Products Home / Imaging Components / Microscopy Illumination Sources / Solis® High-Power LEDs for MicroscopySolis® High-Power LEDs for Microscopy
- High-Power LEDs Designed for Microscopy Applications
- Typical Collimated Output Powers from 570 mW to 8.75 W
- Compatible with Thorlabs’ Port Adapters for Cerna®,
Nikon, Olympus, Leica, and Zeiss Microscopes - Two Driver Options
SOLIS-1D
Cold White LED,
8.75 W Output Power (Typical)
Application Idea
A Solis® High-Power LED Installed on the Epi-Illuminator Module of a Cerna Modular Microscope
Please Wait
| Item #a | Color (Click for Spectrumb) |
Dominant Wavelengthc |
Typical Collimated Output Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOLIS-365C | UV | 365 nm | 4.0 W |
| SOLIS-385C | UV | 385 nm | 5.1 W |
| SOLIS-405C | UV | 405 nm | 5.0 W |
| SOLIS-415C | Violet | 415 nm | 7.0 W |
| SOLIS-445C | Royal Blue | 445 nm | 7.1 W |
| SOLIS-470C | Blue | 470 nm | 3.7 W |
| SOLIS-505C | Cyan | 505 nm | 1.5 W |
| SOLIS-525C | Green | 525 nm | 3.1 W |
| SOLIS-565C | Lime | 565 nm | 6.1 W |
| SOLIS-590C | Amber | 590 nm | 570 mW |
| SOLIS-595C | Amber | 595 nm | 1.1 W |
| SOLIS-617C | Orange | 617 nm | 2.4 W |
| SOLIS-620D | Red | 620 nm | 4.72 W |
| SOLIS-660C | Deep Red | 660 nm | 2.7 W |
| SOLIS-740C | Far Red | 740 nm | 3.3 W |
| SOLIS-850C | IR | 850 nm | 3.6 W |
| SOLIS-940C | IR | 940 nm | 3.7 W |
| SOLIS-1D | Cold White | N/Ad | 8.75 W |
| SOLIS-2C | Warm White | N/Ae | 4.0 W |
| SOLIS-3C | Day Light White | N/Af | 4.6 W |
Features
- Wavelengths Available from UV to NIR (See the Table to the Right for Options)
- Fanless Design Efficiently Dissipates Heat without Introducing Vibrations
- Lightweight Package for Mounting Directly to Microscope Ports, Eliminating the Need for Liquid Light Guides (LLGs)
- Collimated LED Output through Large Ø48.3 mm (1.90") Clear Aperture
- Integrated Electronics Enable Smart Safety Features with Compatible Drivers
- Compatible with Port Adapters for Use with Olympus, Nikon, Leica, Zeiss, and Cerna® Microscopes
(Sold Separately Below)
Configure Your Solis® LED System
- Solis LED Head
- LED Driver (Choose One, Sold Separately)
- DC20 Plug-and-Play Driver with External TTL Input
- DC2200 Touchscreen Driver with Advanced Modulation Functions
- One Microscope Port Adapter (See Table Below for Compatibility Information)
Thorlabs' Solis LEDs for microscopy deliver several watts of total output power from a lightweight, vibration-free package. They provide high-power illumination that can be coupled directly to the epi-illumination path on a microscope. Light from the LED is collimated through a large Ø48.3 mm aperture that can be attached via an adapter (available separately below) to the epi-illumination paths of many industry-standard microscopes from Olympus, Nikon, Leica, and Zeiss as well as the six-cube epi-illumination path available on many of Thorlabs' Cerna Microscopes. To install, select one of Thorlabs' microscope port adapters (available separately below), screw it onto the end of the housing, and secure the LED to a compatible microscope. Each Solis LED includes a user-installable diffuser plate (Item # DG20-1500), which can be used to make the output profile of the LED more uniform, and can help to provide even illumination at the sample plane.
The lightweight design features passive cooling instead of an internal fan in order to eliminate vibrations that normally degrade image quality in a microscopy setup. Each LED is mounted to a heatsink inside of a 127.8 mm x 127.8 mm x 162.0 mm vented housing to efficiently dissipate heat. As an added level of protection, the integrated internal memory is programmed to trigger an automatic shutdown if the LED internal temperature reaches 95 °C, preventing damage from overheating. The LED will restart after it has cooled to a temperature below 95 °C. For more Solis LED performance information when using Solis LEDs, please see the Performance tab.
Click to Enlarge
Thorlabs offers two options for powering a Solis® LED: the plug-and-play DC20 driver (left) and the touchscreen DC2200 driver (right).
Solis LED Drivers
We offer two driver options for our Solis LEDs. The DC20 Plug-and-Play Solis LED Driver (available separately below) features a knob that provides LED current control and functions as an LED On/Off switch as well as a BNC input for external TTL modulation signals.
