THORLABS T-Cube NanoTrak TNA001/IR User manual

TNA001/IR
T-Cube NanoTrak Controller
Kinesis User Guide
Original Instructions

2 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Contents
Chapter 1 For Your Safety .............................................................................4
1.1 Safety Information .................................................................................. 4
1.2 General Warnings .................................................................................. 4
Chapter 2 Overview and Setup .....................................................................5
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 5
2.2 Power Options ........................................................................................ 6
2.3 Kinesis PC Software Overview ............................................................... 7
2.3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 7
2.3.2 Kinesis Server .................................................................................................... 7
2.3.3 Software Upgrades ............................................................................................. 9
Chapter 3 Installation & Initial Software Settings ..................................... 10
3.1 Install The Software .............................................................................. 10
3.2 Mechanical Installation ......................................................................... 11
3.2.1 Environmental Conditions ................................................................................ 11
3.2.2 Mounting Options ............................................................................................. 11
3.2.3 Removing the Baseplate .................................................................................. 12
3.3 Electrical Installation ............................................................................. 13
3.3.1 Description of Input/Output Connections .......................................................... 13
3.3.2 Supply Voltage and Current Requirements ...................................................... 14
3.3.3 Connecting To A Standalone Power Supply .................................................... 14
3.3.4 Using The USB Controller Hub ........................................................................ 15
3.3.5 Detector Heads and Cables ............................................................................. 16
Chapter 4 Using the NanoTrak Without A PC ............................................ 17
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 17
4.1.1 System Overview - Fiber to Fiber Alignment Example ..................................... 17
4.2 Control Panel Buttons and Indicators .................................................. 18
4.2.1 Track/Latch Button Operation .......................................................................... 19
4.2.2 Mode Button and Auto Ranging ....................................................................... 19
4.3 Building An Auto-alignment System - Stand Alone Operation ............. 19
4.3.1 Wiring and Initial Set Up ................................................................................... 19
4.3.2 Basic Operation ................................................................................................ 20
4.4 Using an External Power Meter ............................................................ 23
Continued...

3
T-Cube NanoTrak Autoalignment Controller
Chapter 5 PC Operation - Tutorial .............................................................. 24
5.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................24
5.2 Using the Kinesis Software ...................................................................24
5.3 Building An Auto-alignment System - PC Operation ............................26
5.3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 26
5.3.2 Wiring and Software Settings for Hub Operation ............................................. 26
5.3.3 Piezo Driver Hub Mounting Options ................................................................. 30
5.3.4 Wiring and Software Settings for Standalone Operation ................................. 30
5.3.5 Basic Operation ............................................................................................... 32
5.3.6 Using Two NanoTraks in the Same System .................................................... 36
5.4 Programmed Operation ........................................................................38
5.5 Setting Sequences ...............................................................................38
5.6 Changing and Saving Parameter Settings ...........................................38
Chapter 6 Software Reference .................................................................... 39
6.1 GUI Panel .............................................................................................39
6.2 NanoTrak Settings Window ..................................................................43
6.2.1 Tracking tab ..................................................................................................... 43
6.2.2 Input/Output tab ............................................................................................... 46
6.2.3 Display Tab ...................................................................................................... 50
Appendices
Appendix A Connector Pinout Details ....................................................... 52
Appendix B Preventive Maintenance ......................................................... 53
Appendix C Specifications and Associated Parts .................................... 54
Appendix D The NanoTrak Principle Of Operation ................................... 56
Appendix E Regulatory ................................................................................ 61
Appendix F Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts ................................................ 55

4
Chapter 1 For Your Safety
1.1 Safety Information
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.
The following safety symbo ls may be u sed throughout the h andbook and on the
equipment itself.
1.2 General Warnings
Shock Warning
Given when there is a risk of injury from electrical shock.
Warning
Given when there is a risk of injury to users.
Caution
Given when there is a risk of damage to the product.
Note
Clarification of an instruction or additional information.
Warnings
If this equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the
protection provided by the equipment may be impaired. In particular,
excessive moisture may impair operation.
Spillage of fluid, such as sample solutions, should be avoided. If spillage does
occur, clean up immediately using absorbant tissue. Do not allow spilled fluid
to enter the internal mechanism.
Caution
If your PC becomes unresponsive (e.g due to an operating system problem,
entering a sleep state condition, or screen saver operation) for a prolonged
period, this will interrupt communication between the Software and the
hardware, and a communications error may be generated. To minimize the
possibility of this happening it is strongly recommended that any such modes
that result in prolonged unresponsiveness be disabled before the software is
run. Please consult your system administrator or contact Thorlabs technical
support for more details.

