P-LINK User’s Manual Gentec Electro – Optics, Inc. All rights reserved Revision 15.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 2 WARRANTY The Gentec-EO P-LINK Single Channel Laser Power/Energy Meter carries a one-year warranty (from date of shipment) against material and/or workmanship defects, when used under normal operating conditions. The warranty does not cover damages related to battery leakage or misuse. Gentec-EO Inc. will repair or replace, optionally, any P-LINK that proves to be defective during the warranty period, except in the case of product misuse.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 3 SAFETY INFORMATION Do not use the P-LINK if the device or the detector looks damaged, or if you suspect that the P-LINK is not operating properly. Appropriate installation must be done for water-cooled and fan-cooled detectors. Refer to the specific instructions for more information. The user must wait for a while before handling these detectors after power is applied.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS. P-LINK SINGLE CHANNEL LASER POWER/ENERGY METER 1 2 3 4 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................6 SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................................7 FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTION : SEE FIGURE 3-1 BELOW...........................
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 5 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS TABLE 2-1 LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS ....................................................................................................... 7 FIG. 3-1 P-LINK TOP PANEL .................................................................................................................... 11 FIG. 5-1 PC-LINK DISPLAY MENU ........................................................................................................... 14 FIG.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 6 THE P-LINK SINGLE CHANNEL LASER POWER METER 1 Introduction To obtain the full performance from the P-LINK, we recommend that you read this manual carefully. The P-LINK is a microprocessor-based power and energy meter that uses the latest technology to provide a multitude of options in a user-friendly environment. It is a complete power meter, which can provide a statistical analysis of your measurements.
P-LINK User’s Manual 2 Revision 15.0 7 Specifications The following specifications are based on a one-year calibration cycle, an operating temperature of 18 to 28ºC (64 to 82ºF) and a relative humidity not exceeding 80%.
P-LINK User’s Manual Data Displays User input correction factors Analog Output Revision 15.0 8 Real-time, Histogram, Tuning Needle, Statistics, 1 multiplier and 1 offset (7 digit floating point) 0 – 2.05 Volt user defined, full scale, ± 1% Internet Upgrades USB or RS-232 model PC Serial Commands USB or RS-232 model Dimensions (without stand) 91 (L) x 57 (W) x 26 max (H) mm Weight 0.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 3 Front Panel Description : See figure 3-1 below 1- EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY INPUT JACK: 9 Input voltage required: 9-12 VDC/100 mA. Note: The external power supply input is provided only for the P-LINK with the RS-232 Serial Connection Option. CAUTION Permanent damage may occur to the optical meter if an external power supply other than the GENTEC-EO 200130, 200960, SPU15A-105 or SPU15A-104 is used.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 10 The P-LINK works with all Gentec-EO power detectors. It automatically recognizes every power detector head, which ensures accurate auto-calibration. More importantly, it can take advantage of our Personal wavelength correction™. It reads the memory in the Smart Interface connector (version 5 and higher) to provide a wavelength correction that is based on spectral data measured from that specific detector. The P-LINK may not recognize some of the earlier heads.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 Fig. 3-1 P-LINK Top Panel Gentec Electro – Optics, Inc.
P-LINK User’s Manual 4 Revision 15.0 12 Getting Started First you have to install the P-LINK software(PC-LINK) on your computer, along with the USB drivers, They are found on the CD included. Until the COM port is connected, all the other menu options are grayed out. To start, you must find the P-LINK’s communication port. To do so, click Ctrl / Communication / Auto Connect. A dialog box appears while PC-LINK is searching for the correct port.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 13 10- To reset the zero, wait until the reading has stabilized and select Zero Offset in the Ctrl (Control) menu. Note that the Zero Offset process can take about 20s for a photodiode. It is much quicker for other detectors. You are now ready to make an accurate measurement. Notes: • Refer to specific power detector documentation for complete installation and operating instructions. • The power detectors are thermal sensors sensitive to temperature variations.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 14 5 Description of the PC-LINK menus This section describes in detail the first group of menus essential to the PC-LINK operation. The menus differ depending on the type of head that is plugged in. The display menu lets you view the status and your measurement in various ways. Use the settings menu during setup to set the best parameters for the measurement task at hand. It provides the flexibility to accommodate a wide variety of measurement conditions.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 15 Right-click on the histogram to set the time period to view(Set X Axis…), reset the display or select a scale. Note that the Auto-Scale on the histogram starts from the lowest scale and only does scale-ups. This is made to select the best scale for the user without frequent scale oscillations. Fig. 5-3 PC-LINK Histogram Settings 5.1.2 Display - Tuning Needle Fig. 5-4 PC-LINK Tuning Needle (two options) Right-click on the Tuning Needle to select a scale.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 16 Fig. 5-5 PC-LINK Tuning Needle Settings 5.1.3 Display - Status Fig. 5-6 PC-LINK Status Window The Status window displays the detector name and various settings. 5.1.4 Display - Statistics The statistics window displays the current statistics. See section 5.2.2 to set the data sampling parameters. See section 5.3.4 to learn how to start and stop the statistics. Gentec Electro – Optics, Inc.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 17 Fig. 5-7 PC-LINK Statistics Window Table 5.8 Statistical values Statistical Parameters Power Energy Definition Maximum value Minimum value Highest value in the sample period, Emax or Pmax Lowest value in the sample period, Emin or Pmin Average value Standard Deviation RMS stability Rolling average of values in the sample, Eavg or Pavg A measure of the spread of the data around the average.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 18 lowest point in the sample as a percent. E E P P PTP maxmin 100 maxmin 100 , PTP E P avg avg Time Repetition Rate Time elapsed since beginning the sample. Frequency of pulses coming from the laser. 5.2 Settings menu Fig. 5-9 PC-LINK Settings menu Items in the Settings menu define user-adjustable parameters. 5.2.1 Settings - Wavelength Use The Wavelength menu to select the power wavelength at which the detector is to be used.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 19 When working at a wavelength not available in the Wavelength menu, use the custom option. If you choose custom, a dialog box appears where you can enter a wavelength. The wavelength you enter must be within the range of valid wavelengths. The P-LINK interpolates a wavelength correction factor using the pre-programmed data in the detector’s EEPROM. Personal wavelength correction™ is automatic only with version 5 and higher detectors.
