Laser Diode Characterization System LIV120

Powerful but low cost pulsed / QCW / CW test system for use in the lab as well as for OEM applications.

Ideal for

Diode characterization
Quality control of incoming goods
OEM

We offer this instrument with a variety of end stages covering current ranges from 250mA up to 20A in a compact enclosure and up to 1200A in 19” rack enclosures.

The LIV120 uses our extensive range of OPM150 laser power detector heads.

The measurement cycle typically takes less than 1s including the data transfer to the host computer.

Characteristics

Pulsed, QCW and CW testing including burn-in
Maximum currents: 250mA up to 1200A
Maximum number of current steps: 4000
Measures optical power, laser voltage, laser current and monitor diode current
Interface: USB
Throughput: typically 1s per device

Description

The LIV120 is a powerful but low cost pulsed / QCW / CW test system for use in the lab as well as for OEM applications, ideal for

Diode characterization
Quality control of incoming goods
OEM

We offer this instrument with a variety of end stages covering current ranges from 250mA up to 20A in a compact enclosure and up to 1200A in 19” rack enclosures. The current ranges 250mA to 2A are forced air cooled. Above 2A in the compact enclosure, the unit is liquid cooled. Please contact us if liquid cooling is required for the low current versions. The LIV120 uses our extensive range of OPM150 laser power detector heads with all of the comfort of intelligent head technology for cost efficient swapping of detector heads. This feature is very useful when testing a wide range of wavelengths or when testing free beam and fibre coupled lasers. The measurement cycle typically takes less than 1s including the data transfer to the host computer.

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

A complete parameter set for a given measurement protocol may be uploaded to the LIV120. The LIV120 then takes over the measurement procedure. The unit drives the laser with the given prescription and performs the data acquisition and storage. The LIV120 operates both in CW and pulsed modes:

CW-LIV mode

Pulsed LIV mode

Many laser diodes of the same type may now be tested in this manner with very high throughput. The LIV120 is capable of running in the so-called soft pulse mode. This means that the current between pulses in pulsed mode operation does not drop down to zero, but rather to the value of the minimum current set by the operater. Note the very clean, square shape of the current pulses.


Current output (min. = 0)		Current output (min. ≠0)

The burst mode is used to run the driver at constant current with a single pulse (or step) width and pulse separation during the whole burst. All parameters (power, currents and voltage) are measured in this mode. Schematically this appears as follows:

CW-burst mode

Pulsed burst mode

The burst mode is useful for lifetime testing, checking the thermal contact on a device or for generating light for a certain length of time for other measurements such as smile, near field / far field patterns or spectra. Artifex Engineering supports this product with a custom connection line or contact card configuration service.

FIELDS OF APPLICATION

Applications include laser diode characterization after submounting or packaging, inspection of incoming goods and for OEMs. The software delivered with the unit allows for one-click generation of a full pdf data sheet for the device under test.

Specifications

Parameter	Device type	Conditions	Min	Typ	Max	Unit
Input
Maximum power			Depending on the selected integrating sphere and detector head. See OPM150 series for details!
Monitor diode current	LIV120-250 LIV120-500 LIV120-1000 LIV120-2500	gain 0 gain 1 gain 2	0.0025 0.00025 0.025		10 1 100	mA mA µA
Monitor diode current	LIV120-5A or higher		No measurement of monitor diode current
Output
Laser diode current	LIV120-250 LIV120-500 LIV120-1000 LIV120-2500		0.0625 0.125 0.250 0.625		250 500 1000 2500	mA mA mA mA
Laser diode current	LIV120-5A LIV120-10A LIV120-20A LIV120-40A		0.00125 0.0025 0.005 0.01		5 10 20 40	A A A A
Laser diode current	LIV120-L100A LIV120-L200A LIV120-L400A LIV120-L800A LIV120-L1200A		0.025 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3		100 200 400 800 1200	A A A A A
Compliance voltage	LIV120-250 up to LIV120-2500		8			V
Compliance voltage	LIV120-5A up to LIV120-40A		8			V
Compliance voltage	LIV120-100A		10			V
Compliance voltage	LIV120-200A		20			V
Compliance voltage	LIV120-400A up to LIV120-1200		10			V
Accuracy	LIV120-250 up to LIV120-2500				0.2	%
Accuracy	LIV120-5A up to LIV120-40A				0.2	%
Accuracy	LIV120-100A bis 1200A				0.5	%
Rise time at full rated current	LIV120-250 up to LIV120-2500			2	5	µs
Rise time at full rated current	LIV120-5A up to LIV120-40A			6	10	µs
Rise time at full rated current	LIV120-100A			350	400	µs
Rise time at full rated current	LIV120-200 up to LIV120-1200A			400	500	µs
Pulse duration	LIV120-250 up to LIV120-2500	pulse modes CW modes	0.1 0.1		60000 120000	ms
Pulse duration	LIV120-5A up to LIV120-40A	Pulse modes CW modes	0.22 0.22		60000 120000	ms
Pulse duration	LIV120-100A up to LIV120-1200A	Pulse modes CW modes	1 1		60000 120000	ms
Duty cycle		Pulse modes CW modes	0.0002 0.0002		99.99 100	% %
Measurement time			200			µs
Measurement time					11	Tage
Number of measurements per channel		LIV modes Burst modes	1 1		4000 16380
Number of channels for measurement	LIV120-250 up to LIV120-2500			4 optical power laser current laser voltage photo diode current
Number of channels for measurement	LIV100-L002 LIV120-5A up to LIV120-1200A			3 optical power laser current laser voltage
in general
Power supply	LIV120-250 up to LIV120-2500			Wall plug
Power supply	LIV120-5A up to LIV120-40A			table top power supply
Power supply	LIV120-100A		90		265	V (single phase)
Power supply	LIV120-200A up to LIV120-1200A		342		528	V (three-phase)
Communication				USB2.0
Dimensions	LIV120-250 up to LIV120-1000			130 x 120 x 65 (w x l x h)		mm
Dimensions	LIV120-2500 up to LIV120-40A			130 x 120 x 106 (w x l x h)		mm
Dimensions	LIV120-100A			19″ Rack 3U
Dimensions	LIV120-200A up to LIV120-400A			19″ Rack 4U
Dimensions	LIV120-800A			19″ Rack 2 x 4U
Dimensions	LIV120-1200A			19″ Rack 3 x U

Options

Maximum currents: 250mA up to 1200A
Wavelength range: 250-1100nm; 400-1650nm
Simultaneous spectrum measurement

We will gladly adapt, for example, the wavelength or the current to suit your application. Let us know your requirements.

Accessories

Integrating Spheres

Connection lines

Mounts

TECs and TEC drivers

Product Demonstration: Artifex Laser Diode Characterization System

Discover the potential of our LIV120 in combination with our detector heads and calibrated integrating spheres. We show exemplary measurements for the characterization of laser diodes and show you measurement results in the GUI.

Artifex Software Development Kit

The SDK is a fixed, free component when purchasing a device.

It comes with the source code of the application program (in VB.net) and a LabView VI with the basic functions of the instrument. A description of the communication with the devices and a list of the commands used is also included.

For some devices (currently LDD100, LIV120 in preparation) there is a dll file (library file) with documentation and exemplary applications in VB.net and LabView.