The DC2200 Touchscreen LED Driver (available separately below) has an intuitive, touchscreen interface that supports both basic current control and more advanced modulation functions for the Solis LED head. For example, this driver allows the LED output power to be set at a fraction of the maximum desired brightness, and it control the LED drive current. For users that require modulation control, the driver integrates both internal and external modulation and pulsed modes. Internal modulation modes include settings for sine, square, and triangle waveforms as well as ways to generate rectangular pulse trains. External modulation modes allow this driver to accept an arbitrary waveform from a function generation or external TTL signals for syncing on/off states with other lab equipment.
Both drivers automatically read and set the current limit from the Solis LED's internal memory to protect against overdriven currents. A comparison of the two drivers is provided on the Solis LED Drivers tab.
| Item #a | Info | Color (Click for Spectrumb) |
Dominant Wavelengthc |
Minimum Collimated Output Powerd |
Typical Collimated Output Powerd |
Max Current (CW) |
Max Forward Voltage |
Bandwidth (FWHM) |
Emitter Size |
Collimating Optics (Installed) |
Typical Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLIS-365C |  |
UV | 365 nm | 3.0 W | 4.0 W | 4500 mA | 4.0 V | 10 nm | 2 mm x 2 mm | LB1723-A ACL25416U-A |
>12 000 h |
| SOLIS-385C | |
UV | 385 nm | 4.0 W | 5.1 W | 4500 mA | 4.0 V | 12 nm | 2 mm x 2 mm | >29 000 h | |
| SOLIS-405C | |
UV | 405 nm | 5.0 W | 3.9 W | 4500 mA | 4.0 V | 12 nm | 2 mm x 2 mm | >40 000 h | |
| SOLIS-415C | |
Violet | 415 nm | 5.8 W | 7.0 W | 2000 mA | 14.0 V | 14 nm | 3.5 mm x 3.5 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-445C | |
Royal Blue | 445 nm | 5.4 W | 7.1 W | 9000 mA | 3.8 V | 23 nm | Ø3 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-470C | |
Blue | 470 nm | 3.0 W | 3.7 W | 4000 mA | 8.0 V | 34 nm | 2.8 mm x 2.8 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-505C | |
Cyan | 505 nm | 1.0 W | 1.5 W | 4000 mA | 6.5 V | 42 nm | 2.8 mm x 2.8 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-525C | |
Green | 525 nm | 2.4 W | 3.1 W | 9000 mA | 5.0 V | 32 nm | Ø3 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-565C | |
Lime | 565 nm | 3.2 W | 6.1 W | 10 000 mA | 4.3 V | 100 nm | 2.6 mm x 3.2 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-590C | |
Amber | 590 nm | 350 mW | 570 mW | 1000 mA | 12.5 V | 16.5 nm | 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-595C | |
Amber | 595 nm | 700 mW | 1.1 W | 700 mA | 14.0 V | 77 nm | 2.8 mm x 2.8 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-617C | |
Orange | 617 nm | 1.5 W | 2.4 W | 10 000 mA | 4.0 V | 17 nm | 2.6 x 3.2 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-620D | |
Red | 620 nm | 3.47 W | 4.72 W | 10 000 mA | 3.35 V | 20 nm | 3 mm x 3 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-660C | |
Deep Red | 660 nm | 2.0 W | 2.7 W | 1000 mA | 12.5 V | 21 nm | 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-740C | |
Far Red | 740 nm | 2.0 W | 3.3 W | 1500 mA | 13.4 V | 45 nm | 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm | LB1723-B ACL25416U-B |
>10 000 h |
| SOLIS-850C | |
IR | 850 nm | 2.7 W | 3.6 W | 1000 mA | 13.8 V | 39 nm | Ø6.5 mme | >40 000 h | |
| SOLIS-940C | |
IR | 940 nm | 2.5 W | 3.7 W | 2000 mA | 7.5 V | 55 nm | 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm | >10 000 h | |
| SOLIS-1D | |
Cold White | N/Af | 5.81 W | 8.75 W | 10 000 mA | 4.02 V | N/A | 3 mm x 3 mm | LB1723-A ACL25416U-A |
>10 000 h |
| SOLIS-2C | |
Warm White | N/Ag | 3.2 W | 4.0 W | 1500 mA | 12.5 V | N/A | 5 mm x 5 mm | >100 000 h | |
| SOLIS-3C | |
Day Light White | N/Ah | 3.5 W | 4.6 W | 10 000 mA | 3.5 V | N/A | Ø4.25 mm | >10 000 h |
Click to Enlarge
A comparison of the typical collimated output for a Solis LED. The actual spectra will vary from LED to LED within specifications.
| General Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Clear Aperture | Ø48.3 mm (Ø1.90") |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Dimensions | 127.8 mm x 127.8 mm x 162 mm (5.03" x 5.03" x 6.38") |
| Operating Temperature (Non-Condensing) | 0 to 40 °C |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 70 °C |
| Internal Temperature to Trigger Automatic Shut Off | 95 °C |
| Diffuser (Included) | DG20-1500 |
| Two Retaining Rings (Included) | SM2RR |
LED Output Power
The actual spectral output and total output power of any given LED will vary due to variations in the manufacturing process and operating parameters, such as temperature and current. Both a typical and minimum output power are specified to help you select an LED that suits your needs. Each Solis® high-power LED will provide at least the minimum specified output power at the maximum current. In order to provide a point of comparison for the relative powers of LEDs with different nominal wavelengths, the spectra in the plot to the right have been scaled to the typical collimated output power for each LED. The intensities shown in this graph are representative, not absolute. An Excel file with normalized and scaled spectra for all of the mounted high-power LEDs can be downloaded here.
