Thorlabs - Laser Diode Current / TEC Controller

Three Versions to Choose from:

ITC5022: Laser Diode Current/TEC Controller ±200 mA / ±1.5 A
ITC5052: Laser Diode Current/TEC Controller ±500 mA / ±1.5 A
ITC5102: Laser Diode Current/TEC Controller ±1 A / ±1.5 A

ITC5000 Features

Laser Diode Current and Temperature Control
Very Low Noise and Drift
Excellent Temperature Stability
Supports All Laser Diode and Monitor Diode Polarities
Constant Current (CC) and Constant Power (CP) Modes
Superior Laser Diode Protection
Internal & External Modulation
Safe & Ultra-Stable Laser Diode Operation

Introduction
The ITC5000 Series Modules are combination laser diode and TEC controllers for the TXP platform. They allow space-saving simultaneous current and temperature control of a laser diode with a single module. The ITC5000 Series offers three laser diode current ranges, ±200 mA , ±500 mA and ±1 A, that support all laser diode and monitor diode polarities. These modules can also be modulated, externally or internally. All three models incorporate a TEC controller that provides up to ±1.5 A / 5.25 W.

Features
Besides common protection functions such as interlock and softstart, an advanced circuit design ensures that transient spikes cannot affect the laser current. The temperature controller, which is identical for all modules, is designed to keep the laser temperature constant for highly stable power and wavelength operation. Separate adjustment of the P, I and D shares of the temperature servo loop allow optimizing temperature settling times. An additional temperature window protection circuit switches the laser current off if the laser temperature leaves a preset temperature window.

The ITC5000 models offer exceptional noise and stability performance. All laser diode and photodiode pin configurations are supported.

Operation
For the operation of the ITC5000 modules a TXP chassis is required. The modules are hot-pluggable, i.e. you can insert or remove them during operation of other modules. An intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) for the ITC5000 is delivered with the TXP chassis, as well as drivers for LabVIEW™, LabWindows/CVI™, MSVC and Borland C.

Connection Cables
A CAB530 cable is required to connect the ITC5000 modules to a Thorlabs' Laser Diode Mount. The cable has to be ordered separately.

For further information, please contact our Tech Support Team.

