The
PCO-6130 is a compact, OEM-style high power pulsed current source
designed to
drive diode lasers, bars and arrays in pulsed, QCW or CW
modes. It
delivers output current variable from 1A to 125A, pulse widths
variable
from <600ns to DC, and pulse repetition frequencies variable from
single-shot
to 250KHz at duty cycles up to 100%.
The PCO-6130 is based on a hysteretic, average current, switch-mode regulator. This type of regulator is a variable frequency, variable
pulse width design which maintains current in an energy storage
inductor between a minimum and maximum level. The ripple is limited to
the minimum and maximum current determined by the hysteretic controller.
The
controller turns on to charge the energy storage inductor when the
current drops to the lower limit and turns off when the current reaches
the upperlimit and repeats this operation as necessary to maintain the proper current.
The
time for these operations will vary dependent on the load voltage and
the input voltage, therefore the pulse width of the controller will
change as necessary to charge the inductor and the period will change dependent on the rate at which the inductor discharges.
This
architecture provides a high performance driver in a small form factor,
with high operating efficiency and low stored energy. At 125A output current,
the stored energy in the driver is approximately 7 Joules, dramatically
lower than the stored energy in comparable linear current sources.
