Wavelength Electronics LAB Series User manual

VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT
Remote Control of LAB Series Instruments
QCL LAB, TC LAB, LDTC LAB
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS 1
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS - QC LAB 2
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS - TC LAB 6
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS - LDTC LAB 14
ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION 25
TROUBLESHOOTING 26
WARRANTY & CERTIFICATION 27
Applies to Revision 1
© October 2019
406-587-4910
www.teamWavelength.com
COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Windows Operating System Compatibility
Windows 10/8.1/8/7 SP1 (32- and 64-bit)
Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit)
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (64-bit)
Processor Pentium III/Celeron 866 MHz (or equivalent) or later (32-bit)
Pentium 4 G1 (or equivalent) or later (64-bit)
RAM 256 MB minimum
Screen Resolution 1024 x 768 pixels
Disk Space 5 GB available hard disk space (32-bit)
20 GB DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver (64-bit)
Installation Prerequisites
NI LabVIEW®
-OR-
NI Runtime Engine for 2015, SP1 - 32 bit (2017, 64 bit for LDTC LAB)
NI-VISA Device Drivers
COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS
e
REMOTE INSTRUMENT CONTROL
Wavelength's Virtual Instruments o󰀨er higher level remote
control based on the Command Set for these TMC class
instruments. See the LAB Series Instrument Command Set
document for lower level control.
These free applications are executable les that use the
National Instruments Run Time Engine.
One of each type of instrument can be operated at a time.
If you would like di󰀨erent default values or functionality,
or the full VI, contact Technical Support. Custom Virtual
Instruments can easily be coded.

2
4. On the Virtual Instrument toolbar, click the
Run icon to communicate with the instrument once you
have entered the operating values on the Settings &
Monitors tab and want to apply the settings. If this icon
is visible, the VI is not running and any changes made on
screen will not be implemented.
ADDITIONAL CONTROLS
Running: Indicates that the instrument and application
are communicating and commands to implement
settings are continuously sent.
Run Continuously: This control is not used.
Running Continuously: This control is not used.
Abort Execution: This stops the application immediately,
interrupting any commands that are currently in process.
It is NOT recommended to use this method of stopping
the application. Instead, use the STOP button.
Stop: Use the Stop button to gracefully end
remote control of the instrument. Any commands
in process are completed prior to ending remote
control. The QCL LAB instrument will continue to
run in LOCAL MODE.
The QCL LAB rmware version must be 1.5 or greater to
operate with this VI.
INSTALL THE NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
RUNTIME ENGINE 2015
Prior to installing Wavelength's Virtual Instrument application,
the National Instrument (NI) Runtime Engine 2015 must be
installed on the remote computer.
When installing the Virtual Instrument .EXE le, if the Runtime
Engine is not already installed on the computer, a message
with a link to the NI website download page opens. Follow
the download instructions on the page. The Runtime Engine
can take several minutes to install and requires restarting the
computer.
INSTALL QCL LAB VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT
APPLICATION
1. On the Wavelength QCL Software Downloads page, click
the LabVIEW Interface for QCL LAB Series Instrument
and download it to the computer.
2. Save the le to the computer, and open it.
3. Follow the prompts to install the application.
CONNECT THE QCL LAB TO THE REMOTE
COMPUTER
1. Connect a USB or Ethernet cable from the instrument
to the remote computer and turn on the rear panel
power switch. See the QCL LAB datasheet for other
connections.
NOTE: If using an Ethernet connection, congure the
network settings with NI-MAX or similar.
2. On the computer, open the Virtual Instrument application.
3. On the Device Selection tab, in the QCL Instrument ID
eld, choose the instrument to communicate with. The
instrument is identied by the Serial Number, as shown
in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Device Selection Tab
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS - QC LAB

