PCX-6220

The PCX-6220 is an air-cooled, high power switch-mode pulsed current source designed to drive diode lasers, bars and arrays. It delivers current pulses variable from 1A to 150A, pulse widths variable from <50s to 20ms, and pulse repetition frequencies variable from single shot to 5KHz at duty cycles up to 50%.

A microprocessor-controlled front-panel and RS-232/IEEE-488 interface of PCX-6220 provide individual control of each electronic function, while the backlit alphanumeric LCD display provides immediate visual confirmation of all operating parameters, including output current amplitude, pulse width, repetition frequency, duty cycle,and error and fault messages. In addition to stand-alone operation, the PCX-6220 can be externally triggered.

The output voltage, output current and average output power of PCX-6220 are continuously displayed on the front panel display. Instrumentquality analog current and voltage monitors and a synchronization output are also provided for real-time monitoring of the current and voltage to the laser diode.

Internal DC power supplies of PCX-6220 provide all necessary support power for the driver, allowing operation on 90-260VAC, 50-60Hz mains.No additional DC power supply or control pulse generator inputs are needed, making the PCX-6220 a complete laser diode driver solution.

Connection to the laser diode is made through an innovative rear panel, low impedance stripline cable, designed to preserve the fidelity of high-speed, large-amplitude current pulses. For operator safety, the output connector is interlocked, so that the PCX-6220 is disabled when the connector is removed.

The PCX-6220 features advanced circuitry to protect both the diode and driver. A user-adjustable over-current limit provides a fail-safe mechanism to prohibit the user from setting the current amplitude setpoint above the user-controlled limit, protecting the laser diode from accidental over-drive. An over-voltage limit protects the diode from erroneous over-voltage conditions, and a temperature monitor protects the driver in the event of an overtemperature
condition. At turn on, and at any time the driver is not enabled, the PCX-6220's output is electronically shorted to ground, ensuring that no current flows through the diode. In addition, the actual current through the diode is monitored in real-time. If the actual current ever exceeds the user-adjustable current setpoint, the driver PCX-6220 truncates the output current pulse,electronically shorts the output to ground, and displays an error message on the front-panel display.

The PCX-6220 is power-factor corrected. The switch-mode design of the current source features low internal stored energy,and offers typical wall-plug to output connector efficiency >70%.

Safety features of the PCX-6220 include a laser enable keyswitch, an output cable safety interlock, remote interlock, and delayed output enable.