5
Chapter 2 Overview and Setup
2.1 Introduction
The T-Cube NanoTrak Controller represents the latest developments in automated
optical alignment technology. It is designed for use in photonics device alignment and
is ideal for low volume device assembly, characterization, and mapping. This auto
alignment T-Cube unit is used together with a pair of external piezo amplifier channels
(KPZ101 K-Cube Piezo Drivers) to provide a complete solution for manipulating piezo
actuated nano-positioning stages to align devices to the 10nm regime. Equipped with
a direct FC/PC optical PIN diode input fed to a high gain multi-range transimpedance
amplifier (TIA), this unit dep loys the same ad vanced auto alignment algorithms
pioneered on our high end higher bandwidth benchtop NanoTrak Controller (BNT001)
to achieve high efficiency optical coupling in photonics alignment applications. The
units are shipped with an InGaAs detector for infra red wavelengths. A silicon, visible
wavelength detector (NTA009) is available separately.
Operator interaction can be accomplished via th e manual control panel, via the
intuitive software interface provided with the unit or via the software function calls.
For convenience the footprint of this unit has been kept to a minimum, measuring only
60mm x 60mm x 47mm (2.4” x 2.4” x 1.8”) and with the facility to directly mount to the
optical table close to the device under control. Table top operation also allows minimal
drive cable lengths for easier cable management. All manual controls are located on
the top face of the unit – very convenient when manually adjusting fiber positions and
monitoring the alignment via the easy to read ‘Target’ display.
Fig. 2.1 T-Cube NanoTrak Controller TNA001 (without baseplate)

6 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Chapter 2
USB connectivity provides easy 'Plug and Play' PC controlled operation - multiple
units can be connected to a single PC via standard USB hub technology or by using
the K-Cube Controller Hub (see Section 3.3.4.) for mul ti-axis motion control
applications. Coupling this with the user friendly Kinesis software (supplied) allows
the user to get up and running in a short space of time. Adva nced custom motion
control applications and sequences are also possible using the extensive
programming environment also supplied. This programming library is compatible with
many development tools such as LabView, Visual Basic, Visual C++, C++ Builder,
LabWindows/CVI, Matlab and Delphi.
See Section 2.3. for a full description of the Kinesis system software.
In the remai nder of this ha ndbook, the Tutorial sections (Chapter 4 “Using the
NanoTrak Without A PC” on page 17 and Chapter 5 “PC Operation - Tutorial” on
page 24) provide a good initial understanding on using the unit, and the reference
section (Chapter 6) covers all operating modes and parameters in detail.
2.2 Power Options
For power, a compact two-way power supply unit (TPS002) is available from Thorlabs
allowing up to 2 K-Cube Piezo Drivers to be powered from a single mains outlet. This
power supply unit is also designed to take up minimal space and can be mounted to
the optical table in close proximity to the driver units, connected via short power leads.
As a further level of convenience when using the T-Cube Controllers Thorlabs also
offers the 3-channel and 6-channel Controller Hubs (KCH301 and KCH601). These
products have been designed specifically with multiple cube operation in mind in
order to simplify issues such as cab le management, power supply routing, multiple
USB device communications and different optical table mounting scenarios.
The K-Cube Controller Hub comprises a slim base-plate type carrier with electrical
connections located on the upper surface to accept the K-Cubes.
Internally the Controller Hub contains a fully compliant USB 2.0 hub circuit to provide
communications for all K-Cubes – a single USB connection to the Controller Hub is
all that is required for PC control. The Controller Hub also provides power distribution
for the K-Cubes, requiring only a single power connection.
In order to fit the Na noTrak T-Cube on the hubs, and adapter (KAP101) is required
and these are available from www.thorlabs.com.

