Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Lab style power supply

Joined
Dec 10, 2012
Messages
1
Points
0
I have my goggles, I have a few diodes already in Aixiz modules, but I would rather build lab style or "semi portables". This will be partially a learning project, and while I wouldn't say cost is no issue, I would have no problem spending $9 for a fancy IC or other single-purchase components. The idea is to have a simple but adequate driver to start out with, but slowly make it more sophisticated - i.e a PTC protection thermistor, a TEC controller on the same power plug, even a ghetto actuated shutter.

I am starting with a "100mW" DPSS 532nm module that has what looks like a driver already attached, so I suppose I'm providing it a constant current just for practice. After it I have a 445nm m140 that I want to have a power knob as part of the initial package.

My first question is: I know why using just a resistor is bad for battery builds. How would just a resistor (or several) and a low-pass filter work out on a managed power supply?

Second, I see a lot of buck-boost ICs at various suppliers, is there any page where some of these larger packages have been thrown on 'scopes and judged for laser quality - instead of going through each datasheet and eyeballing comparisons?
 





Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
17,622
Points
113
If you are talking about a Labby Style Power Supply you don't
need a Boost LD Driver since the Power Supply should be able to
produce the Voltage and current needed for your LD Driver.

A Linear or Buck LD Driver would do just fine and since your 100mW
532nm Module already has a Driver all you need to do is supply
the voltage that the 532nm Module Driver was designed for.


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2007
Messages
5,438
Points
83
Consider constructing a transistor-based current controlling driver like this. The nice thing about it is that you can use some outside control mechanism, like an input voltage at the gate or that PWM input, to control the output power. So in effect it's an analog driver, with a maximum output current. I use it all the time in experiments when I don't want a full-power laser on all the time. It's also good for plotting current vs. output, etc.

You'll need some other power supply to provide the power to the current regulator, but that's something you'll need regardless.

Beware that the above is mostly for diode-lasers. For DPSS lasers it's usually better to rely on the driver that came with the laser because it has its own feedback based on the output of the laser, and also because you're providing power to a pump diode, not directly to just a laser diode that'll output power. DPSS lasers are also different for modulation because of the crystals, so you may not get the response you're looking for (depending on how fast you modulate).
 




Top