Open-source lab hardware: Driver and temperature controller for high compliance voltage, fiber-coupled butterfly lasers

Florian Kehl; Vlad F Cretu; Peter A Willis

doi:10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00240

Open-source lab hardware: Driver and temperature controller for high compliance voltage, fiber-coupled butterfly lasers

HardwareX. 2021 Oct 16:10:e00240. doi: 10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00240. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Authors

Florian Kehl^{1

2

3

4}, Vlad F Cretu¹, Peter A Willis¹

Affiliations

¹ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
² Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Air Force Center, University of Zurich, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
³ Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
⁴ Institute of Medical Engineering, Space Biology Group, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 6052 Hergiswil, Switzerland.

Abstract

This article describes the development of a compact, relatively low-cost, high compliance voltage laser driver that can provide the constant optical laser output required for a range of applications. The system contains an integrated, high-precision temperature controller that can be implemented with butterfly-style lasers containing an internal thermoelectric cooler. The laser parameters can be controlled manually or via an onboard microcontroller. Additionally, an adjustable over-current protection circuit safeguards the laser diode from potential damage.

Keywords: Butterfly laser; High compliance voltage; Laser control; Optical sensing.