3
SETTINGS & MONITORS TAB
The Settings & Monitors tab is used as the main control for
remote operation.
Power: The Power button functions the same as the front
panel power switch on the instrument.
Enable: The Enable button enables current to the load and
functions the same as the Enable button on the front panel of
the QCL LAB instrument.
SETTINGS
Setpoint (A): In the Setpoint control, type the desired
setpoint, in Amps, that will be driven to the load. The range
is 0 Amps to the maximum output current allowed by the QCL
LAB instrument selected.
Current Limit (A): In the Current Limit control, type the
maximum value, in Amps, that the QCL LAB instrument
should not exceed to the laser. The range must be between
8% and 120% of the maximum current allowed by the QCL
LAB instrument selected.
Max Supply Voltage (V): In the Max Supply Voltage control,
type the maximum voltage, in Volts, from the internal supply.
The range must be between 18 V and 28 V. The available
voltage to the load is about 8 V below the value specied.
Cable Resistance (Ω): In the Cable Resistance control, type
the resistance of the cable, in Ohms, between the QCL LAB
instrument and the load. The QCL voltage displayed will be:
VDISPLAYED = VACTUAL - (RCABLE * IOUTPUT)
This calibration parameter gives a better representation of the
voltage at the actual load. The range is 0 to 4 Ohms.
Turn On Delay (msec): In the Turn On Delay control, type
the time, in milliseconds, to delay sending current to the load
after the Enable button or control is pressed. The range is an
integer between 1 and 25500 milliseconds. Factory default is
2 seconds to match CDRH safety requirements.
MONITORS
Actual QCL Current (A): Monitor output current, in Amps, to
the load.
Actual QCL Voltage (V): Monitor output voltage, in Volts, to
the load.
Interlock Status: The green indicator illuminates when all
interlocks are set to enable the output current. The front panel
key switch must be turned to ON (unlocked), and active and
passive interlock inputs on the rear panel must be congured
to allow output. When this indicator is grayed and the Enable
button is pushed, an interlock error will be triggered by the
QCL LAB instrument.
Figure 2. Settings & Monitors Tab

4
VI SCAN TAB
Perform a VI characterization scan of the QCL load. Input
scan settings, le name and location to store the scan data,
and start or stop the scan.
Current Start (A): In the Current Start control, type the
current, in Amps, at which to start the VI scan. The scan
records current versus voltage data for the load. The range
is 0 Amps to the maximum output current allowed by the QCL
LAB instrument selected.
Current Stop (A): In the Current Stop control, type the
current, in Amps, at which to stop the VI scan. The range is
0 Amps to the maximum output current allowed by the QCL
LAB instrument selected. The scan will not increase current
beyond the Current Limit set on the Settings & Monitors tab.
Step Size (A): In the Step Size control, type the magnitude, in
Amps, for each step in the VI scan. The step size and duration
determines the length of the scan. The minimum step size
must be non-zero. A negative value will result in a scan with
decreasing current.
Step Duration (sec): In the Step Duration control, type the
time delay, in seconds, between each step in the VI scan.
The step size and duration determines the length of the scan.
The range is 1 to 10 seconds. A duration of greater than 2
seconds is recommended for best stability.
VI Scan Data Graph: Plot of output current versus load
voltage.
VI Scan File Path: Type the le path to the location where the
scan data is to be stored. Click the folder icon to browse for a
location. A le name must be provided before a scan can be
run.
VI Scan File Header: In the VI Scan File Header control,
type the heading that appears at the top of a new scan data
le. If you are appending data to an existing le, the header
name will not be changed in the le regardless of whether this
control eld has changed.
VI Scan Start/Stop: Click this button to start or stop a scan.
A le path must be specied before running a scan. When the
button is lit, the scan is running. The button turns gray when
the scan is complete. To stop a scan in progress, click the
button.
Figure 3. VI Scan Tab - Results with Resistive Test Load