7
T-Cube NanoTrak Autoalignment Controller
2.3 Kinesis PC Software Overview
2.3.1 Introduction
The K-Cube range of controllers share many of the benefits. These include USB
connectivity (allowing multiple units to be used together on a single PC), fully featured
Graphical User Interface (GUI) panels, and extensive software function libraries for
custom application development.
The Kinesis software suite provides a flexible and powerful PC based control system
both for users of the equipment, and software programmers aiming to automate its
operation.
The User Interface allows full control of all settings and operating modes enabling
complete ‘out-of-box’ operation without the need to de velop any further custom
software. It provides all of the necessary system software services such as generation
of GUI panels, communications handling for multiple USB units, and logging of all
system activity to assist in hardware trouble shooting. The Kinesis server is also used
by software d evelopers to allow the creation of advanced automated positioning
applications very rapidly and with great ease. The server is described in more detail
in the following section.
2.3.2 Kinesis Server
Kinesis controls are re-usab le compiled software compo nents that supply both a
graphical user interface an d a p rogrammable interface. Many such Controls a re
available for Windows applications development, providing a large range of re-usable
functionality. For example, there are C ontrols available that can be used to
manipulate image files, connect to the in ternet or si mply provide user interface
components such as buttons and list boxes.
With the Kinesis system, .Net Controls are deployed to allow direct control over (and
also reflect the status of) the range of electronic controller units, including the Piezo
K-Cube. Software applications that use .Net Controls are often referred to as 'client
applications'. A .Net Co ntrol is a l anguage independent software component.
Consequently the controls can be i ncorporated into a wide range of softwa re
development environments for use b y client application developers. Development
environments supported include Visual Basic, Labview, Visual C++, C++ Builder,
HPVEE, Matlab, VB.NET, C#.NET
and, via VBA, Microsoft Office applications such as
Excel and Word.

8 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Chapter 2
Consider the supplied for a TNA001 NanoTrak controller unit (one panel is displayed
for each controller).
This Control provides a complete user graphical instrument panel to al low the
NanoTrak unit to be manually operated, as well as a complete set of software
functions (often called methods) to allow all parameters to be set and NanoTrak
control operations to be automated by a client application. The instrument panel
reflects the current operating state of the controller unit to which it is associated (e.g.
such as range and relative power). Updates to the panel take place automatically
when a user (client) application is making software calls into th e same Control. For
example, if a client application instructs the associated NanoTrak Control to track the
position of maximum power, progress is monitored automatically by changing position
on the scan circle display, without the need for further programming intervention.
The Kinesis software provides a rich set of graphical user panels and programmable
interfaces allowing users and client application developers to interact seamlessly with

9
T-Cube NanoTrak Autoalignment Controller
the hardware. Each of the co ntrollers has an associated GUI Control and these are
described fully in the handbook for the associated controller.
Fig. 2.2 System Architecture Diagram
Refer to the main Kinesis Soft ware online help file, for a co mplete programmers
guide. This is available either by pressing the F1 key when running the Kinesis server,
or via the Start menu, Start\Programs\Thorlabs\Kinesis\Kinesis Help.
2.3.3 Software Upgrades
Thorlabs operate a policy of continuous product development and may issue software
upgrades as necessary. The latest software can be downloaded from the ‘services’
section of www.thorlabs.com.