Click to Enlarge
Click Here for Raw Data
The output power remains stable over a 24-hour period. Small dips in the curve are due to slight variations in climate condition (±2 °C).
Click to Enlarge
Shown are the SOLIS-1D, SOLIS-2C, and SOLIS-3C LED spectra scaled to typical power. The region in blue indicates a drop in the spectral flux. The SOLIS-3C provides significantly more power for applications that require strong illumination at these wavelengths, such as excitation of GFPs.
Stability at Elevated Room Temperatures
The thermal dissipation performance of these Solis® LEDs has been optimized for stable power output. The heat sink is directly mounted to the LED mount so as to provide optimal thermal contact, prolonging the life of the diode by keeping the junction temperature at the lowest possible minimum.
One characteristic of LEDs is that they naturally exhibit power degradation with time. Often this power degradation is slow, but there are also instances where large, rapid drops in power, or even complete LED failure, occur. LED lifetimes are defined as the time it takes a specified percentage of a type of LED to fall below some power level. The parameters for the lifetime measurement can be written using the notation BXX/LYY, where XX is the percentage of that type of LED that will provide less than YY percent of the specified output power after the lifetime has elapsed. Thorlabs defines the lifetime of our LEDs as B50/L50, meaning 50% of the LEDs with a given Item # will fall below 50% of the initial optical power at the end of the specified lifetime. For example, if a batch of 100 LEDs is rated for 4000 mW of output power, 50 of these LEDs can be expected to produce an output power of ≥2000 mW after the specified LED lifetime has elapsed.
Solis LEDs can be operated at room temperatures from 0 to 40 °C. An elevated room temperature can be useful if a sample and microscope needs to be maintained at such temperatures for experiments. The graph at the right shows measurements of the output power for a SOLIS-3C LED at 40 °C over a period of 24 hours; the output power remains stable after the initial warm-up period.
Increased Power for Light-Excited Fluorophores
The Solis LED light sources are designed for use in fluorescence microscopy, such as GFP or GFP-derived fluorescent protein imaging. Thorlabs offers LEDs for specific wavelengths as well as white LEDs that cover the entire visible light spectrum. SOLIS-1C, SOLIS-1D, SOLIS-2C, and SOLIS-3C white LEDs provide high-power excitation light for many fluorophores. However, the output power is not the same at every wavelength, as seen in the graph to the right. Most LEDs exhibit a drop in output power from 470 nm to 520 nm. While most imaging applications are unaffected, other light-sensitive applications may require more power in this region.
With a constant output power from 450 nm to 650 nm, the SOLIS-3C LED offers significantly more power in this region compared to the SOLIS-2C LED. To demonstrate this, we measured the irradiance of the SOLIS-3C LED by placing a previous-generation FB480-10 480 nm bandpass filter in front of an S120VC detector at a distance 200 mm on-axis from the LED. The irradiance of the SOLIS-3C LED with the filter was 45 µW/mm2. Thus, when compared to the SOLIS-2C, the SOLIS-3C is most beneficial when higher power is needed in this wavelength range. Note that this irradiance value is not representative of the irradiance across the whole spectrum, but rather from 470 nm to 490 nm.
Solis® LED Pin Diagram
Male 12 Pin Neutrik MiniCON Connector
| Pin | Connection |
|---|---|
| 1 | LED Cathode |
| 2 | LED Cathode |
| 3 | Not Used |
| 4 | LED Anode |
| 5 | LED Anode |
| 6 | LED Anode |
| 7 | LED Anode |
| 8 | LED Cathode |
| 9 | LED Cathode |
| 10 | Not Used |
| 11 | EEPROM (Data) I/O |
| 12 | EEPROM (Data) Ground |
Do-It-Yourself Mounting Options
While the Solis® LEDs are designed to mount easily to a microscope port, they can also be mounted to an optical table or breadboard. A 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped hole is provided at each corner on the back of the housing for custom mounting applications. The front aperture is internally SM2 threaded (2.035"-40), which provides compatibility with Thorlabs' SM2 Lens Tubes and 60 mm Cage Systems.
Below are two examples of how a Solis LED can be mounted to an optical table. The top photo shows a Solis LED mounted using a cage plate and Ø1" post. The bottom photo shows a Solis LED mounted using a Ø2" lens tube, lens tube slip rings, Ø1/2" posts, and Ø1/2" post holders. Please refer to the tables to the left for a list of components in each mounting setup.