Item #	ITC5022	ITC5052	ITC5102
Laser Controller: Current Control
Control Range (continuous):	0 to ±200 mA	0 to ±500 mA	0 to ±1 A
Compliance Voltage:	>2.5 V (typ. >3 V)
Resolution:	4 µA	10 µA	20 µA
Accuracy (typ., f.s.):	±100 µA	±250 µA	±1 mA
Noise without Ripple (10Hz to 10MHz, RMS, typ.):	<2 µA	<7 µA	<20 µA
Ripple (50Hz / 60Hz, RMS, typ.):	<0.5 µA
Transients (Processor, typ.):	<15 µA	<30 µA	<50 µA
Transients (other, typ.):	200 µA	500 µA	1 mA
Drift (24hrs, at constant ambient temperature, typ.):	<2 µA	<5 µA	<20 µA
Temperature Coefficient:	<50 ppm/°C
Laser Controller: Power Control
Control Range of Photo Current:	10 µA to 5 mA
Resolution:	0.1 µA
Accuracy (typ., f.s.):	±5 µA
Reverse Bias Voltage:	0 to 4 V (adjustable)
Laser Controller: Current Limit
Setting Range:	0 to >200 mA	0 to >500 mA	0 to >1 A
Resolution:	50 µA	125 µA	250 µA
Accuracy (typ., f.s.):	±200 µA	±500 µA	±2 mA
Laser Voltage Measurement
Measurement Principle:	4-Wire (improves accuracy by compensating for cable resistance)
Measurement Range:	0 to 4 V
Resolution:	0.15 mV
Accuracy:	±5 mV
External Laser Modulation
Input Resistance:	10 kΩ
Modulation Coefficient (Constant Current Mode):	20 mA/V ± 10%	50 mA/V ± 10%	100 mA/V ± 10%
3 dB Modulation Bandwidth (Constant Current Mode):	200 kHz
Modulation Coefficient (Constant Power Mode):	0.5 mA/V ± 10%
Internal Laser Modulation
Format:	Sinusoidal, Triangular, Square
Frequency Range:	0.02 to 20 kHz
Rise-/Fall Time:	4 µs
Temperature Controller: Output
Control Range of TEC Current:	-1.5 A to +1.5 A
Compliance Voltage:	>3.5 V
Maximum Output Power:	5.25 W
Measurement Resolution TEC Current:	60 µA
Measurement Range TEC Voltage:	-4 V to +4 V
Measurement Resolution TEC Voltage:	0.2 mV
Noise and Ripple (typ.):	<1 mA
Temperature Controller: Measurement Sensor
Sensor Type:	Thermistor
Operating Range:	0.2 to 40 kΩ
Resolution:	0.8 Ω
Accuracy:	±10 Ω
Stability (24hrs):	1 Ω
Temperature Control Loop
Type:	PID, analog
Resolution P/I/D-Share Setting:	12 Bit each
TEC Current Limit
Adjustment Range:	0 to >1.5 A
Resolution via D/A Converter:	0.5 mA
Accuracy:	±20 mA
General Data
Protection Features:	Global and Local Interlock, Output Short Circuit when Laser off, Laser Softstart, Laser Temperature Window, Laser and TEC Current Limits, Open Output Detection, No Sensor Detection, Over Temperature Protection
Connector Laser / TEC:	15-pin D-Sub
Connector Modulation Input:	SMA
Card Width:	1 TXP Slot
Dimensions (W x G x D):	25 mm x 130 mm x 270mm³
Weight:	675 g
Operating Temperature:	0 to 40 °C
Storage Temperature:	-40 to 70 °C
Warm-up Time:	<10 min

(All technical data are valid at 23 ± 5 °C and 45 ± 15% rel. Humidity)

Laser Diode, Monitor Diode, TEC and Thermistor Connection

DB15 Female Connector

Pin	Connection	Pin	Connection
1	Interlock/Status LED (LED_ILK)	9	Laser Diode Voltage Measurement (ULD-)
2	Monitor Diode Ground/Bias Ground (PD_GND)	10	Laser Diode Cathode (LDK)
3	Laser Diode Ground (LGND)	11	Laser Diode Anode (LDA)
4	Monitor Diode Anode or Cathode, Bias Out (PD_BIAS)	12	Laser Diode Voltage Measurement (ULD+)
5	Interlock Ground (DGND)	13	TEC Voltage Measurement (-) UTEC-
6	TEC Voltage Measurement (+) UTEC+	14	Thermistor Ground (TH-)
7	TEC Plus (TEC +)	15	Thermistor (TH+)
8	TEC Minus (Ground) (TEC -)	15	Thermistor (TH+)

External Modulation via SMA

SMA Female

Voltage Range 0 - 10 V

The Software Package for the TXP5000 Platform contains the Software Modules for the ITC5000 Series

Use this link to download the following software packages:

The available software is organized into the following categories:

Applications: Standard application software packages and graphical user interfaces. This is what most users need to operate the device for typical applications.
Drivers: Instrument drivers for the National Instruments™, LabWindows™/CVI, and LabVIEW™ development environments. These are intended for developers who want to extend or adapt the functionality of the device to their special requirements.
Firmware: Low level software for the internal operation of the device. This should be updated to the newest version available to guarantee optimal performance. Please see the Operating Manual for information on how to update the firmware of your device.

ITC5022	ITC5052	ITC5102	Part
x			Laser Diode Current/TEC Controller ±200 mA / ±1.5 A (ITC5022)
	x		Laser Diode Current/TEC Controller ±500 mA / ±1.5 A (ITC5052)
		x	Laser Diode Current/TEC Controller ±1 A / ±1.5 A (ITC5102)
x	x	x	Operating Manual

Please Give Us Your Feedback

Email		Feedback On
(Optional)
Contact Me:
Your email address will NOT be displayed.