10
Chapter 3 Installation & Initial Software Settings
3.1 Install The Software
DO NOT CONNECT THE CONTROLLER TO YOUR PC YET
1) Go to Services/Down loads at www.thorlabs.com and do wnload the Kin esis
software.
2) Run the .exe file and follow the on-screen instructions.
Note
This section is applicable only if the T-Cube is to be used with a PC. If
your application consists only of local operation via the T-Cube front
face, proceed to Section 3.2.
When operating via a PC, direct user interaction with the NanoTrak
controller is accomplished through intuitive graphical user interface
panels (GUIs), which expose all key operating parameters and modes.
The user can select multiple panel views displaying different information
about a particular hardware unit. The multitasking architecture ensures
that the graphical control panels always remain live, showing all current
hardware activity.
Caution
Some PCs may have been configured to restrict the users ability to load
software, and on these systems the software may not install/run. If you are
in any doubt about your rights to install/run software, please consult your
system administrator before attempting to install.
Ifyouexperience any problems wheninstalling software, contactThorlabson
[phone] and ask for Technical Support.

11
T-Cube NanoTrak Autoalignment Controller
3.2 Mechanical Installation
3.2.1 Environmental Conditions
Location Indoor use only
Maximum altitude 2000 m
Temperature range 5oC to 40oC
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.
3.2.2 Mounting Options
The T-Cube NanoTrak controller is shipped with a baseplate fitted, ready to be bolted
to a breadboard, optical table or similar surface.
If desired, the baseplate can be removed and the unit can be stood on rubber feet -
see Section 3.2.3.
For multiple cube systems, a 3-channel and 6-channel K-Cube Controller Hub
(KCH301 and KCH601). ) are also available - see Section 2.2. for further details. Full
instructions on the fitting and use of the controller hub are contained in the handbook
for the units, available at www.thorlabs.com.
Warning
Operation outside the following environmental limits may adversely
affect operator safety.
Caution
When siting the unit, it should be positioned so as not to impede the
operation of the control panel buttons.
Ensure that proper airflow is maintained to the rear of the unit. Do not
cover/obscure the ventilation holes.

12 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Chapter 3
3.2.3 Removing the Baseplate
The baseplate must be removed before the rubber feet (supplied) can be fitted, or the
unit is connected to the USB controller hub.
Fig. 3.1 Removing The Baseplate
Using a hexagon key, remove the bolts securing the unit to the baseplate. Retain the
bolts for future use if the baseplate is refitted.
1) Turn the unit upside down.
2) Remove the backing paper from the rubber feet (supplied) taking care not to touch
the exposed adhesive surface.
3) Position the feet as desir ed, then press and hold for a few seconds until the
adhesive has bonded.
4) The unit may now be used freestanding, sitting on its rubber feet.
Detail A Detail B
Baseplate removed and rubber feet fittedBaseplate attachment screws

13
T-Cube NanoTrak Autoalignment Controller
3.3 Electrical Installation
3.3.1 Description of Input/Output Connections
Fig. 3.2 Rear Panel Connections
OPTICAL/PIN IN – A range of connectors are avail able, which plug into the
OPTICAL/PIN IN connector.
The TNA001-IR is fitted with a FC/PC connector. This terminal incorporates an
internal InGaAs Infra Re d detector and accepts a connectorized fiber - see Section
3.3.5. for more details. Also included is a SMB connector, which is used to receive a
signal from a PIN diode, as incorporated in external detector heads. A silicon, visible
wavelength detector (NTA009) is available separately.
SIG IN (SMA connector) – Used to receive a signal of optical power from an external
power meter; 0 to 10V range, 1MΩ input impedance.
LV OUT CH1 and LV OUT CH2 (SMA connector) – 0 to +10V. When the unit is used
off the hub, these outputs are connected to the EXT IN connectors on the associated
Piezo Drivers - see Section 4.3.1. and Section 5.3. When the unit is used with the
TCH002 hub - see Section 5.3.2., these outputs can be connected to an oscilloscope
to enable the drive signal of the piezo actuator to be monitored.
Note
The selection between OPTICAL/PIN IN and SIG IN is made in Input Signal
Source parameter in the settings panel - see Section 6.2.2.
Note
Thorlabs supply a variety of SMA to BNC and SMC to BNC adaptor and
extension cables. Please see our catalog, or visit www.thorlabs.com for
further details.
LV OUT
CH1
LV OUT
CH2
OPTICAL/PIN IN
SIG IN

