These experiments are for power under "laser pointer" conditions, but I'd be interested in an experiment under "scanner" conditions. So constantly changing power (analogue modulation with a FlexDrive) and being left on for a long period (in a huge heatsink of course).
Are you able to setup such an experiment IgorT? And yes, I am able to provide the $170 or whatever for the diode
(Although if there are other scanner junkies willing to donate to that fund that would be swell).
Murudai...
If you supply the diode, i can do a cycler experiment at any power, or with any modulation you want...
Modulation with a FlexDrive? FlexDrive or FlexMod?
Whatever it is, if you can supply it, i'd gladly test it.. If you send it in a working condition, i just have to hook it up, either to the Cycler's 3.6V output (if it's the FlexDrive), or through the relay (if your setup needs more voltage) and let it run... The rest is completelly automatic...
interesting idea, murudai!
well, if a diode survives long at a constant output, it should be good for that time if its modulated up to this output too? theatre incan lights arent "off" when not used, but get a small voltage, just enough to not let them cool all down. maybe a slight orange glow. maybe it would help to dim the laserdiode the same, just under lasing threshold?
all just ideas, i have no clue if that really would work!
manuel
Since he said "scanner", that automatically IMPLIES LOWER POWER.... I'd imagine, in a scanner, the diode is powered for either 10-20 minutes at once, when demonstrating it (aka showing off to friends), or even an hour or two, if it's used seriously, never mind professionally, where you can have several hours of continuous use...
It has to be powered at reasonable power levels, simply because hours gather MUCH faster in a scanner, than in a pointer!
If it was supposed to be a professional scanner, i would not guesstimate more than 150-175mW of max power. In a hobby scanner, perhaps 250-300mW.. Of course i can make better guesstimates once the first diode dies...
But i also wanted to suggest it's not completelly turned OFF during the modulation, but just brought down to the lasing threshold when supposed to be off... :yh:
However i am not sure how this FlexDrive modulation works.. Due to the way the FlexDrive works i can't imagine anything in between AFTER the output. The IC might have a DIM pin but that's usually for PWM modulation. I'm slightly confused... :thinking:
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Otherwise, now that it's finally weekend, i had some time to test the diodes.. Just a few more to go, and i can hook the first one up... :yh:
I also set up a double time recorder. One is a counter, that simply displays the number of power-ups it detects.. Since the power-up lasts 1 minute, in the end the counter displays the number of minutes the diode survived...
But just in case there is a power failure, i also connected an actual time recorder circuit, which counts the seconds while the photo transistor is detecting light, and remembers them, even if all power is gone..
I'm not expecting any problems, but a backup never hurts... :yh:
There is one thing i am interested in.. Something only people, who have killed 8x's can answer:
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When an 8x dies, does it still lase at a few mW like the weird "S03's"? Or does it only produce spontaneous emissions?
Just in case, i should adjust the filter in front of the photo transistor, so that it doesn't trigger, if the power is less than a certain amount..
