How to Ensure Safe Operation of Laser Diodes?
Time : 2017-06-15 09:35Source :未知 Author : admin Click :
Laser Diodes are very sensitive to Electrostatic Discharge, current/voltage fluctuations and temperature updation. So some extra care must be taken to ensure that the laser diode is protected during all the operating conditions. Unlike other general-purpose current supplies, laser diode drivers greatly improve the laser diode protection, and maintain low noise operation.
Laser Diode Driver
The protection features of Laser Diode Driver include Laser Diode current limit, voltage limit, output power level limit, TEC current limit, and TEC open detection.
In addition to laser diode protection scheme available traditionally, many controllers combine operation of the temperature controller and laser current driver together.
After the above-mentioned safety issue is resolved, the next thing that you need to concentrate on is controlling the amount of noise that is being generated and circulated in the laser diode. Due to updating of the technologies using the Laser Diodes, many new applications have the requirement of unprecedented low levels of noise. It results in the requirement of high optical power output.
It is important that the laser diode driver should include a feature called as interlock so that it disables the output power if any user happens to enter the area.
Temperature Controller
Laser Diode generates a large amount of heat. This happens because of its imperfect conversion rate and compact size. That is the reason why Laser Diodes are often packaged together with a cooling element, called Thermoelectric Cooler.
Low Power Laser Diodes are packed with high thermal conducting materials which have no active cooling. The Laser Diode Package does not have a TEC on its own. So the mounting device will still require an active cooling element so that the system is able to dissipate the heat properly and ensure wavelength stability.
Laser Diode Mount
The Laser Diode Mount provides an easy mounting provision with the proper facility of thermal connections, and heat dissipation is efficiently done. Due to high electrical conductivity of the Laser Diode, the cable should have proper shielding so as to minimize the noise absorption from external environment.
If you want to ensure that your Laser Diode should have long-term and stable operation, the Laser Diode Mount should be designed efficiently so that it is able to dissipate the heat that is generated from the Laser Diode and the TEC. The Laser Diode Mounts that are available in the market are equipped with a mount or a plate that is suitable for most type of Laser Diode Packages.
In conclusion, you must know that a Laser Diode is a very sensitive device. So the selection of equipment like diodes should include a laser diode driver, easily available at Analog Technologies, a temperature controller, and a laser diode mount which provides easy mounting while it helps in elimination of the noise.
Even though the Laser Diodes have greatly affected our lives, mishandling them may lead to some fatal issues. So be careful while you handle the Laser Diodes and its related equipment.
