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843-R
843-R
843-R
LASER POWER METER
USER MANUAL
NEWPORT CORPORATION
www.newport.com
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1.Introduction: How to Use This Manual . 3
Chapter 2.Quick Reference ................................ 4
2.1 Getting Started .............................................................. 4
2.2 Functions with no Sensor Connected ....................... 5
2.3 Thermal Sensors........................................................... 7
2.4 Photodiode Sensors ................................................... 10
Chapter 3.The 843-R Power Meter Unit ............. 12
3.1 General Description ................................................... 12
3.2 Smart Connectors ...................................................... 13
3.3 Soft Keys ...................................................................... 14
3.4 Power Up and Shut Down ......................................... 15
3.5 843-R Functions that are Independent of Sensor Type
......................................................................................... 16
3.6 843-R Measurement Screens ............................... 19
3.7 Hardware Functions .............................................. 21
Chapter 4.Operation with Thermopile Absorber
Sensors ......................................................... 24
4.1 Thermopile Absorber Sensors .................................. 24
4.2 Startup Configuration ............................................ 25
4.3 Power Measurement ............................................. 25
4.4 Energy Measurement ............................................ 35
Chapter 5.Operation with Photodiode Sensors ... 47
5.1 Photodiode Sensors .............................................. 47
5.2 Startup Configuration ............................................ 47
5.3 Power Measurement ............................................. 48
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5.4 Special Cases of Power Measurement .............. 60
Chapter 6.Circuit Description ........................... 62
6.1 Analog Module ....................................................... 62
6.2 Processor Board:........................................................ 63
Chapter 7.843-R Power Meter Specifications ..... 64
7.1 System/Meter Specifications ................................... 64
7.2 Thermal Sensor Specifications ................................ 64
7.3 Photodiode Sensor Specifications .......................... 65
7.4 Warranty ...................................................................... 65
7.5 Technical Support Contacts ..................................... 66
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Chapter 1.
Introduction: How to Use This Manual
Newport’s 843-R Power Meter is a simple to use
microprocessor-based Laser Power/Energy meter that
operates with thermopile and photodiode sensors. Based
on smart connector technology, just connecting the
sensor configures and calibrates the instrument.
This manual tells you what you need to know to make full
use of the 843-R for all your laser measurement needs. It
includes a "Quick Reference", (Chapter 2) to allow you to
perform basic measurements immediately, without
reading the whole manual.
The main measurement sections, Chapters 4 and 5
include a general description and a section detailing
operating options.
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Chapter 2.
Quick Reference
2.1 Getting Started
To connect a sensor to the 843-R Power Meter, simply
insert the 15 pin D type connector of the measuring
sensor cable into the socket marked "Sensor Input" on the
rear panel of the 843-R Power Meter (see Figure 2.1).
The 843-R Power Meter is equipped with "soft keys." That
is, the functions of the keys change as indicated by the
legend above each key (see Figure 2.2).
Figure 2.1 843-R Rear Panel
12VDC AN OUT SENSOR INPUT USB OTG
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2.2 Functions with no Sensor Connected
2.2.1 Turning on and off.
To switch the 843-R Power Meter on:
Briefly press the on/off switch (Figure 2.2). The unit will
switch on, and the display will appear.
Figure 2.2 843-R Front View
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Note:
With the 843-R Power Meter, sensors are hot
swappable. Even after the meter is switched on, you
can remove one sensor and insert a different one.
The 843-R will recognize the switch and reconfigure
itself according to the settings of the new sensor.
To toggle the state of the LCD backlight:
The backlight for the 843-R’s LCD can be toggled between
3 different levels of illumination. This toggling will be
performed by briefly pressing the on/off switch after the
843-R has been switched on.
To switch the 843-R off:
Press the on/off switch and hold it for about 2 seconds
until the display blanks.
2.2.2 Configuring the instrument.
To zero instrument:
1. Make sure that the instrument is not in an electrically
noisy environment and is undisturbed.
2. Verify that no sensor is connected. If one is
connected, then detach before continuing.
3. Press the Zero key. This will bring you to the Zeroing
screen
4. Press the Start key. When zeroing finishes
press the Save key.
To show or hide settings
1. Press the Down arrow until Show Settings is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow.
2. Set to Yes to display sensor settings in the
measurement screens. Set to No to hide the sensor
settings and show a larger graph.
