THORLABS ELLB User manual

ELLB
Distribution Board for
Resonant Piezo Motor
Products
Operating Manual
Original Instructions

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 2 Safety............................................................................................................................. 2
2.1. General Warnings and Cautions.............................................................................2
Chapter 3 Operation...................................................................................................................... 3
3.1. Environmental Conditions ......................................................................................3
3.2. Getting Started.........................................................................................................3
3.2.1. Distribution Board Description ........................................................................................4
3.2.2. Interface Board Description.............................................................................................4
3.2.3. Power Supply Options.....................................................................................................5
3.2.4. Connecting Devices ........................................................................................................5
3.2.5. Stage Connector Pin Out................................................................................................6
3.3. Controlling the Stage ..............................................................................................7
3.3.1. Software Control .............................................................................................................7
3.3.2. Communications Protocol...............................................................................................8
Chapter 4 Specifications............................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 5 Regulatory .................................................................................................................. 10
5.1. Declarations of Conformity...................................................................................10
5.1.1. For Customers in Europe..............................................................................................10
5.1.2. For Customers In The USA...........................................................................................10
Chapter 6 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts.................................................................................. 11

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 1: Introduction
Rev C Jan 2020 Page 1
Chapter 1 Introduction
The ELLB Distribution Board is part of the Thorlabs series of resonant piezo motor circuits and bare modules
for OEM applications. The resonant piezo design of these motors offers fast response times and precise
positioning, and are therefore particularly useful in scanning applications.
The high-speed digital signal processing (DSP) architecture supports a multi-drop serial communication
protocol, and a set of digital IO lines allows the user to control the movement and state manually by switching
the lines high (5V) or low (0V).
The board is designed to allow up to four elliptec resonant piezo motor devices to be controlled remotely via
PC-based software, from a single GUI panel. The software can be downloaded from www.thorlabs.com. A
compatible USB driver and source code are included in the software download package.
Connection to the host PC is via the USB interface board included with the Elliptec Evaluation Kits and power
is supplied via an external 5V power supply.
Note
The module must be powered via an external 5V power supply unit (PSU). A suitable PSU is supplied in the ELL
evaluation kits; the TPS101 T-Cube Power Supply is also compatible. For customers wanting to use a third party
PSU, the Connector on the interface board is a DC Jack connector, 6.3mm OD (GND), 2.1mm ID (+5V).

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 2: Safety
Page 2DTN000524-D02
Chapter 2 Safety
For the continuing safety of the operators of this equipment, and the protection of the equipment itself, the
operator should take note of the Warnings, Cautions and Notes throughout this handbook and, where visible,
on the product itself.
Warning: Risk of Electrical Shock
Given when there is a risk of electrical shock.
Warning
Given when there is a risk of injury to the user.
Caution
Given when there is a possibility of damage to the product.
Note
Clarification of an instruction or additional information.
2.1. General Warnings and Cautions
Warning
If this equipment is used ina mannernot specified by the manufacturer,the protectionprovided by the equipment
may be impaired. In particular, excessive moisture may impair operation.
The equipment is susceptible to damage from electrostatic discharge. When handling the device, anti-static
precautions must be taken and suitable discharge appliances must be worn.
Spillage of fluid,such as sample solutions, should beavoided. If spillagedoes occur, cleanup immediately using
absorbent tissue.
Do not bend the PCB. A bending load in excess of 500 g applied to the board may cause the PCB to deform,
which will degrade the performance of the controller.
During use do not place the PCB directly onto electro-conductive material e.g. an optical table top or breadboard.

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 3: Operation
Rev C Jan 2020 Page 3
Chapter 3 Operation
3.1. Environmental Conditions
Warning
Operation outside the following environmental limits may adversely affect operator safety.
Location Indoor use only
Maximum altitude 2000 m
Temperature range 15°C to 40°C
Maximum Humidity Less than 80% RH (non-condensing) at 31°C
To ensure reliable operation the unit should not be exposed to corrosive agents or excessive moisture, heat or
dust.
If the unit has been stored at a low temperature or in an environment of high humidity, it must be allowed to
reach ambient conditions before being powered up.
The unit is not designed to be used in explosive environments.
3.2. Getting Started
Warning
The safety of any system incorporating this equipment is the responsibility of the pers
on performing the
installation.
Caution
Although the module can tolerate up to 8 kV of air discharge, it must be treated as ESD sensitive device. When
handling the device, anti-static precautions must be taken and suitable discharge appliances must be
worn.
When power is applied, do not connect or disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the interface board to the
distribution board. Always remove power before making connections.
The ribbon cable connector is made of plastic and is not particularly robust. Do not use force when making
connections. Unnecessary or repeated plugging in and unplugging should be avoided or the connector may fail.