5
DATA LOGGING TAB
The chart display starts when the Virtual Instrument application
starts. It displays the last 17 minutes of data.
Interval (sec): In the Interval control, type the desired interval, in
seconds, for data to be recorded. The range is 1 to 10 seconds.
Log Data button: Click this button to start or stop logging output
current and current limit data to a le. A le path must be specied
before data can be logged. When the button is lit, the data is
being recorded. To stop logging data, click the button again.
Output Data Graph: Plot of output current and current limit. This
data is live and only logged to the le specied in the le path
selected below when the Log Data button is pressed.
Output Current (A): The output current is shown in white.
Current Limit (V): The current limit is shown in red.
Logged Data File Path: Type a le path to the location where the
data is to be stored. Click the folder icon to browse for a location.
A le location must be specied before data can be logged.
Logged Data File Header: In the Logged Data File Header
control, type the heading that appears at the top of a new data
le. If appending data, the le header is not rewritten.
ADDITIONAL SETUP TAB
Get Errors: Click the Get Errors button to retrieve all error codes
stored on the QCL LAB instrument. These are displayed in the
Error Text eld. See the QCL LAB datasheet for more information
on error messages. Once the errors have been retrieved, the
button turns gray and the errors are automatically cleared from
the instrument error queue.
Existing Prole Name: Click in the eld to list all of the existing
prole names stored on the QCL LAB instrument. The name
selected in this control is a󰀨ected by the Save New Prole Name
control.
Save New Prole Name: Two lines can be saved as a prole
name in the instrument. Enter the name you want and then press
the Save New Prole Name control to save a new name (line 1 &
line 2) to the prole listed under the existing name. A maximum
of 15 characters is allowed in each line.
New Name Line 1: A maximum of 15 characters is allowed.
New Name Line 2: A maximum of 15 characters is allowed.
Figure 4. Data Logging Tab
Figure 5. Additional Setup Tab

6
4. On the Virtual Instrument toolbar, click the
Run icon to communicate with the instrument once you
have entered the operating values on the Settings &
Monitors tab and want to apply the settings. If this icon
is visible, the VI is not running, and any changes made
on screen will not be implemented.
ADDITIONAL CONTROLS
Running: Indicates that the instrument and application
are communicating and commands to implement
settings are continuously sent.
Run Continuously: This control is not used.
Running Continuously: This control is not used.
Abort Execution: This stops the application immediately,
interrupting any commands that are currently in process.
It is NOT recommended to use this method of stopping
the application. Instead, use the STOP button.
Stop: Use the Stop button to gracefully end
remote control of the instrument. Any commands
in process are completed prior to ending remote
control. The TC LAB instrument will continue to
run in LOCAL MODE.
INSTALL THE NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
RUNTIME ENGINE 2015
Prior to installing Wavelength's Virtual Instrument application,
the National Instrument (NI) Runtime Engine 2015 must be
installed on the remote computer.
When installing the Virtual Instrument .EXE le, if the Runtime
Engine is not already installed on the computer, a message
with a link to the NI website download page opens. Follow
the download instructions on the page. The Runtime Engine
can take several minutes to install and requires restarting the
computer.
INSTALL TC LAB VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT
APPLICATION
1. On the Wavelength TC Software Downloads page,
click the LabVIEW Interface for the TC LAB Series and
download it to the computer.
2. Save the le to the computer, and open it.
3. Follow the prompts to install the application.
CONNECT THE TC LAB TO THE REMOTE
COMPUTER
1. Connect a USB or Ethernet cable from the instrument to
the remote computer and turn on the rear panel power
switch. See the TC LAB datasheet for other connections.
NOTE: If using an Ethernet connection, congure the
network settings with NI-MAX or similar.
2. On the computer, open the Virtual Instrument application.
3. On the Device Selection tab, in the TC Device ID
eld, choose the instrument to communicate with. The
instrument is identied by the Serial Number, as shown
in Figure 6.
Instrument Serial Number
Figure 6. Device Selection Tab
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS - TC LAB