14 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Chapter 3
3.3.2 Supply Voltage and Current Requirements
3.3.3 Connecting To A Standalone Power Supply
Fig. 3.3 Front Panel Power Supply Connector
1) Using the front panel connector as shown above, connect the unit to a regulated
DC power supply of the rating detailed in Section 3.3.2.
2) Switch on the Power Supply unit.
3) The Version number of the embedded software is displayed for a few seconds.
Supply Minimum Maximum Max Operating Current
+5V +4.9V +5.1V 400 mA
+15V +14.5V +15.5V 250 mA
-15V -14.5V -15.5V 100 mA
Warning
The unit must be connected only to a DC supply as detailed in Section
3.3.2. Connection to a supply of a different rating may cause damage to
the unit and could result in injury to the operator.
Caution
Do not connect the T-Cube unit to a 'live' external power supply. Doing so (i.e.
“hot plugging”) carries the risk of PERMANENT damage to the unit. Always
ensure the power supply unit is isolated from the mains before connecting to
the T-Cube unit. Always power up the units by connecting their power supply
to the mains. Similarly, to power down the unit, disconnect the power supply
from the mains before disconnecting the T-Cube.
USB POWER
DC +15V, -15V, +5V

15
T-Cube NanoTrak Autoalignment Controller
Thorlabs offers a compact, two-way power supply unit (TPS002), allowing up to two
NanoTrak or Piezo driver K-Cubes to be pow ered from a single mains outlet.
However, if an e xternal supply is to be used, see Appendix A.1 for power supply
connector pin out details.
3.3.4 Using The USB Controller Hub
Thorlabs offers 3-channel and 6-channel Controller Hubs (KCH301 and KCH601).
These products have been designed specifically with multiple cube operation in mind
in order to simplify issues such as cable management, power supply routing, multiple
USB device communications and different optical table mounting scenarios.
The K-Cube Controller Hub comprises a sl im base-plate type carrier with ele ctrical
connections located on the upper surface to accept the K-Cubes.
Internally the Controller Hub contains a fully compliant USB 2.0 hub circuit to provide
communications for all K-Cubes – a single USB connection to the Controller Hub is
all that is required for PC control. The Controller Hub also provides power distribution
for the K-Cubes, requiring only a single power connection.
In order to fit the NanoTrak T-Cube on the hubs, and adapter (KAP101) is required
and these are available from www.thorlabs.com.
.
Caution
If an external power supply is used, ensure that the 3 supply voltages are
turned on and off simultaneously. Applying the supply voltages with a
large (more than 1 second) time delay between them can result in the
NanoTrak cube showing an incorrect reading.
Warning
DO NOT PLUG A POWERED UP T-CUBE INTO THE TCH002 USB
CONTROLLER HUB. Always ensure that all power is disconnected from
the Controller T-Cubes AND the hub before the T-Cube is plugged into the
hub. Failure to observe this precaution will seriously damage the T-Cube
unit and could result in personal injury.

16 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Chapter 3
3.3.5 Detector Heads and Cables
The OPTICAL/PIN IN connector on the rear panel of the NanoTrak has been
designed to increase the interchangeability of the optical input source. A range of
connectors are available which simply plug into the connector on the rear panel.
The TNA001/IR NanoTrak is supplied with an Infra Red InGaAs photodiode (NTA007)
and a standard SMB connector for use with external detector heads which incorporate
a PIN (p-type/intrinsic/n-type) diode.
A visible spectrum Si photodiode (NTA009) is available separately.
Caution
The K-Cube Hub allows the transfer of voltage signals between T-Cubes
with two available analog lines. This is used by the KPZ101 Piezo Cube and
KSG101 Strain Gauge Cube to route a feedback signal via the Hub for
closedloop operation. It is also used by the TNA001 NanotrakCubeto send
position demand signals to a pair of slave KPZ101 Piezo Cubes.
A clash can occur if a KSG101 Strain Gauge Cube and a TNA001 NanoTrak
Cube are combined on the hub, and both attempt to drive voltage signals
out via the Hub. In this instance it is recommended that the TNA001
NanoTrak Cube is configured to drive signals out via its SMA connections
and the associated KPZ101 Piezo Cubepair configured to pick these signal
up via SMA inputs. This will require small SMA to SMA connection cables
(e.g. CA2912), various lengths of which are available from Thorlabs.

