PC-Link: Single and Dual Channel USB Interface

YOUR LAPTOP OR PC CONVERTED INTO A SINGLE OR DUAL CHANNEL POWER / ENERGY METER

LaserPoint introduces the PC-Link, a smart head to USB interface that converts any PC or laptop into a powerful instrument which measures, analyses and records power and energy from any of LaserPoint detector heads.

PC-Links are supplied with LaserPoint’s user-friendly communication software packages for single channel or dual channel operations. When 2 heads are connected to the PC via two hardware boxes, the PC-2-Link SW is accessible at once on the PC screen to have data or compare signals from both heads .

To work with PC-Links is very easy: it is sufficient to install the software, connect the heads to the interface units and these latter to the USB ports of a PC. No other operation and external power source are needed.

This sophisticated monitor is plug and play with all LaserPoint heads. The advanced features of PC-Link, together with the fact that it is very compact and has low weight, make this monitor an ideal partner for service applications, laboratory or OEM use offering the convenience, flexibility and value of computer-based operations.

The PC-Link is infact the candidate for use in laser machines, in particular when associated to LaserPoint’s FIT-H (Fast Integrative Thermopile Heads) family of OEM detectors, that work up to 6KW without the need of water cooling.

Rich and Versatile Laser Monitoring

The use of PC-Link is straightforward. The unit will recognize the power/energy head as soon as it is plugged-in; furthermore, the PC-Link will use its anticipation circuitry to insure a fast response and will use the calibration data stored in the intelligent connector (IIS) of each head to provide the most accurate measurement .

The software packages for Single Channel and Dual Channel operation supplied with the PC Link are extremely rich. One feature offers the possibility to access to the User’s Own Calibration Factor (UCF) and a there is also X10 gain to enhance measurement flexibility (eg low power measurements to 20μW resolution ). Both SW versions allow to measure, analyse with full statistical functions (Min., Max., mean, and standard deviation) and record power and energy from all LaserPoint heads without the need of a display. Data from each detector can be logged simultaneously to file.

The PC-2-Link software package includes in addition Mathematical functions to compare signals from both channel, e.g. A/B or A-B. The same SW also includes a ZOOM function which permits to see the details, e.g. random events or small fluctuations, within both signal tracks.

Measurements Modes: Power, Energy and FIT

The PC-Link will dialogue with any head from LaserPoint to supply Power, Energy or FIT-type accurate readings.

The Power mode permits measurements of laser powers with direct display of their actual values. The screen also shows the evolution of power over time allowing stability measurements as long as several hours (up to 12 h depending on the PC).

The FIT mode provides values of laser power by an automatic measurement cycle of 4 seconds with LaserPoint’s Fit-H heads. This family of detectors is used for accurate, yet once in a while readings and whenever simple power checks instead of long term measurements are needed.

In this configuration the operator only has to expose the head to the laser beam and, after the correct timing generated by the PC Link’s’internal firmware, the measurement is over. (There is no need to provide the time window to the laser shutter).

The Energy mode allows the measurement of single shot energy. This function is available on request on most of thermal heads manufactured by LaserPoint.

On top of the screen a toolbar is displayed. Each icon activates a particular software function, and a brief explanation pops up by simply moving the mouse cursor on the icon.

	Saves acquired power data in a .txt file. The operator is simply requested to d ecide sampling time and file name. Acquisition data are continuously saved until the icon is next clicked.
	When the icon background is green, acquired data are being saved in the specified file.
	Prints the current screen by a printer.
	Activates measurements of laser power and its display
	Activates measurement of laser energy and its display
	Activates measurements with FIT-H heads
	Activates the Tuning function and its display
	Zeroes the instrument to remove any residual offset.
	The Freeze function stops the data acquisition and the statistic calculations in progress.
	Quits the application.
	Sets the input gain to x1.
	Amplifies head signals by a factor of 10: consequently the new full scale will be 1/10 of head’s nominal full scale and measurement resolution will be increased 10 times.
	Two cross-air cursors permit to select an area and expand it to the full window
	Signals from 2 heads can be compared : A/B; B/A; A-B; B-A ; A+B; A*B

Statistics

This function is also available on both channels of PC-2 Link SW. In the statistics section a series of statistical data are calculated and displayed. This function is available for the Power, Energy and FIT mode. Each time the counting of elapsed time has reached the set value, the following statistical data are calculated:

• Pmax(W): Shows the max power value measured during the last acquisition interval
• Pmin(W): Shows the min power value measured during the last acquisition interval
• Pavg(W): Shows the average value of power measured during the last acquisition interval
• PTP(%): Shows the Peak-to-Peak stability based on the formula
• STD(W): Shows the measurement Standard Deviation based on the formula
• RMS(%): Shows the RMS stability based on the formula

Saving Statistics Data on a File

Whenever measured data need to be saved on a file, this can be simply done by clicking on the “SAVE” button in the statistic section. The structure of saved file (*.txt), as shown in the picture, is: -headline, reporting the head model, the calibration wavelength, the head serial number, the date and the time of saving action. -twelve columns reporting date, time, calculated values of statistical measurements, temperature of sensor, sampling interval duration, alarms (cool, overflow) and active gain value are updated at each acquisition. Data of each saved file can be imported into a spreadsheet (e.g.Excel).

Laser Tuning

Laser Tuning is only allowed in Power Mode and is used to achieve a high resolution tweaking of your laser. On top of the tuning window a toolbar is displayed. Each icon activates a particular software function. An analogue needle shows the direction of tuning. In the middle of the tuning display a box shows the actual power, while the maximum value reached during the tuning procedure is kept in a second box at the upper right corner of the screen.

Warning Messages

Each time the laser power or energy exceeds the head full scale the OVERFLOW alarm is displayed as shown in the picture. Should a measurement head reach its limit temperature (overheating of a head may be due to problems to the cooling circuit such as low water pressure, lack of fluid, obstructions, etc, or poor heat exchange in air cooled heads), the COOL message will be displayed on the main window and the data displayed in the graph are pinned to the last power value acquired before the alarm.

Download PC-Link Data Sheet here

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