7
SETTINGS & MONITORS TAB
The Settings & Monitors tab is used as the main control for remote operation.
Temp Limit Min (°C): In the Temp Limit Min control, type the
minimum temperature limit value, in degrees Celsius. This
sets the lower limit both for the temperature setpoint and
for triggering the laser diode shutdown output. The range is
between -99 and +250°C, and may not be greater than the
value for the temperature setpoint.
Internal Max Voltage (V): In the Internal Max Voltage control,
type the voltage limit, in Volts, that is available to the load. The
range is between 9 and 18V.
MONITORS
Actual Temperature (°C): Monitor the Actual Temperature in
degrees Celsius. The sensor calibration is determined on the
Sensor tab.
TEC Current (A): Monitor the output current through the load
in Amps.
TEC Voltage (V): Monitor the voltage across the load in Volts.
Auxiliary Temperature (°C): Monitor the temperature of the
auxiliary sensor in degrees Celsius.
LED INDICATORS
In Tolerance: LED becomes lit when the relationship between
actual and setpoint temperatures is within the Tolerance
Parameters. Tolerance Parameters are congured on the
Additional Setup tab.
Current Limit: This LED becomes lit when the TC LAB
instrument is operating in either the positive or negative
current limit set in Current Limit.
Power: The Power button functions the same as the front
panel power switch on the instrument.
Enable: The Enable button enables current to the load and
functions the same as the Enable button on the front panel of
the TC LAB instrument.
SETTINGS
Temperature Setpoint (°C): In the Temperature Setpoint
control, type the desired setpoint, in degrees Celsius. The
instrument will attempt to control the load to the temperature
entered when output current is enabled. The range is
determined by the Temp Limit Min and Temp Limit Max
controls below.
Current Limit + (A): In the Current Limit+ control, type the
maximum value, in Amps, that the TC LAB instrument should
not exceed to the load in the positive direction. The range is
between 0 and the maximum current allowed by the TC LAB
instrument selected.
Current Limit - (A): In the Current Limit- control, type the
maximum current, in Amps, that the TC LAB instrument should
not exceed to the load in the negative direction. The range is
between 0 and the maximum current allowed by the TC LAB
instrument selected. Although this is the negative current limit,
it should be entered as a positive number.
Temp Limit Max (°C): In the Temp Limit Max control, type the
maximum temperature limit value, in degrees Celsius. This
sets the upper limit both for the setpoint and for triggering
the laser diode shutdown output. The range is between -99
and +250°C, and may not be less than the value for the
temperature setpoint.
Figure 7. Settings & Monitors Tab

8
INTELLITUNE®SETTINGS
IntelliTune Mode: Choose IntelliTune Mode. The TC LAB
instrument will characterize the best PID parameters for your
load based on this setting once the IntelliTune Start button is
pressed if not in Manual Tune mode.
• Manual Tune - IntelliTune will not run.
• Setpoint Response - Drives the load to temperature
fastest.
• Disturbance Rejection - Minimizes overshoot.
See the IntelliTune Application Note for more information.
Valid IntelliTune Active: This LED becomes lit when valid
IntelliTune data is stored for the currently selected sensor.
IntelliTune Start: Start an IntelliTune cycle based on the
selection on the IntelliTune Mode control. The button will
remain lit until the scan is complete. Clicking the button again
after starting IntelliTune will not stop the cycle. The IntelliTune
Abort button must be used to stop a cycle in progress. If
IntelliTune does not complete properly, call customer support
for assistance.
IntelliTune Abort: Stop an IntelliTune cycle in progress.
Manual Update PID: Pushing this button will update the PID
coe󰀩cients to those congured in the controls below.
Actual PID: Monitors the actual proportional, integrator,
and derivative terms. These terms will automatically update
if IntelliTune mode is changed between Setpoint Response
and Disturbance Rejection modes if a valid IntelliTune scan
is active.
Edit PID: These controls set the proportional, integrator, and
derivative terms for Manual Tuning. P, I, and D will be set to
the present control parameters when the Manual Update PID
button is pressed.