17
Chapter 4 Using the NanoTrak Without A PC
4.1 Introduction
The NanoTrak T-Cube has been designed specifically to operate with the KPZ101
Piezo Driver T-Cubes. Together, these units comprise an acti ve-feedback optical
alignment system that allows the user to align optical fibers and optimize the coupling
of light into and out of photonics devices. The following section gives a brief overview
of the way the NanoTrak operates. A detailed explanation is contained in Appendix D
.
4.1.1 System Overview - Fiber to Fiber Alignment Example
The system, comprises a TNA001 NanoTrak T-Cube and two KPZ101 piezo drivers,
together with the associated piezo-actuated stage, optical fibers and clamping
hardware (see Fig. 4.1), providing 2 dime nsional control of th e Y an d Z axes. The
objective of the system is to position the two fibers such that maximum power transfer
is obtained.
Fig. 4.1 Typical Stand Alone Set Up
The NanoTrak produces two sinu soidally varying outputs with 90 ° phase shift (i.e.
sine and cosine) which, when applied to the piezo stage, move the input optical fiber
in a circular path. DC o ffsets on these outputs are altered by the NanoTrak unit to
move the center position of the circular path (i.e. fiber) in Y and Z space.
The unit contains an internal power meter (Range and Signal bars - see Section 4.2.)
which can sample the power applied through the optical input.
As the fibers are driven in the circular motion the optical power coupling between the
optical (e.g. fiber) compo nents will fluctuate. The un it samples the po wer multiple
SAFETY
KEYSWITCH
POWER
mW
mA
dBm
MODE
OK
OUTPUT
HFB003
Fiber Holder
HFB003
Fiber Holder
MAX311
Flexure Stage
POWER
LATCH
MODE LATCH/TRACK
SIGNAL
RANGE
123456789101112
Input Fiber
Output Fiber
KPZ101
Piezo
Driver
KPZ101
Piezo
Driver
TNA001
NanoTrak
TLS001
Laser
Source
Piezo Controller
MENU
Piezo Controller
MENU

18 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Chapter 4
times around the circle and, using the point on the circle where the power is highest,
detects the direction in which the fibers need to move to maximize the power coupling.
In order for the system to operate correctly in different applications, various software
settings (explained in Section 6.2.) may need to be adjusted. However, the default
settings should allow the NanoTrak to be operated in most cases, straight out of the
box without the need for a PC.
The following sections describe the front panel controls and how they can be used to
perform a typical series of operations.
4.2 Control Panel Buttons and Indicators
Fig. 4.2 Panel Controls and Indicators
MODE/AUTO Button - se lects and de-selects the ‘Auto Rang ing’ mode - see
Section 4.2.2.
LATCH/TRACK Button - used to toggle between ‘LATCH’ and ‘TRACK’ modes of
operation - see Section 4.2.1.
LATCH LED - lit when the unit is in LATCH mode - seeSection 4.2.1.
RANGE Bar - displays the current range of the internal power meter. Available
ranges vary from 30 nanoamps (range 1) to 10 milliamp (range 12). Note that in
many practical a rrangements the l ower ranges may be un usable with typ ical
signal to noise ratios - see Section .
SIGNAL Bar - the power level registered for the current range- see Section 4.3.2.
TARGET - indicates the position of the output actuators in Y Z space - see Section
4.3.2.
POWER LED - lit when power is applied to the unit.
Note
The LATCH and the POWER LEDs will flash when the ‘Ident’ button is clicked on
the Software GUI panel - see Section 6.1. for further details.

