Luna Tunable Fiber Filter Controller Development Kit board
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Tunable Filter Controller Development Kit

Luna Tunable Fiber Filter Controller Development Kit – PZT Driver for FFP Tunable Filters

Piezoelectric actuator driver kit for FFP Tunable Filters (TF/TF2) and Scanning Interferometers with onboard, Windows and API control.

Waveform
Symmetric Triangle
Drive Output
~ 0.5 - 57.5 V
DC Offset
~ 0.5 - 30.5 V
AC Amplitude
~ 0 - 57 V
Datasheet

Overview

The Tunable Filter Controller Development Kit, originally developed by Micron Optics, is an electronic piezoelectric actuator driver designed for the FFP Tunable Filter (TF or TF2) or the FFP Scanning Interferometer. It supplies a user-selectable symmetric triangle wave to the PZT-based device, allowing it to be tuned across its scan range.

The kit can be used in several modes of operation, including as a manual DC voltage driver or as a DC + AC voltage driver with bias, amplitude and frequency controls. It is intended for first-time users of fiber Fabry-Perot filters learning filter technology and operation, and as a lab bench tool for research into advanced tunable filter capabilities. The manufacturer states that it is intended for laboratory demonstrations and not for field applications.

Control and software

The development board has three pushbuttons and an integrated display showing the active frequency and voltage, so it can be operated without a PC. Over Ethernet, it can be controlled with a Windows application or through LabVIEW 2017 and Python v3 APIs, which include example programs. Drive and sync/trigger signals are provided on SMA connectors.

Key Features

  • High-voltage PZT driver
  • DC + AC voltage driver with bias, amplitude and frequency controls
  • Windows application and APIs for LabVIEW and Python
  • Onboard controls with pushbuttons and integrated display
  • Active frequency and voltage shown on the integrated display
  • Low noise
  • High degree of linearity
  • Small form factor
  • SMA drive signal and sync/trigger outputs
  • Ethernet communication with static IP or DHCP modes

Specifications

Drive Output
Waveform Symmetric Triangle
Drive Output ~ 0.5 - 57.5 V
DC Offset ~ 0.5 - 30.5 V
AC Amplitude ~ 0 - 57 V
Amplitude range is reduced to ~38 V at 1 kHz scan rate
Scan Rate 1, 10, 100, 1000 Hz (selectable)
Drive Noise < 1 mVrms
Drive Linearity < 1% at scan rates <= 100 Hz, < 5% at 1 kHz
Over 90% of scan range
Trigger
Trigger 3.3 V, 100 Ω load
Trigger Rising Edge Start of increasing voltage ramp, End of decreasing voltage ramp
Trigger Falling Edge End of increasing voltage ramp, Start of decreasing voltage ramp
Interfaces and Power
Drive, Sync/Trigger Connector Type SMA
Communication Ethernet
Power Supply 100 - 240 VAC input, 18 VDC output (included)

Specifications are taken from the manufacturer's documentation. See the datasheet for complete and current values.

Applications

  • Evaluation of fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filters
  • Driving FFP Tunable Filters (TF and TF2)
  • Driving FFP Scanning Interferometers
  • Laboratory demonstrations of FFP filter characteristics
  • Lab bench research on tunable filter capabilities

Included

  • Development board
  • Power supply
  • Hybrid male SMA to male BNC, 6" cable
  • Hybrid female BNC to clip leads, 6" cable

Documents & Resources