Please type the following key into the field to submit this form:

Click Here if you can not read the security code.
This code is to prevent automated spamming of our site
Thank you for your understanding.

Would this product be useful to you? Little Use 1 2 3 4Very Useful

Enter Comments Below:

Characters remaining 8000

Posted Comments:

Poster: jens

Posted Date: 2010-03-29 16:43:49.0

A reply from Jens at Thorlabs to dianfan: Being able to temperature stabilize or place a butterfly type laser diode in equilibrium depends on the heat generated by the laser as well as the mount that the device is mounted to. If there are temperature gradients, external contribution then the PID control may oscillate trying stabilize but never achieving the steady state. In the first step we will need to know which mount you are using, is it our LM14S2 butterfly mount? We would suggest to run the TEC part of the diode and see how stable the temperature gets at various temperature set points . You should be able to track the resistance change with temperature. You could try to turn the laser diode on with low power so not to over heat the unit until you sure on the TEC level. See if the TEC responds by the feedback value produced by the thermistor. You mentioned "switching the thermistor in an oscilloscope to help the PID setting". We will have to discuss directly with you what exactly you are measuring in this step. The thermistor is a resistive element that changes its value according to temperature. A 10K type is typically at 25 deg C. This value is read by the controller via bridge compared to the actual temperature set and an error signal if any is used in the feedback to correct the TEC drive current. We will contact you directly to provide further assistance.

Poster: dianfan

Posted Date: 2010-03-29 11:25:05.0

Thorlabs Techsupport, My lab bought Thorlabs’ ITC5102 to control a DFB laser (LUCENT’s D2526), but the controller can not make the temperature stable. The steps and phenomena as followed: 1. Connecting the D-SUB’s pin with the DFB laser according to the 1.6 connecting components in the operation manual. 2. Dealing with the interlock problem. 3. Inputting thermistor’s R0, T0 and B-Value in the temperature control. 4. Turning on the TEC and adjusting the PID. 5. Whatever the P-, I- and D-share setting, the “temperature not stabilized” always displaying in the error control and temperature fluctuation is ±1? at best. 6. According to a senior fellow’s suggestion, switching the thermistor in an oscilloscope to help the PID setting. 7. However, the voltage between the thermistor only 15~20mV overlying a 200~250Hz noise whose amplitude is about 5mV. I do not think the controller could measure the thermistor resistance with such low voltage. Could you explain what is wrong in it? Please give me some advice how to control the temperature stable. If this problem is not solved, the LD can not be turned on. Looking forward you reply Dian Fan Center for Photonics Technology Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Virginia Tech dianfan@vt.edu

Poster: demin.ma

Posted Date: 2007-07-24 23:12:47.0

Dear .. We need 2 types of TEC controller OEM products with small size, their specfication as follows: UNIT controller1 controller1 temperature control precision: 0C 0.1 0.1 temperature adjustable range: 0C 15-35 15-30 operative environment temperature: 0C 0-50 0-50 Heat generated by Controlling Object : W 5 50 Would you please tell you whether you can build /design such OEM product? Please reply me as soon as possible best regards 2007/07/25 Ma demin EE engineer of NLight corp.

Click on any phrase below to search our site using our new Search Engine:

CAB Cable chassis controller controller chassis controller for remote opperations dual tec and laser current controller module itc modular controller itc module ITC5000 laser laser diode control laser diode driver modular tec and ld controller rack based controller rack chassis rack controller rack instrumentation scalable controller tec tec and ld controller module tec controller telecom controller test and measurement platform

View All »Matching Part Numbers

Laser Diode Current / TEC Controller - ITC5000 Series

Laser Diode, Monitor Diode, TEC and Thermistor Connection

External Modulation via SMA