19
T-Cube NanoTrak Autoalignment Controller
4.2.1 Track/Latch Button Operation
When in ‘T rack’ mode, the NanoTrak detects any drop in signal strength resulting
from misalignment of the input and output optical devices, and makes positional
adjustments (output DC offsets) to maintain maximum throughput. The ‘LATCH’ LED
is not lit when TRACK mode is selected.
When in ‘LATCH” mode, scanning is disabled and the piezo drives are held at their
present position (DC offsets fixed and no sinusoidal dithering, i.e. the piezo actuators
are stationary). The ‘LATCH’ LED is lit when ‘LATCH’ mode is selected.
4.2.2 Mode Button and Auto Ranging
The MODE button is used to toggle between auto and manual ranging modes. When
operating in 'Manual' ranging mode, the range is fixed at the range that was applied
at the moment th e MODE button was pressed. In this case, it is possible that the
range will become saturated. This is particularly useful if the application involves
scanning a p articular area to ob tain a power map, when range changes would be
undesirable.
When the auto-ranging mode is selected, range changes occur whenever the relative
input power signal reaches the upper or lower end of the currently set range.
4.3 Building An Auto-alignment System - Stand Alone Operation
4.3.1 Wiring and Initial Set Up
The following procedure describes a typical set up, with the TNA001 NanoTrak cube
being used with a pair of KPZ101 piezo driver cubes - see Fig. 4.1 for a typical system
schematic diagram. A TLS001 laser source cube is also shown, though this could be
substituted with any laser source.
1) Perform the mechanical installation as detailed in Section 3.2. of this manual and
also in the manual supplied with the T-Cube Piezo drivers.
2) Connect the LV OUT terminals on the rear of the NanoTrak unit to the associated
EXT IN terminals on the rear of the Piezo Drivers.
3) Connect the HV OUT terminals on the rear of the Piezo drivers to the associated
piezo actuators.
4) Connect the input optical fiber to the laser source.
5) Connect the output optical fiber to the OPTICAL/PIN IN terminal on the NanoTrak
rear panel.
6) Install any mechanical components such as fiber holders etc. - see Section 4.1.
for a typical set up.

20 HA0165T Rev 4K Sept 2017
Chapter 4
7) Connect the NanoTrak and the Piezo units to the power supply - see Section
3.3.2.
8) Connect the PSU to the main supply and switch ‘ON’. The version number of the
embedded software is displayed on each Piezo unit during boot up. The software
version is useful when requesting technical support.
4.3.2 Basic Operation
The general procedure involves setting the NanoTrak to ‘L atch’ (to lock the piezo
positions - see Section 4.2.1.) and using the manual actuators to adjust the stage
position until some power is detected. Once this initial ‘first light’ position is achieved
the NanoTrak is switched to ‘Track’ and the unit controls the piezo drivers which move
the stage to locate the position of maximum power.
1) Press the LATCH/TRACK button on the NanoTrak control panel to select ‘Latch’
mode, i.e. the LATCH LED is lit.
2) Using the manual X-axis actuator, position the stage such tha t the input and
output fibers are spaced well apart, with zero power transmission between them.
(Alternatively, switch off or obscure the optical power source). Make a note of the
readings shown on the RANGE and SIGNAL bars. Since the optical source has
been removed, these readings show the level of background noise present.
3) Use the manual X-axis actuator to bring the fiber tips close together.
4) Adjust the manual Y- and Z-axis actuators to visually align the fibers when viewed
from the side and above.
5) Carefully adjust the manual Y- and Z-axis actuators while observing the range and
signal bars. Continue to adjust the actuators in the direction of increasing power
as shown by rising range numbers and/or a lengthening power bar.
Caution
During item (7) ensure the power supply unit is isolated from the mains
before connecting to the T-Cube units. Always power up the units by
connecting their power supply to the mains. DO NOT connect the T-Cube
units to a 'live' external power supply. Doing so (i.e. “hot plugging”)
carries the risk of PERMANENT damage to the unit. Similarly, to power
down the unit, disconnect the power supply from the mains before
disconnecting the T-Cube.
Note
To simplify power supply connections, the T-cube units may be fitted to
a TCH002 controller hub - see Section 3.3.4. Revision 2 piezo units can
also use the hub for communications, negating the need for external
wiring. This requires certain parameters to be set in software - see
Section 5.3.2.