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 3: Operation
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3.2.1. Distribution Board Description
Figure 1ELLB Distribution Board
Power Supply Connection – 5 V, 2 A, compatible with PSU supplied with ELLXXK kits or TPS101 T-Cube
PSU. External diameter 6.3 mm, Internal diameter 2.1 mm.
Jumpers – M1R to M4R allow the reception of each of the four drive channels (M1R to M4R) to be enabled or
disabled by the fitting or removal of the associated jumper. If the jumper is removed, the drive channel can still
be addressed, but no response from the associated stage can be received.
LED allows the INM LEDs on the PCB to be enabled (jumper fitted) and disabled (jumper removed). If the
jumper is fitted, the LED will be lit when the associated stage is moving.
USB RX and USB TX – These pins can be connected to a Raspberry or Arduino board instead of the USB
Interface board to control the ELL stage modules connected to the distribution board.
GND and 5V are for use with an external power supply, 5 V 2 A.
Drive Channel Connectors (1 to 4) – These connectors allow either an interface board or a stage module to
be connected to the distribution board.
INM LED – Lit when the associated stage is moving or busy.
3.2.2. Interface Board Description
The interface board supplied with the Elliptec Stage Evaluation Kits provides for USB connection to the host
PC.
Caution
Moves cannot be initiated using the FW, BW and JOG buttons on the interface board. Moves must be performed
using the Elliptec software running on a PC, or by writing a custom application using the messages described
in the communications protocol document.
The PWR LED (LED1) is lit green when power is applied to the unit. The INM LED (LED2) is lit red when the
device being driven is in motion.
Figure 2Handset Details

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 3: Operation
Rev C Jan 2020 Page 5
3.2.3. Power Supply Options
The distribution board is compatible with the TPS101 PSU available from www.thorlabs.com and with the power
supply shipped with the ELLxx Evaluation Kits. These PSUs should be connected directly to the distribution.
board. This allows simultaneous motion of up to 2 modules.
The distribution board also features GND and 5V terminals (see section 3.2.1) for use with an external 5 V 2 A
power supply like those available in most labs. If more current is needed (e.g. to move more than 2 devices at
the same time) then a 5V 4A external power supply is available from Farnell (Part No 2815881).
Caution
As more devices are connected, simultaneous control of the units will require more current to be provided by
the power supply.
Although the ELL6 can be operated standalone via USB power, when it is used with the ELLb then an external
power supply is required.
3.2.4. Connecting Devices
When a device is first connected to the PC, it is assigned the default address '0'. The software can run
multiple devices; however, before more than one device can be recognised, each device must be assigned a
unique address. See below for a brief overview; detailed instructions are contained in the help file supplied
with the software.
1. Switch ON the PC.
2. Connect an interface board (supplied with the individual ELL stage kits) to the distribution board.
Caution
The unit is easily damaged by connections with incorrect polarity. Pin 1 of the connector on the PCB is marked
with an arrow (see Figure 4 and Figure 5.) which should be adjacent to the red wire in the connecting cable.
3. Connect the interface board to your PC.
4. Connect the first device to the distribution board.
5. Connect the distribution board to a 5V supply and switch ‘ON’. (A 5V PSU is supplied with the ELL
series stage kits, the TPS101 T-Cube supply is also compatible). Wait for the drivers to be installed
6. Run the Elliptec software and load the device.
7. Change the address of the first device.
8. Save the address of the first device.
9. Connect the next device to the distribution board.
10. In the ELL software GUI , press the “Disconnect” and “Connect” buttons to allow the software to see
the new module.
11. Repeat steps 6 to 9 for the new module just connected.
Multiple devices can be controlled individually, either via the Elliptec software or by a third party application
written using the messages detailed in the protocol document. Control via the handset is not possible when
using the distribution board.
When powering down, remove power from the distribution board, before disconnecting the USB from the PC.

