controller comes from the factory configured with the GPIB address set to zero.
You can change the LDC−3700B’s GPIB address locally (via front panel). A procedure for changing
the address can be found in the section Changing the GPIB Address on page 39.
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INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Installing the LDC-3700B
7/01 LDC-3700 Series 3
CHAPTER 1

Tilt-Foot Adjustment
The LDC−3700B Series Laser Diode Controller comes standard with folding front legs and two rear
feet for use as a bench top instrument. Extending the front feet so that the instrument front panel
sits up makes it easier to view the LED displays. To use them, place the unit on a stable base and
rotate the front legs downward until they lock into position.
Rack Mounting
The LDC 3700B Series Laser Diode Controller can be mounted in a standard 19−inch rack with the
optional rack mount kits. The kits contain a rack mount flange and hardware for mounting on either
side of the enclosure. All rack mount accessory kits contain detailed mounting instructions.
Operating the LDC-3700B Laser Diode Controller
Now that the LDC−3700B Laser Diode Controller is installed and ready for use, you can begin to
learn about its operation. The following figures are front and rear photographic copies showing the
functional keypad groupings, rear panel connectors, and so on. Use these figures to familiarize
yourself with the LDC−3700B Controller. After that, use Chapter 2 for fundamentals of operating the
controller.
Figure 1.1 LDC 3700B Series Controller Front View
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INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Installing the LDC-3700B
4 LDC-3700 Series
CHAPTER 1

Figure 1.2 LDC−3700B Rear Panel
Potentially lethal voltages exist within the LDC−3700B Series Laser Diode Controller. To
avoid electric shock, do not perform any maintenance on the instrument. Qualified
service personnel are required to wear protective eyeglasses and anti−static wrist bands
while working on the LDC−3700B Series Laser Diode Controller circuit boards. High
voltages are present on and around the controller’s printed circuit boards.
There are no user serviceable parts in the instrument, including the external fuses in the
AC power entry module. Contact ILX Customer Service for information about servicing
the instrument.
How to Obtain Repair Services
You may have to return your controller to the ILX Lightwave facility at some time for repair or service
whether it is under warranty or not. There is a charge for repairs after the warranty period has
expired. See Returning an Instrument on page xi for shipping information and Customer Service
contact information.
1, 2 TE MD L +
1, 2 INTLK
TE CONTROLLER CURRENT SOURCE
THERM RANGE
SENSOR SELECT
THERM
PD BIAS
ADJUST
TRIGGER
OUTPUT
N / A
LM335
AD590
100 A µ
10 A µ
9 ANLG GND
8 SENSE +
9 LSR ANOD
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INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Installing the LDC-3700B
7/01 LDC-3700 Series 5
CHAPTER 1

Table 1.1 Temperature Controller Specifications1
1. All values relate to a one−hour warm−up period.
Temperature Control Output
Temperature Control Range:2
2. Software limits of range. Actual range possible depends on the physical load, thermistor type, and TE module used.
−100.0 °C to +199.9 °C
Thermistor Set point Resolution and Accuracy:
−20 °C to 20 °C
20 °C to 50 °C
Resolution:
0.1 °C
0.2 °C
Accuracy3:
±0.2 °C
±0.2 °C
3. Accuracy figures are quoted for a typical 10 kW thermistor and 100 mA Current setting. Accuracy figures are relative to the calibration
standard. Both resolution and accuracy are dependent upon the user−defined configuration of the instrument.
AD590 & LM335 Set point:4
−20 °C to 50 °C
4. Accuracy depends on the sensor model selected, the calibration standard, and the user−defined configuration of the instrument.
0.01 °C ±0.1°C
Short Term Stability (1 hr.):5
5. Over any 1−hour period, half−scale output, controlling an LDM−4412 mount @ 25° C, with 10 kW thermistor, on 100 mA setting.
<0.004 °C
Long Term Stability (24 hrs.):6
6. Over any 24−hour period, half−scale output, controlling an LDM−4412 mount @ 25° C, with 10 kW thermistor, on 100 mA setting.
<0.01 °C
Output Type: Bipolar, constant current source
Compliance Voltage: >4 V DC
Short Circuit Output Current: 4 Amps
Maximum Output Power: 16 Watts
Current Noise and Ripple: 7<1 mA rms
Current Limit Range: 0−4 Amps
Current Limit Set Accuracy: ±0.05 Amps
Control Algorithm: Smart Integrator, Hybrid PI
Temperature Sensor
Types:
Thermistor:
IC Temperature Sensor:
RTD Sensor:8
NTC (2−wire)
AD590/LM335
Pt100/Other 100−ohm RTD
Thermistor Sensing Current: 10 µA/100 µA
Sensor Bias: AD590 = 8V, LM335 = 1 mA, RTD=0.8 mA8
Useable Thermistor Range: 25−450,000 Ω, typical
Typical Sensor Output9
AD590 Current Output:
LM335 Voltage Output:
RTD (Pt100) Resistance:
I(25 °C) = 298.2 µA, It = 1 µA/K
V(25 °C) = 2.73 V, Vt = 10 µV/K
R(25 °C)=109.73 Ω
User Calibration: Thermistor: Steinhart−Hart, 3 constants
IC Sensors, RTD = Two−point
TEC Measurement (display)
Temperature:
10 mA Setting: 10
100 µA Setting: 11
Range12:
−99.9 °C to 199.9 °C
−99.9 °C to 199.9 °C
Resolution:
0.01 °C
0.01 °C
Accuracy:
±0.1 °C
±0.05 °C
Thermistor Resistance
10 µA Setting:
100 µA Setting:
0.01−450.00 kΩ
0.001−45.000 kΩ
0.01 kΩ
0.001 kΩ
±0.05%
±0.05%
TE Current: −4.000 A to 4.000 A 0.001 A ±0.04 A
Voltage (Remote only): 13 −10.000 V to 10.000 V 1 mV ±30 mV
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