9
SENSOR TAB
The Sensor tab is where the active sensor is chosen, custom sensors are created, or bias currents are adjusted.
Set as Active Sensor: Set the sensor prole selected with
the Available Sensors dropdown menu to be the active sensor
conguration for the TC LAB instrument.
Delete Custom Sensor From List: Delete a user-created
sensor prole selected with the Available Sensors control.
Attempting to delete a factory congured sensor will result in
an error message on the TC LAB instrument.
Thermistor Bias Current: If the TC LAB instrument is
congured to use a thermistor type sensor, this control will
congure the bias current. Choose Auto to allow the TC LAB
auto-range function to choose an appropriate bias current or
select a suitable range that will produce a voltage across your
sensor of 1 to 10 Volts.
Aux Sensor Bias Current: This control will congure the
bias current for the auxiliary sensor. Choose Auto to allow the
TC LAB auto-range function to choose an appropriate bias
current or select a suitable range that will produce a voltage
across your sensor of 1 to 10 Volts.
Figure 10. Thermistor and Auxiliary Sensor Bias Current
options.
Figure 8. Sensor Tab
Active Sensor: Shows the sensor that is currently selected
for use with the TC LAB instrument. The sensor name that
is displayed also contains sensor specications, which vary
depending on the type:
• Thermistor: Displays the Steinhart-Hart coe󰀩cients.
• RTD: Displays either the D, I, A Curve Fit, or the slope and
o󰀨set values.
• Optical, Voltage IC, Current IC: Displays the slope and
o󰀨set values.
For example, if a RTD sensor is the active sensor, and "D,
100" is returned, the instrument is using a DIN Curve Fit for a
100Ω RTD.
Available Sensors: Lists all of the sensor proles stored in
memory for the TC LAB instrument. The sensor name selected
in this dropdown menu can be set to the active sensor.
Figure 9. Factory-congured sensor list.

10
Custom Sensor Type: Choose a sensor type for custom
sensor conguration. A sensor name and parameters below
must also be congured before the Create Custom Sensor
button is pushed.
Figure 11. Available Custom Sensor Type options.
Custom Sensor Name: Enter a name for the custom
sensor prole. Characters entered should be English letters
or numbers. There is a fteen character maximum limit. If
a sensor name is input that exceeds fteen characters, the
name will be truncated after the fteenth character.
Calibration Coe󰀩cients: Depending on the choice of sensor,
di󰀨erent calibration options will appear.
• Thermistor (Steinhart-Hart)
• A, B, C need to be populated by the A, B, C Steinhart-
Hart coe󰀩cients, respectively.
• Temperature/Resistance or Temperature/Voltage
• For Temperature/Resistance sensors: T1 (R1),
T2 (R2), T3 (R3) need to be populated by the
temperatures (resistances) for the rst, second, and
third temperature/resistance pairs, respectively.
• For Temperature/Voltage sensors: T1 (V1), T2 (V2),
T3 (V3) need to be populated by the temperatures
(voltages) for the rst, second, and third temperature/
voltage pairs, respectively.
• RTD (Callendar - Van Dusen)
• R0needs to be populated by the resistance at 0°C.
• Slope/O󰀨set
• m and b need to be populated by the slope and offset
at 0°C, respectively, for a linear approximation of the
sensor. Units for the slope are: °C/Ω for RTD, °C/V
all others. Units for the o󰀨set are: Ω for RTD, V all
others. Note that in both cases, the current is across
10kΩ for current based sensors.
Create Custom Sensor: When the Create Custom
Sensor button is pressed, Sensor Type, Sensor Name, and
conguration parameters are sent to the TC LAB instrument.
To use the created sensor, choose its name from the Available
Sensors list and then press the Set as Active Sensor button.