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 3: Operation
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3.2.5. Stage Connector Pin Out
PIN
TYPE
FUNCTION
1
PWR
Ground
2
OUT
ODTX open drain transmit 3.3V TTL RS232
3
IN
RX receive 3.3V TTL RS232
4
OUT
In Motion, open drain active low max 5mA
5
IN
Not Connected
6
IN
Not Connected
7
IN
Not Connected
8
PWR
VCC +5V +/-10% 800mA (per module connected)
Connector model number MOLEX 90814-0808 Farnell order code 1518211
Mating connector model number MOLEX 90327-0308 Farnell order code 673160
Figure 3 Stage Connector Pin Out Details

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 3: Operation
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3.3. Controlling the Stage
The stage can be controlled by the Elliptec software running on a PC, or by writing a custom application using
the messages described in the communications protocol document. The modes of control are described in the
following sections.
Caution
Moves cannot be initiated using the FW, BW and JOG buttons on the interface board.
3.3.1. Software Control
Caution
If multiple modules are connected, ensure that the address of each modue has been changed (see section
3.2.4) before using the software.
When connected to the host PC, the stage can be controlled remotely, via the Elliptec software.
1. Download the Elliptic software from the downloads section at www.thorlabs.com. Double click the
saved .exe file and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Connect the hand-held controller to the stage unit.
3. Connect the hand-held controller to the 5V Power Supply and switch on.
4. Connect the hand-held controller to the PC USB port and wait for the drivers to be installed.
5. Run the Elliptec software.
6. In the top left of the GUI panel displayed, select the COM port to which the device is connected, and
click ‘Connect’. The software will search the comms bus and enumerate the device.
7. Click the Home Offset ‘Get’ button, then click ‘Home’ to home the stage.
8. The GUI and device are now ready for use. See the helpfile supplied with the software for more
information.

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 3: Operation
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3.3.2. Communications Protocol
Custom move applications can be written in languages such as C# and C++.
The communication bus allows multi-drop communication with speeds at 9600 baud, 8 bit data length, 1 stop
bit, no parity.
Protocol data is sent in ASCII HEX format, while module addresses and commands are mnemonic character
(no package length is sent). Modules are addressable (default address is “0”) and addresses can be changed
and/or saved using a set of commands. Lower case commands are sent by user while upper case commands
are replies by the module.
Please refer to the communications protocol manual for more detail about commands and data packet formats.

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 4: Specifications
Rev C Jan 2020 Page 9
Chapter 4 Specifications
General Specifications
Rated Voltage
4.5 to 5.5 V
Typical Current Consumption During Movement (per module connected)
800 mA
Max Current (of board)
4.0 A
Standby Current (per module connected)
0.05 A
8-Conductor Ribbon Cable Length (Supplied)
250 mm
8-Conductor Ribbon Cable Length (Maximum)
500 mm
Operating Temperature Range
15 to 40 °C (59 to 104 °F)
Weight
0.011 kg

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 5: Regulatory
Page 10 DTN000524-D02
Chapter 5 Regulatory
5.1. Declarations of Conformity
5.1.1. For Customers in Europe
5.1.2. For Customers In The USA
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, persuant to part
15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the company could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.

ELLB Distribution Board for Resonant Piezo Motor Products Chapter 6: Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts
Rev C Jan 2020 Page 11
Chapter 6 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts
For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at www.thorlabs.com/contact for our most up-to-date
contact information.
Thorlabs verifies our compliance with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
directive of the European Community and the corresponding national laws. Accordingly, all end
users in the EC may return “end of life” Annex I category electrical and electronic equipment
sold after August 13, 2005 to Thorlabs, without incurring disposal charges. Eligible units are
marked with the crossed out “wheelie bin” logo (see right), were sold to and are currently owned
by a company or institute within the EC, and are not dissembled or contaminated. Contact
Thorlabs for more information. Waste treatment is your own responsibility. “End of life” units
must be returned to Thorlabs or handed to a company specializing in waste recovery. Do not
dispose of the unit in a litter bin or at a public waste disposal site. Annex I
USA, Canada, and South America
Thorlabs, Inc.
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
UK and Ireland
Thorlabs Ltd.
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
Europe
Thorlabs GmbH
[e-mail]
Scandinavia
Thorlabs Sweden AB
[e-mail]
France
Thorlabs SAS
[e-mail]
Brazil
Thorlabs Vendas de Fotônicos Ltda.
[e-mail]
Japan
Thorlabs Japan, Inc.
[e-mail]
China
Thorlabs China
[e-mail]

www.thorlabs.com