Products

SDC-4U diode driver

Applications

Power supply for pump diodes of DPSS lasers such as Nd:YAG

Features

Input – 110-240 V AC
Output diode current – up to 400 A, 500 V, 300 us (but 1500 W max)
Pulse width – 50-300 us
Repetition rate – up to 50 Hz
Rise time – < 20-30 us typically
Modifications are possible

Download manual (1.3 MB)

1500W laser diode driver SDC-4U is a family of 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 pump diodes, delivering up to 1500 W of average power. Pulse repetition rates can reach 50 Hz or higher on request.

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 RS232 version of the SDC-4U optionally also capable of powering and controlling a Pockels cell driver for the generation of Q-switched pulses. The SDC-4U 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.

Multiple outputs and other customizations are available on request.

The module features a universal 110-240 V AC wide-range input.

All the important parameters for SDC-4U laser diode driver (such as output current, buffer voltage, pulse width, pulse repetition rate and others) can be configured via the front panel user interface (10” color touchscreen display) or can be controlled via the RS-232 interface. The default interface is the RS-232 (the RS-485 is available upon request).

The SDC-4U high-power diode drivers are designed for 19” rack mounting, featuring a 4U height and approximately 500 mm depth.

Driver Architecture:

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:

Voltage

110-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1 ph

Output:

Regime of operation

pulsed

Maximum buffer voltage (V_max)

model dependent (user selectable up to 500 V), other on request

Maximum output voltage

model dependent (see also How to order?), other on request

Maximum output current (I_max)

model dependent (user selectable up to 400 A), other on request

Output current

10-100 % of I_max adjustable, other on request

Buffer voltage

adjustable in 30 V – V_max range, other on request

Pulse width

50-300 us adjustable (other on request)

Rise time

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

Pulse repetition rate

up to 50 Hz adjustable in standard modifications, other on request

Maximum average output power

1500 W, other on request

Capacitor bank:

Capacitance

model dependent (5 mF to 20 mF), other on request

Extension slot

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

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

Miscellaneous:

Protections

• from overcurrent
• from overheating
• from incorrect buffer voltage
• door-interlock connection
• quick discharge resistors (4 kOhm)

Cooling

forced-air cooling with built-in fans

Interfaces

• UI – 10” display with touchscreen
• RS-232 / RS-485 machine interface

Synchronizations

• 1 pc synchro input
• 3 pcs synchro outputs

Environment:

Operating temperature

+10 … +40 °C

Storage temperature

-20 … +60 °C

Humidity

0 … 90%, non-condensing

Other:

Size

19” rack mountable, 4U height, depth around 500 mm

Weight

< 15 kg

SDC-4U-[XX]-YYYY-[VVVVV], where:

XX denotes the number of output channels, it can be either C1 (single-channel version) or C2 (dual-channel version). By default, C1 version is supplied.
YYYY codes the voltage version of the driver (nominal value, can be 300 V, 350 V, 400 V, 450 V, 500 V, or custom). The maximum output current and internal capacitor bank capacitance are fixed for each voltage version, see details in the table below.
VVVVV code denotes the type of machine interface, it can be either RS232 or RS485. The RS232 version of the SDC-4U optionally can control an external Pockels cell driver. Multiple SDC-4U drivers of the RS485 version can operate in master-slave mode. By default, the RS232 version is supplied.

PARAMETER	VALUE (*)
Model (V_MAX)	300V	350V	400V	450V	500V
Embedded capacitor bank:
Voltage, V	300	350	400	450	500
Capacitance, mF	20	20	13	13	5
Capacitor charging power supply:
Output voltage (buffer voltage), V	30…300	30…350	30…400	30…450	30…500
Maximum power at maximum buffer voltage, W	> 1500 @ V_MAX
Diode driver:
Max. output current, A	400	350	300	250	225
Recommended diode voltage, V (**)	< 280	< 330	< 380	< 430	< 480
Pulse width, us	50…300
Repetition rate	0…50
Output limitations:
Energy limit	I_maxV_maxT_max
Power limit, W	1500
Guaranteed regime	400A-280V- 250us-50Hz	350A-330V- 250us-50Hz	300A-380V- 250us-50Hz	250A-430V- 250us-50Hz	225A-480V- 250us-50Hz

(*) 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.
(**) Please note that the output voltage applied to the diodes is several volts lower than the buffer voltage due to voltage drops across internal components and wiring.

Examples

Model

Description

SDC-4U-300V

Input voltage – 110-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1 ph
Number of output channels – 1
400 A maximum output current
300 V maximum output voltage
Embedded capacitor bank capacitance – 20 mF @ 300 V
Maximum output power 1500 W @ 300 V
RS-232 machine interface

SDC-4U-C1-400V

Input voltage – 110-240VAC, 50/60Hz, 1ph
Number of output channels – 1
300 A maximum output current
400 V maximum output voltage
Embedded capacitor bank capacitance – 13 mF @ 400 V
Maximum output power 1500 W @ 400 V
RS-232 machine interface

SDC-4U-500V-RS485

Input voltage – 110-240VAC, 50/60Hz, 1ph
Number of output channels – 1
225 A maximum output current
500 V maximum output voltage
Embedded capacitor bank capacitance – 5 mF @ 500 V
Maximum output power 1500 W @ 500 V
RS-485 machine interface