SDC-400 diode driver

Applications

Diode pumping of DPSS such as Nd:YAG

Features

Output diode current – up to 400 A, 500 V, 300 us (but 1500 W max)
Pulse width – 50-300 us
Repetition rate – up to 500 Hz
Rise time – < 20-30 us typically
Modifications are possible

Download manual (2.0 MB)

1500W dioder driver SDC-400 is a family of open-frame pulsed drivers specifically designed to power high-power diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) lasers, such as Nd:YAG. Our module provides a 50-300 µs pulsed current to drive pumping diodes, delivering up to 1500 W of average power. Pulse repetition rates can reach 500 Hz for relatively low voltages and 50 Hz for high voltages.

The driver is supplied as an OEM module and includes only the diode driver itself. All other system components, including but not limited to the AC/DC power supply, capacitor bank (if required), and graphical user interface (GUI), must be provided separately, either by OEM Tech or by third-party suppliers.

As an example, the diagram below illustrates how the laboratory 19-inch rack-mounted SDC-4U driver is built around the SDC-400 high-voltage module with forced-air cooling.

SDC-4U Driver Architecture Built Around the SDC-400:

The module can be synchronized in two ways:

Internally: Pulses are generated according to an internal clock.
Externally: Pulses with a user-defined width are triggered by an external synchronization signal.

The SDC-400 diode driver is capable of powering and controlling a Pockels cell driver for the generation of Q-switched pulses. The SDC-400 also can send output synchronization signals to other equipment, either coincident with the TTL pulse applied to the Pockels cell driver or shifted relative to it.

All key operating parameters of the SDC-400 laser diode driver, including output current, pulse width, pulse repetition rate, and other settings, can be configured from a computer or other control device via the RS-485 or RS-232 interface.

For your convenience for pulsed drivers we offer a calculator for an average output power and a pulse energy (link to open it as a new window)

Input:

Power input

voltage source with the adjustable DC output voltage is recommended for most of applications. Output power must be matched with the required operating regimes. SDC-400 can control PCA-series capacitor chargers by OEM Tech or third-party sources of the input voltage

Maximum input voltage (V_max)

500 V for high-voltage version
100 V for low-voltage version
Other on request

LV input

24 V DC, 1A max

Output:

Regime of operation

pulsed

Maximum output voltage

nominal maximum output voltage is equal to the maximum input voltage V_max, i.e.:

500 V for high-voltage version
100 V for low-voltage version
other on request

Actual output voltage applied to the diodes is several volts lower than the input voltage due to voltage drops across internal components and wiring.

Maximum output current (I_max)

400 A, other on request

Output current

~ 10-100 % of I_max adjustable, other on request

Pulse width

adjustable in 50 us – T_max range, T_max is 300 us by default, other on request

Maximum pulse repetition rate

50 Hz for high-voltage version
500 Hz for low-voltage version
other on request

Peak power

> 100 kW for high-voltage version
40 kW for low-voltage version
other on request

Maximum average output power

1500 W, other on request

Rise time

< 20-30 us typically, slow start adjustable in 0...50 us range

Bias current

+, model dependent (<50mA)

Recommended cables:

For diode connections

• inductance – < 500 nH
• cross-section – 4 mm²
• length – < 50 cm (up to 2 m acceptable)

For external capacitor bank connections (high-voltage version)

• cross-section – 4 mm²
• length – < 50 cm

Miscellaneous:

Protections/safety

• from overcurrent
• from overheating
• from incorrect input voltage
• from too high frequency of synchronization pulses
• door-interlock connection
• quick discharge resistors connections

Cooling

two options are available:
• forced-air cooling
• water cooling

Interfaces

• RS-232 interface
• RS-485 interface

Synchronizations

• 1 pc synchro input
• 3 pcs synchro outputs

Pockels cell driver control

available

Environment:

Operating temperature

+10 … +40 °C

Storage temperature

-20 … +60 °C

Humidity

0 … 90%, non-condensing

Other:

Size (WxDxH)

150x256x142 mm for SDC-400-HV-A, for other see the User Manual

Weight

< 1.5 kg / < 3.5 kg for water and forced-air cooled versions respectively

SDC-400-XX-Y, where:

XX defines the voltage version of the driver, it can be either HV (high-voltage version of the driver) or LV (low-voltage version of the driver).
Y code defines the cooling type, it can be either A (air-cooled version) or W (water-cooled version).

Examples (some standardized modifications)

Model

Description

SDC-400-HV-A

Max. output voltage – 500V (*)
Max. output current – 400A (*)
Embedded capacitor bank – none
Max. output power – 1500W
Forced-air cooling

(*) – not at the same time, se also Modes of operations table below

SDC-400-LV-W

Max. output voltage – 100V
Max. output current – 400A
Embedded capacitor bank – 100V / 16mF
Max. output power – 1500W
Water cooling

Other modifications are available upon request.

Modes of operations

PARAMETER	VALUE (*)
	SDC-400-HV					SDC-400-LV
	300V mode	350V mode	400V mode	450V mode	500V mode	N/A
Maximum input voltage (buffer voltage) V_max, V	300	350	400	450	500	100
Maximum output voltage (**), V	< 300	< 350	< 400	< 450	< 500	< 100
Recommended external capacitor bank capacitance:	>15mF @ 300V	>15mF @ 350V	>15mF @ 400V	>8mF @ 450V	>5mF @ 500V	not reqired
Diode driver:
Max. output current, A	400	350	300	250	225	400
Recommended diode voltage, V (**)	< 265	< 320	< 370	< 420	< 470	< 65
Pulse width (T_min…T_max), us	50…300
Repetition rate, Hz	0…50					0…500
Output limitations:
Energy limit	I_maxV_maxT_max
Power limit, W	1500
Guaranteed regime	400A-265V- 250us-50Hz	350A-320V- 250us-50Hz	300A-370V- 250us-50Hz	250A-420V- 250us-50Hz	225A-470V- 250us-50Hz	400A-65V- 250us-200Hz

(*) Customizations (e.g. non-standard output currents, non-standard diode voltages and other parameters, software customizations, Pockels cell driver control customizations) are possible on request.
(**) Nominal maximum output voltage is equal to the maximum input voltage V_max. Actual output voltage applied to the diodes is several volts lower than the input voltage due to voltage drops across internal components and wiring.