PROTECTION CIRCUITRY FOR HIGH-POWER DIODE-LASER ARRAYS

A comprehensive protection scheme is presented for use with high-power (similar to 500 W dc input) diode laser arrays. The circuitry require s no separate power, using instead the voltage from the laser's power supply. Overcurrent and overvoltage silicon controlled rectifier crowb ars are the primary protection circuits. In addition, tripping of eith er crowbar will turn off the main power to the laser's power supply. T his feature makes use of a main power controller that incorporates two interlock loops, for protection against overtemperature, low coolant flow, undervoltage, and other undesirable conditions. (C) 1998 America n Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(98)01806-1].