
4-Channel Fiber Coupled Laser Source
18659-D02 Rev B, September 21, 2011 Page 10 www.thorlabs.com
•When the appropriate channel is selected, press the control knob in. The bottom left location will
start blinking and will change to current. Ex: xx.xxmA. Adjust the control knob until the desired
current is achieved. The power will adjust real-time. The first time default setting will be power
full off. Adjusting the knob clockwise will immediately set the power to the laser threshold and
then incrementally to the max operating current. Adjusting the knob counter clockwise will
incrementally decrease the signal until it hits the threshold, and then immediately to laser off. On
power down, the current setting will be remembered.
Note that there is a timeout on the display, after which the display will revert back to the viewing
mode. This is to prevent accidental adjustment of the power.
•Press the knob again to switch to temperature adjustment. The set point temperature will be
displayed and will be blinking; for example, 25.00 °C. Adjust the control knob to increase or
decrease the temperature set point. The temperature default is 25.00 °C but can be adjusted over
a range of 20.00 to 30.00 °C with a resolution of 0.01 °C.
Note, as above there is a timeout where the display will revert to the viewing display and lock out
adjustment to the temperature.
•Pressing the control knob again will exit the adjustment mode and revert back to the viewing
mode, locking in the selected parameters. This can also be achieved by allowing the display to
time out at any point in the process. Depending on the magnitude of the change in temperature
set point, it will take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes for the system to settle into
the new operating temperature.
4.5. Turning the Laser Off
•Standby Mode – By adjusting the control knob fully counter clockwise the power will adjust
down to the threshold current and then to off, or standby mode. The threshold current is the point
at which the internal laser diode starts lasing. Below this it operates in a LED mode. For
convenience the system is set up to adjust from the threshold to the max current. In addition,
when adjusting below the threshold, the current will be set to almost 0 mA. Since the system
utilizes a constant current control, there will always be a minimum current to maintain the
current control loop. The output emission is typically very low, or nonexistent. The laser is still
enabled and operating at the minimum possible current. This can be useful while using the
external modulation. The full 5 V can be applied without compensating for the internal set point.
However, the external signal will need to provide a DC offset to bias the laser above the
threshold current for best results. Input signals will see clipping on there lower edges below
threshold. Pulse response time may also be effected since there is typically a time delay during
the LED to laser emission change.
•Disable/Enable Mode - The Laser output should be turned off by pressing and releasing the
SYSTEM ENABLE switch. Outputs can be individually turned off at any time by pressing their
ENABLE button. The laser temperature will be maintained even when the laser is disabled.
•Power Down - When completely powering down an enabled unit, first press and release the
SYSTEM ENABLE switch and then turn the POWER key switch counterclockwise, which will
turn OFF the entire unit. Anytime the unit is turned OFF and then turned back ON, the Laser will
be disabled until the SYSTEM ENABLE switch is pressed and the desired channels are enabled.
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