Click to Enlarge
The SOLIS-1D shown mounted to an optical table using the SM2T2 adapter, a LCP34 60 mm cage plate, and a Ø1" post.
| Cage Plate Mounting | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Imperial Item # | Metric Item # | Quantity |
| Solis® LED for Microscopy | See Below for Options | 1 | |
| SM2 (2.035"-40) Coupler, External Threads | SM2T2 | 1 | |
| 60 mm Threaded Cage Plate, 0.5" Thick (Two SM2RR Retaining Rings Included) | LCP34 | LCP34/M | 1 |
| Ø1" Pedestal Pillar Post, 8-32 (M4) Taps | Ø1" Post (RS1.5P8E Shown) |
Ø25.0 mm Post | 1 |
| Clamping Fork, 1/4"-20 (M6) Captive Screw | CF125C or CF175C | CF125C/M or CF175C/M | 1 |
| Lens Tube Mounting | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Imperial Item # | Metric Item # | Quantity |
| Solis® LED for Microscopy | See Below for Options | 1 | |
| SM2 (2.035"-40) Lens Tube | SM2L15 | 1 | |
| Ø2.20" SM2 Slip Rings, 8-32 (M4) Tap | SM2RC | SM2RC/M | 2 |
| Ø1/2" Post, 8-32 (M4) Setscrew | Ø1/2" Post | Ø1/2" Post | 2 |
| Ø1/2" Post Holder | Ø1/2" Post Holder | Ø1/2" Post Holder | 2 |
| Post Holder Base | BA2 | BA2/M | 1 |
Click to Enlarge
The SOLIS-1D shown mounted to an optical table using an SM2L15 lens tube, two SM2RC lens tube mounts, two Ø1/2" posts, and one BA2 post holder base.
| Components for Cerna® Compatibility |
|---|
| Epi-Illumination |
| CSE2100 or CSE2200 Epi-Illuminator Module with Turret for Six Filter Sets |
| SM2A56 Dovetail Adapter |
Click to EnlargeOnce locked into place, the LED requires no additional support.
Click to EnlargeAn exploded view of the Solis® LED and its connection with the CSE2100 epi-illuminator module.
Using Solis® in Cerna® Microscope Systems
Solis® LEDs, which can have either narrowband or broadband spectra, are useful for a range of applications within Thorlabs' Cerna microscopy platform:
- Fluorescence Microscopy
- Reflected Light Microscopy
- Near Infrared/Infrared (NIR/IR) Microscopy
They are recommended as epi-illumination sources for a Cerna microscope, and can be used with the CSE2100 or CSE2200 Epi-Illuminator Modules.
Mounting a Solis LED onto an epi-illuminator module requires an externally SM2 (2.035"-40) threaded adapter with a male D3T dovetail (Item # SM2A56). First, thread the adapter securely onto the Solis LED. The adapter utilizes the dovetail to attach to the epi-illuminator module; simply insert the adapter and LED into the back of the module, then secure the dovetail with the side setscrew using a 5/64" (2mm) hex key. See the figures to the right for details, and the epi-illuminator module web presentation for additional information about microscope dovetail connections.
Please contact Technical Support to use a Solis LED in a trans-illumination configuration.
Thorlabs offers two options for driving our Solis® LEDs. The DC20 is a basic option that allows users to control the intensity of their LED using a control knob on the top or via an external TTL signal for modulation. For more advanced applications, our DC2200 drivers provides a touchscreen interface that allows users to control the LED current, select internal or external modulation modes, and more. The table below provides a comparison of key controller features.
| Solis® LED Driver Selection Guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | DC20 | DC2200 |
| Photo (Click to Enlarge) |  |
 |
| LED Current / Forward Voltage (Max) | 1 to 10 A / 5.0 to 14.0 Va | 1.0 A / 50.0 Vb 2.0 A / 35.0 Vb 4.0 A / 15.0 Vb 5.0 A / 10.0 Vb 10.0 A / 5.0 Vb |
| Noise and Ripple (1 Hz to 10 MHz, RMS, Typical) |
<400 µA | <100 µA from 0.0 to 4.0 A <200 µA from 4.0 to 10.0 A |
| Internal Modulation Modes | - | 0.1 Hz to 20 kHz (PWMc Mode) 1 µs to 10 s On or Off Time (Pulse Mode) 20 Hz to 100 kHz (Internal Modulation Mode with Sine, Square, Triangle Waveforms) |
| External Modulation (Arbitrary Waveform) |
- | DC - 250 kHz [Small Signal Bandwidth (Sine)]d |
| TTL Modulation (External) | DC to 1 kHz (Square Wave, PWMc) | DC to ≥18 kHze |
| LED Control Interface | Knob to Control LED Current, BNC Port for TTL Modulation |
Easy-to-Navigate Touchscreen Interface, Brightness and Constant Current Operating Modes, Internal and External Modulation Modes, SMA Port for External Modulation Accepts TTL Signal or Waveform from a Function Generator, USB Interface for Remote Control |
| Current Limit | Automatically Read and Set from the Solis LED's Internal Memory to Protect the LED from Overdriving | |
| External Software Interface | No | DC2200 GUI |
| Other Compatible LEDs | - | Mounted Collimated Fiber Coupled MCPCB Mountedf |
Software for the DC2200 Driver
The available software can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.
