Model No. FFC-100-100 and FFC-100-200
Document Last Updated on 2023/06/08 22:14
Please read Limited Warranty and General Warnings and Cautions prior to operating the FFC-100.
Click here for the Vescent manuals page.
Click here for the FFC-100 API.
Click here for the SLICE-FPGA-II Locking Manual
Click here for the FFC-100 web page.
Click here for the Github page for FFC-100 firmware revisions
Click here for the FFC-100 Manual
Please check back for added functionality. Contact sales [at] vescent [dot] com for questions and corrections, or to request added functionality.
Do not block the airflow vents on the side of the chassis or the fan inputs & outputs on either the FFC-100 or the SLICE-FPGA. | |
The mode-lock indicator on the GUI front panel cannot detect CW breakthrough. Keep the oscillator current within the range specified in your product's final test documentation or CoC. |
This document provides instructions on how to operate the Vescent Photonics FFC-100 when controlled by the Vescent SLICE-FPGA or SLICE-FPGA-II.
Note: Reported specs are under laboratory conditions. Performance degradation can occur in deployed operation depending on the environment
The FFC-100 employs a proprietary design hybrid power supply that is both low noise and capable of accepting a range of AC input line voltages. It will accept input line voltages within the ranges shown in table 2.
If this instrument is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer in this manual or other relevant literature, protection provided by the instrument may be impaired. | |
Successful implementation of the FFC-100 depends critically on the design of the whole system: FFC-100, phase locking electronics, and any references to which the FFC is locked or vice versa. |
For locking the FFC-100 with the Vescent SLICE-FPGA-II Module, click here. Otherwise, if using the SLICE-FPGA, follow the instructions below.
The SLICE-FPGA dual-channel Offset Phase Lock Servo can be used to phase lock ƒCEO to a reference (TBD) and ƒopt to a reference laser such as the Rio Planex.
If you have not already done so, install Python and the FPGA software for controlling the SLICE-FPGA dual Offset Phase Lock Servo.
Slow loop functionality will be provided in a near-term software update.
Slow servo functionality is designed to allow indefinite FOPT locking times despite long-term drifts in the reference laser’s frequency outside the dynamic range of the FFC’s PZT feedback. This is achieved by slow temperature feedback to the oscillator of the FFC, which locks the PZT output voltage to a setpoint voltage near the middle of its dynamic range. To enable the slow servo, first lock FOPT normally, but set the DC offset as close to 3V as possible (PZT output range spans 0-60 V with 10V/V transfer function). Next, navigate to the home screen of the FFC-100 and press the “Slow Servo” button at the top of the screen
This will activate the slow servo but does not turn on the feedback. You can tell that the slow servo has been activated by the blue background on the “Setpoint [°C]” button.
Next, press and hold the “Setpoint [°C]” button until the slow servo menu comes up. The menu allows a user to set the temperature setpoint as normal, and to set the voltage setpoint that the slow servo will try to keep constant by changing the temperature of the oscillator. We recommend setting this to 30V, which is right in the middle of the FFC-100's range. The gain comes preconfigured for each unit, but can also be changed through this menu (WE DO NOT ADVISE changing the gain without input from the Vescent technical staff). The polarity button will toggle the direction that the slow servo adjusts the temperature to keep the setpoint voltage constant (this will be preset by Vescent staff and should not be changed). Setting this to the incorrect value can result in temperature runaway. To change a value, simply touch the field to edit with the rotary knobs, or press and hold to bring up the keypad. To turn the slow servo on, press the “OFF” button. It should change to a white background which says “ON”. To turn it back off, simply press the button again.
While the slow servo is on, the color of the “Setpoint [°C]” button will indicate the difference between the setpoint voltage, and the actual voltage. If the difference is ≤ ±6V, the background will turn green. If it is ≥ ±6V, it will turn yellow, and if it is ≥ ±54V it will turn red. If the background is blue, this means the slow servo has turned off.
Remember to shut off the slow servo, either by disabling it from the home menu or by pressing the On/Off button in the slow servo menu, when unlocking the FFC-100.