P-LINK User’s Manual units Revision 15.0 20 Minute Hour Day Week Total Duration Integer 1 to 1000000000 The time period for which samples are reported (to the display and output). Select a time period or a number of points [for example, report statistics for 24 hours]. Often the total duration and sample period will be the same. PC-LINK automatically clears and recalculates the statistics at the end of each sample period unless you manually stop it.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 21 1 Rep. Rate , must be joulemeter. The only restriction is that the time delay between pulses, Delay more than three times the constant time of the detector. (Please refer to the instruction manual for the specific power detector you are using.) This command is a toggle so a checkmark indicates when it is on. Select it again to turn it off. The default is off.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 22 5.2.8 Settings - Attenuator Some low-power detectors come with an attenuator for which there is an attenuation factor programmed in the detector EEPROM. This menu item makes it a simple operation to enable or disable the attenuator correction. Since the calibration wavelengths are often different for the attenuator, the user should always set the wavelength after enabling or disabling the attenuator correction. 5.2.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 23 PC-LINK can remember and recall the settings of any number of users. You can share the P-LINK without the hassle of having to re-enter your settings. As an alternative, you can program it so that you can easily switch between different measurement applications without having to re-enter your settings. This option is activated under the Save Settings or Load settings menu items.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 24 For instructions on the proper way to adjust the offset to zero your detector see section 4.1 (Quick power and energy measurement procedure). 5.3.3 Ctrl - Acquire Data This item is used to save raw data (only), statistics (only), or both raw data and statistics in an output file. When you select Start Saving Raw Data, a dialog box appears. Type in the filename that you choose, then select save.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 25 Fig. 5-14 PC-LINK Help menu 5.5 PC-LINK Shortcut Buttons To access certain features with a single click instead of having to enter the menus, PC-LINK has 8 shortcut buttons on its main window. From left to right, those buttons access: Ctrl - Zero Offset, Display Histogram, Display - Tuning Needle, Display - Statistics, Display - Status, Settings - Data Sampling, CtrlCommunication – Auto Connect, Ctrl - Communication - Connect, Ctrl - Communication-Disconnect. Fig.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 26 6 USB driver Installation Plug the P-LINK into a USB port on the PC. If the PC supports USB 1.1, Windows detects the new device and prompts you for the software drivers. A window will open that says Found New Hardware – USB Device and after several seconds to a minute, the Found New Hardware Wizard will appear. Insert the GENTEC-EO Software CD-ROM if not done already.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 27 7 Appendix A 7.1 P-LINK Serial commands The star(*) is part of each command Commands Description Return Example *ATT Turns the attenuator correction ON when available for the detector “ACK\r\r\n” *ATF Turns the attenuator correction OFF. OFF by default. “ACK\r\r\n” *CAU Sends the data points through the serial port at a frequency of 10 Hz *CSU Ends the *CAU mode *CVU Returns a single measurement (the current measurement) through the serial port.
P-LINK User’s Manual *TLC Revision 15.0 Modifies the trigger level in energy mode (+ 8 characters) 28 “ACK\r\r\n” Example : *TLC2.00E-02 selects a Trig Level of 0.
P-LINK User’s Manual *FAS Revision 15.0 Turns the autoscale mode on. 29 “ACK\r\r\n” Please note that you must type the exact number of characters or numerical values required. Example: *AOB1.00E+01 has 8 characters/numerical values. characters or numerical values. 7.
P-LINK User’s Manual 7.3 Revision 15.0 Communication Settings Bits per second 57600 Data bits 8 Parity None Stop bits 1 Flow control None Gentec Electro – Optics, Inc.
P-LINK User’s Manual Revision 15.0 31 Declaration of Conformity Application of Council Directive(s): 2004/108/EC EMC Directive Manufacturer’s Name: Manufacturer’s Address: Gentec Electro Optics, Inc. 445 St-Jean Baptiste, suite 160 (Québec), Canada G2E 5N7 European Representative Name: Laser Components S.A.S. Representative’s Address: 45 bis Route des Gardes 92190 Meudon (France) Type of Equipment: Model No.
P-LINK User’s Manual 8 8.1.1 Revision 15.0 Appendix B Recycling and separation procedure This section is used by the recycling center when the monitor reaches its end of life. calibration seal or opening the monitor will void the solo warranty. The complete Monitor contains 1 Monitor 1 power supply for RS-232 option (not made by Gentec-EO). 1 USB cable for USB option. 1 instruction manual 1 calibration certificate 1 software cdrom 8.
P-LINK User’s Manual 8.3 Opening the monitor Gentec Electro – Optics, Inc. All rights reserved Revision 15.
P-LINK User’s Manual Gentec Electro – Optics, Inc. All rights reserved Revision 15.