Software
Software Version 1.7 (June 21, 2022)
Firmware Version 1.4.2 (June 21, 2022)
GUI software, firmware, and firmware upgrade wizard downloads for the DC2200.
| Posted Comments: | |
Yigao Yuan
(posted 2022-01-12 18:29:36.597) I want to shrink down the beam size to 2-5 mm on the optical table, could you give me some advice. soswald
(posted 2022-01-17 03:20:13.0) Dear Yigao Yuan,
thank you for your feedback. Beam expanders can be used in reverse to reduce the beam size of the emitted 48.3 mm beam:
https://www.thorlabs.de/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=1580
The GBE15-A would result in ~3.2 mm beam diameter for example. Kumar Satheesh
(posted 2021-11-17 04:59:19.207) I learned that It is possible to increase the beam diameter of the SOLIS-445C with the help of external optics to achieve 75 mm diameter.
ACL7560U-A - Aspheric Condenser Lens, Ø75 mm, f=60 mm, NA=0.61, ARC: 350-700 nm (https://www.thorlabs.de/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=ACL7560U-A)
If we order above lenses, do we need to install by ourselves, or will it be installed at factory itself?
If we need to install by ourselves, please give me manual or some instructions, we can try to do it.
Could you please let me know what all other items are needs to be ordered, to achieve 75 mm diameter. This planning helps us to avoid any surprises in the field and make sure we are good to go with our planned experiments.
The following items are something we picked from the website. Could you help us.
1. SOLIS-445C - High-Power LED for Microscopy, 445 nm (Royal Blue), 5.4 W (Min) ://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=SOLIS-445C
2. DC20 - High-Power Driver for Solis® LEDs, 10 A Max, 14.0 V Max
3. ACL7560U-A - Aspheric Condenser Lens, Ø75 mm, f=60 mm, NA=0.61, ARC: 350-700 nm
The manual says the following is included
• collimating optics LB1723A, ACL25416U-A
• Diffuser DG20-1500;
• 2 retaining rings SM2RR
The doubts are:
Do we need to order any other lens or diffuser to achieve the 75 mm beam diameter?
Do we need to order any extra-large retaining lens?
Do we need to order to spanner wrench SPW604 ?
If you clear my doubts and confirm the part number, that would be amazing for me to go the next step to buy the items. wskopalik
(posted 2021-11-17 08:07:19.0) Thank you for your inquiry!
I will contact you directly to talk about your application in more detail. Ulrich Leischner
(posted 2021-04-28 08:08:49.62) can you please give me a Zemax-model of this LED-Light source? I would like to know the exit angle of the light. What is the etendue like? are the LED-emitter closely spaced or is there a gap in between the LEDs?
there are 4 x anode and 4x cathode mentioned in the pin diagram. are there 4 LEDs that can be driven individually, or are all LEDs driven by the same connector serially?
Regards
Ulrich Leischner soswald
(posted 2021-05-06 04:48:31.0) Dear Ulrich,
thank you for your feedback. I have contacted you directly to further discuss your application and provide assistance. Lev Frisman
(posted 2021-02-27 06:57:15.7) Dear Sir / Madam, do the SOLIS LD sources have an eye / skin safety certificate? In particular, which class does the SOLIS-525C system correspond to?
Thanks and best wishes, soswald
(posted 2021-03-01 10:53:22.0) Dear Lev,
thank you for your feedback. The risk group of our respective SOLIS-LEDs is listed in their spec sheets. The SOLIS-525C is classified as RG2 - Moderate Risk Group according to EC 62471:2006, Photobiological Safety of Lamps and Lamp Systems. Satheesh Kumar
(posted 2020-11-07 11:15:50.61) Hi,
I am interested to buy SOLIS 445 C LED. My requirement is 75 mm collimated Spot diameter. Is it possible to make this possible using any external optics like expander etc...
What if the power if we measure 50 mm from the top surface of my sample?
Is it possible to combine 445, 525 and 623 SOLIS LEDs using combiner with collimated o/p of 75 mm diameter? wskopalik
(posted 2020-11-10 10:06:11.0) Dear Satheesh,
Thank you very much for your inquiry!
I will contact you directly so we can find a good solution for your application. Simon Meaney
(posted 2020-03-05 22:25:33.147) Do you have any available data on the rise and fall times of SOLIS LED's using the DC2200 driver?
I'm interested in the white LED's (SOLIS-3C as an example), I assume these are phosphor coated?
How do these times compare to a narrowband SOLIS LED (SOLIS-623C as an example)?
Thanks nreusch
(posted 2020-03-09 04:49:54.0) This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! While we do not explicitly specify rise times for our SOLIS LEDs, we can provide some data on what you can expect. When combining DC2200 with any SOLIS LED, the driver electronics will limit the rise time. The external modulation mode of DC2200 allows up to 250 kHz, which leads to a period of 4 µs. Depending on the exact LED and operation settings (e.g. modulation with 50% of max current or 100% of max current), we measured rise times in the 1-2 µs range for our broadband SOLIS LEDs, which is comparable to what you could expect with the electronic limitations of the DC2200 modulation. Even though LEDs with narrower spectral intensity distribution will have a shorter rise time, you will not be able to make use of these shorter life times with our drivers. We will contact you directly to provide some data. per-olof.larsson
(posted 2019-02-20 09:40:54.993) 1. I presently have a 100 W short arc mercury lamp (Osram HBO) on my Nikon Eclipse 400 microscope. It is not optimal for delivering light in the 450-500 nm region. Will your Solis-470C make a better job? How much better? How can I find out the difference? Literature reference? Diagrams? I really need a high light output.
