Mysterious IR laser module

[Nameless_Ranger]

I acquired several Kodak IR laser 837 nm modules that have a fiber optic attached. 8 connections:

TEC (-)
LASER (A)
THERM (2)
THERM (1)
LASER (C)
MPD (A)
MPD (C)
TEC (+)

With a Fluke 77 in diode test position, red connected to LASER (A), black to LASER (C), I get 1.3 V
drop indicated. Module is rated  593 mA. Presumably it should be able to burn.

It's in a box potted with epoxy approximately 1 3/4" x 1 1/4" x 3/4" attached to a heat sink 4"x 5".

How do I hook up a power supply/driver? Lens? What are the other connections for? :-/
I'd like to make it a portable burning laser of minimum possible size.
Any insights / suggestions?

 

[ElektroFreak]

It'll definitely be able to burn! In order to test it all you have to worry about is the "LASER (A) and LASER (C)" connections. The anode (A) and cathode (C) are positive and negative respectively. This will allow for short test burns. If you want to be able to really use it without having to worry about heat then you'd need to connect the TEC + and - to a TEC (thermoelectric or "peltier" device) controller. As for the other connections the THERMAL connections are for monitoring the temperatures inside the laser and the MPD connections are for the monitor photodiode which is used to detect and monitor output power. The THERMAL and MPD connections are used together to maintain both temperature and output power at a very precise level, but to use them properly you would need a controller for them.

For short duration testing just use the LASER (A) and LASER (C) connections and ignore the others. You could hook the TEC connections up to an LM317 driver and manually set the temperature for longer burns if you so desire..

Would you be interested in selling one?

 

[Nameless_Ranger]

PM sent. Thanks!