2. Can I easily attach the Solis to my microscope ?
3. With the DC 2200 driver the light can be modulated. I probably want to use it in e.g. 1 ms flashes spaced 100 ms - 1 s apart. I suppose that is possible? Have short flashes a "square profile", i.e. is the rise time and descent time very short?
4. Can I coordinate the flashes with the exposure by my Andor DU-897 camera?
Thanks in advance - Best, P-O L wskopalik
(posted 2019-02-26 07:20:37.0) This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry!
I will answer your questions one by one:
1. The SOLIS-470C has a typical output power of 3.7 W with a dominant wavelength of 470 nm. So it emits most of its power in the spectral range you need. The Osram HBO lamps emit light in a wider spectral range and also emit the light in all directions. So it is unfortunately hard to compare the two light sources without further information about the HBO lamp and the way it is used in the microscope.
2. We offer the adapter SM2A17 to mount the SOLIS LEDs to Nikon Eclipse microscopes.
3. Modulations like this are possible on the DC2200. You can use the "Pulse Mode" to generate pulses with on and off times between 1 µs - 10 s. Rise and fall times are typically in the µs range. So for pulses of 1 ms you can assume a square profile.
4. The DC2200 has an external modulation input. So you could e.g. synchronize the DC2200 and your camera with an additional external pulse or signal generator.
I will contact you directly so we can talk about the open questions. russoblanc
(posted 2018-07-12 14:13:24.58) Hello,
I have an Olympus BX51WI microscope equipped with a conventional fluorescence source (mercury lamp). I would like to change to a LED based light source. Has the Solis-3C enough power to excite GFP and tdTomato in living slices of the brain? Can I adjust the power finely to apply the proper level of excitation without bleaching a fluorophore?
I´m also interested in a compressor for vibration isolation tables. Your makes 30db noise at 1 m....is that comparable to the noise a fridge makes? Can this compressor feed several vibration isolation tables? I currently have two.
Thank you very much.
Best,
Raul swick
(posted 2018-07-19 05:19:01.0) This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. The Solis-Series could be driven with the LED driver DC2200.
At the LED driver it is possible to precisely adjust the electrical current so, yes, it is possible to adjust the optical power.
If the optical power will be sufficient to excite GFP and tdTomato depends on the optical setup.
Basically the optical power from the Solis-Series should be sufficient for such applications.
The compressor only runs when the vessel becomes too empty to fill the table,
so it is only going to run every couple of days for a few 10s of seconds depending on how much the table get moved.
You can run 2 tables per compressor, but will need a pressure regulator (PTA013) for each table, after the compressor. philipp.leippe
(posted 2018-06-14 19:49:07.193) Will the adapter SLSLLG3 couple the SOLIS efficiently to a 5mm LLG? nreusch
(posted 2018-06-20 09:39:28.0) This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! In order to achieve an efficient coupling, the NA of lens and LLG need to be chosen carefully. For the SOLIS series, however, it is also important that heat can be dissipated efficiently. We performed some tests showing that the SLSLLG3 might not be the best choice for our SOLIS LEDs, because it does not allow for sufficient air circulation. I will contact you directly for further assistance. pchiang5
(posted 2017-08-28 16:59:43.2) Hello,
I would like to install the LED light source on my axiovert 135. However, I do not have the illumination adapter (connecting tube between light house and filter holder) on the microscope. Is it possible to use your Lens Tubes instead? if yes, could you provide a specific combination of part number for the purpose?
please see below for the information of the illumination adapter:
http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/11/Axiovert_100_135_135M.pdf
Thanks swick
(posted 2017-08-30 03:10:08.0) This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. I will contact you directly for assistance. massimo.baroncini
(posted 2017-07-08 00:37:14.977) Is it possible to couple a SOLIS LED with an optical fiber to make a high power fiber coupled led? swick
(posted 2017-07-12 03:20:05.0) This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry.
In general it is possible to attach optical fibers or liquid light guides to our Solis-Series via the SM2-thread at the output aperture. The optical power which can be coupled into the fiber this way, would be less than what our standard fiber-coupled LEDs (MxxxFx-Series) provide.
I have contacted you directly for assistance. james.a.strother
(posted 2017-05-17 16:19:05.607) Would it be possible to put together a Solis LED with a wavelength closer to 470nm? The 445nm offering is a bit too blue-shifted for the two most common fluorophores, GFP and Alexa Fluor 488. Osram makes a high power 460nm LED that would be much better. swick
(posted 2017-05-19 03:04:35.0) This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the feedback. I will contact you directly for discussing the LED you have mentioned. wandner
(posted 2017-05-04 12:06:58.73) Dear Sir / Madam,
are there Solis High Power LEDs available with a wavelength at about 740 nm?
Best regards,
Karl Wandner swick
(posted 2017-05-08 03:35:05.0) This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. At the time we do not offer Solis High Power LEDs near to 740nm.
I will contact you directly to discuss alternative solutions. peh1
(posted 2017-02-21 19:36:51.57) dear hornet, i bought
E3633A 200W Power Supply, 8V, 20A or 20V, 10A
from keysight tfrisch
(posted 2017-02-24 09:32:56.0) Hello, thank you for your feedback. While we have not used this supply, we appreciate your leaving a recommendation for other customers who need a solution before our coming release s.m.hornett
(posted 2017-01-04 10:18:50.54) Is it possible to supply a cheap on/off power supply for these LED's? swick
(posted 2017-01-05 04:26:29.0) This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for the inquiry.
We will release a lower priced LED driver for the Solis-Series in the near future. I will contact you directly to provide further information. reynolds.gw.2
(posted 2016-11-09 09:02:44.617) Hi,
Can you offer a Solis High power LED at the 700 (ish) nm wavelength?
Thanks,
Geoff wskopalik
(posted 2016-11-14 11:12:13.0) This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry!
We will evaluate if a SOLIS LED at this wavelength can be customized. I have already contacted you directly to further discuss your requirements. |
This tab includes all LEDs sold by Thorlabs. Click on More [+] to view all available wavelengths for each type of LED pictured below.
| Light Emitting Diode (LED) Selection Guide | |||||
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| Click Photo to Enlarge (Representative; Not to Scale) |
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| Type | Unmounted LEDs | Pigtailed LEDs | LEDs in SMT Packages |
LED Arrays | Cage-Compatible Diffuse Backlight LED |
| Light Emitting Diode (LED) Selection Guide | ||||||
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| Click Photo to Enlarge (Representative; Not to Scale) |
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| Type | PCB- Mounted LEDs |
Heatsink- Mounted LEDs |
Collimated LEDs for Microscopyb | Fiber- Coupled LEDsc |
High-Power LEDs for Microscopy | Multi-Wavelength LED Source Optionsd |
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Excel File with Normalized and Scaled Spectra
The above plots compare the spectral flux of the Solis® LEDs. In order to provide a point of comparison for the relative powers of LEDs with different nominal wavelengths, the spectra have been scaled to the typical output power for each LED. This data is representative, not absolute. An Excel file with normalized and calculated scaled spectra for all of the Solis high-power LEDs can be downloaded by clicking on the link above.
- Typical Collimated LED Output Powers from 570 mW to 8.75 W
- Wavelengths Available from UV to NIR
- Automatic Shut Off to Prevent Damage from Overheating
- Large Ø48.3 mm (1.90") Clear Aperture
- LED Lifetime: >10 000 Hours
- Compatible with DC20 and DC2200 LED Drivers (Available Below)
Click to Enlarge
A SOLIS-1D LED mounted on an Olympus microscope via the SM2A13 adapter (available below), driven by the DC2200 Driver (available below).
The Solis® LEDs are high-power LEDs designed for microscopy applications. The lightweight package features a vibration-free, fanless design that can be mounted directly to a microscope port using one of Thorlabs' microscope lamphouse port adapters (available below). Each LED includes a collimating optic in a lens tube with a large Ø48.3 mm aperture. An integrated EEPROM chip stores important LED operating information, such as wavelength and max current, and controls the LED automatic shutoff features; at internal temperatures above 95 °C, the LED will automatically shut down to prevent damage.
Most Solis LEDs have a specified dominant wavelength that corresponds to the wavelength that appears brightest to the human eye. Our cold white, warm white, and day light white LEDs feature a broader spectrum that can be described using a correlated color temperature (i.e., color appearance similar to a black body radiator at that temperature). In general, warm white LEDs offer a spectrum similar to a tungsten source, while cold white LEDs have a stronger blue component to the spectrum. These cold white LEDs are more suited for fluorescence microscopy applications or cameras with white balancing because of a higher intensity at most wavelengths compared to the warm white LEDs. The SOLIS-3C day light LED has improved output power in the 470 - 520 nm wavelength range (see the Performance tab for more information).
The included diffuser should be installed in front of the collimating lenses using the two included SM2RR Retaining Rings as well as an SPW604 Spanner Wrench (sold separately). The SM2 thread depth is different for each Solis LED. Be sure that the LED is turned off with enough time for the housing to cool before installation, and that the diffuser does not touch the second collimating lens so as to prevent scratching.
While typical applications involve mounting the LED directly to a microscope port via a microscope adapter, an 8-32 and M4 cross-tapped hole is provided at each corner on the back of the housing for custom mounting applications (see the DIY Mounting tab for details). These Solis high-power LEDs for microscopy are not intended for use in household illumination applications.
Zoom| DC20 Key Specificationsa | |
|---|---|
| LED Current (Max) | 1 to 10 A |
| LED Forward Voltage (Max) | 5.0 to 14.0 V |
| LED Current Limit Accuracy | ±(1% + 25 mA) |
| TTL Modulation Frequency | DC to 1 kHz |
| Modulation Waveform | Square Wave / PWM |
Click to Enlarge
The DC20 is a simple way to power the Solis® LEDs.
- Designed for Thorlabs' Solis® LEDs for Microscopy
- Easily Control LED Intensity Using the Dial
- Automatically Sets the Current Limit to Protect the LED
- Provides Drive Current up to 10 A
- Supports LED Forward Voltage up to 14 V
- Accepts External TTL Modulation Signal via BNC Connector
Thorlabs' DC20 Driver is designed to provide a simple way to control any of Thorlabs' Solis LEDs. Easy to set up and use, this driver is an ideal solution for users of our Solis LEDs who don't require the more advanced functions provided by the DC2200 Touchscreen LED Driver available below. See the Solis LED Drivers tab for a comparison between the DC20 and the DC2200 drivers.
The current provided to the LED is controlled by turning the knob on the top of the driver. The position on the top panel marked LIMIT will correspond to the maximum LED current for the connected Solis LED, as the driver automatically detects and sets the current limit to the value stored in each Solis LED's internal memory to protect it from being overdriven. Pushing on the knob will either switch the LED on at the percentage of the maximum current indicated by the control knob position or turn it off. Alternatively, the LED can be modulated using an external TTL signal connected to a BNC input on the back of the driver's housing. See the Specs tab for the TTL signal requirements.
A tri-color LED on the side of the unit indicates the current LED status, including whether the LED is on or off (useful with IR LEDs), whether the LED is operating normally, or if an error has occurred.
Please note that the DC20 driver is designed specifically to work with the internal electronics in Thorlabs' Solis LEDs and should not be used to drive any other type of LED.
Zoom| DC2200 Key Specificationsa | |
|---|---|
| LED Current / Forward Voltage (Max)b,c |
1.0 A / 50.0 V 2.0 A / 35.0 V 4.0 A / 15.0 V 5.0 A / 10.0 V 10.0 A / 5.0 V |
| LED Current Accuracyc | ±(0.1% + 2 mA) for 0 to 4.0 A ±(0.1% + 4 mA) for 4.0 to 10.0 A |
| LED Current Resolution | 0.1 mA |
| Internal Modulation | Waveforms: Sine, Square, Triangle Frequency Range: 20 Hz to 100 kHz |
| External Modulation Small Signal Bandwidthd |
DC - 250 kHz |
| External TTL Modulation Frequencye |
DC to ≥18 kHz |
- Driver for Thorlabs' Solis® LEDs
- Operating Modes for Setting LED Current or Brightness
- Internal Modulation and Pulsed Modes
- Adjustable Frequency, Duty Cycle, and Pulse Count
- Sine, Square, or Triangle Waveforms
- External Trigger and Modulation
- Remote Control via USB Interface
The DC2200 LED Driver also provides a touchscreen interface for Thorlabs' Solis High-Power LEDs that incorporates more advanced functions than the DC20 driver available above. It can provide up to 10.0 A of current and a maximum forward voltage of 50 V. The driver can either be controlled locally via the device front panel, visible in the photo to the left, or from a PC using the USB 2.0 port on the back of the device.
The main menu of the graphical user interface allows the user to select between operating the LED in constant current mode, brightness mode, internally or externally pulsed modes, and TTL modulation. The internal modulation and pulsed operation modes that allow the LED intensity to be modulated without the use of an external function generator. An SMA input on the back of the driver accepts either for external modulation signals with an arbitrary waveform or a TTL High/Low input that allows the LED on/off state to be synchronized with other lab equipment.
Click to Enlarge
The touchscreen interface allows the LED brightness to be adjusted. In Brightness Mode, the LED is at 100% brightness when it is driven at the current limit.
In addition to the USB 2.0 port and Solis LED connection terminal, this driver has a second LED connectin terminal to support Thorlabs' Mounted, Collimated, and Fiber-Coupled LEDs*. The back of the housing also includes an interlock circuit that can be connected to a user-supplied emergency off switch and a grounded jack that can be used with ESD protection equipment.
For a side-by-side comarison of Thorlabs' DC20 Plug-and-Play Driver for Solis LEDs and the DC2200 touchscreen LED driver, see the Solis LED Drivers tab above. Complete specifications can be found on the main page for the DC2200 LED Driver.
*Please note that the driver can only control one LED at a time, regardless of which LED connection terminal is used.
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A Solis LED Installed on an Olympus Microscope's Epi-Fluorescence Port
The Solis® LEDs are compatible with Thorlabs' externally SM2-threaded port adapters for Olympus, Nikon, Leica, and Zeiss microscopes. Microscope compatibility information is provided in the table below.
Please ensure that the dimensions of the Solis housing and your microscope setup will not create mechanical clashing. For example, a Ø2" lens tube at least as long as Item # SM2L05 is needed in conjunction with the SM2A13 adapter to attach a Solis LED to the Olympus IX71 microscope's transmitted illumination port.
High-Power Solis® LEDs for Microscopy