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To set Line Frequency
1. Setting Line Frequency correctly removes electrical
noise that may be introduced to the measurements.
2. Press the Down arrow until Line Frequency is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow.
3. Set to 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on the electrical
power grid of the area that you are in.
To set Date and Time
1. Press the Down arrow until the Date and Time are
highlighted and press the Enter arrow.
2. Scroll through and select Month, Day, Year, Hour,
and Minutes with the Right arrow. Change the
selected item with the Down arrow.
Note:
The present settings are automatically saved for the
next time the 843-R is turned on.
2.2.3 Updating the 843-R Firmware.
1. Download the latest 843-R firmware upgrade
package from the Newport website:
http://www.newport.com and copy to your target
directory.
2. Run the upgrade executable and follow the on
screen instructions
2.3 Thermal Sensors
2.3.1 Use of the 843-R with thermal type sensors.
Most Thermopile sensors have somewhat different
absorption at different wavelengths. In order to
compensate for this, each sensor has been calibrated by
laser at several wavelengths. When you choose the
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correct laser wavelength, the correction factor for that
wavelength is automatically introduced. Note that the
laser wavelength correction in use is displayed in the
upper left corner of the display.
To set type of laser being used:
1. From the measurement screen, press the Setup key.
2. Press the Down arrow until Laser is highlighted and
press the Enter arrow.
3. Select the appropriate laser wavelength and press
the OK key.
To select a range for power measurement:
1. From the measurement screen, press the Setup key.
2. Press the Down arrow until Range is highlighted and
press the Enter arrow.
3. Select the appropriate manual range or AUTO to
select autoranging and press the OK key.
To choose power or energy measurement:
1. In the main measurement screen, press the Mode
key.
2. Select Power or Energy.
3. Press the OK key to return to the measurement
screen
2.3.2 Other Settings and Saving the Startup Configuration
1. When measuring power, you can set the period over
which to Average the measurements
2. When measuring energy you can set the threshold
level in order to screen out false triggers.
3. The present settings are automatically saved for the
next time the 843-R is turned on.
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2.3.3 Power or Single Shot Energy Measurement
Warning:
Do not exceed maximum sensor limits for power,
energy, power density and energy density as listed in
Error! Reference source not found. and Table 6 in
Chapter 7. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the
absorber.
To simulate an analog needle display on the 843-R:
1. Press the Display key and select Needle.
2. Press OK to continue with measurements.
To expand the graph (Bargraph or Needle) scale ±5x
about the present reading:
1. Press the Zoom key.
2. Press the Zoom key again to return to the full scale
graph. See Section 4.3.1.2 for full details.
To subtract background and set current reading to zero:
1. Press the Offset key.
2. Press the Offset key again to cancel. See Section
4.3.1.2 for full details.
To use the 843-R to measure laser power:
1. Press the Mode key and select Power
2. Select AUTO for autoranging or the lowest manual
range whose maximum is greater than the expected
power readings.
3. Power is measured 15 times per second.
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To use the 843-R to measure laser energy:
1. Press the Mode key and select Energy
2. Energy measurement is performed in manual ranges
only. The correct range to select is the lowest one
that is larger than the expected pulse energy to be
measured.
3. Thermal sensors measure energy in single shot
mode. When the 843-R flashes "READY," on and off,
fire the laser.
2.4 Photodiode Sensors
2.4.1 Selecting Wavelengths
1. From the measurement screen, press the Setup key.
2. Press the Down arrow until Laser is highlighted and
press the Enter arrow.
3. Select the appropriate laser wavelength and press
the OK key.
4. If the wavelength you want is not among the
wavelengths in the six wavelengths listed press the
Modify key.
5. Use the Right and Down arrows to adjust the
wavelength as desired. Then press the OK key.
2.4.2 To select a range for power measurement:
1. From the measurement screen, press the Setup key.
2. Press the Down arrow until Range is highlighted and
press the Enter arrow.
3. Select the appropriate manual range, AUTO to select
autoranging, or dBm to display power in a
logarithmic scale. Press the OK key
2.4.3 Other Settings and Saving the Startup Configuration
1. Select Average in order to set the period over which
to average the measurements
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2. Select Filter to IN or OUT according to if the Filter is
in place or not.
3. The present settings are automatically saved for the
next time the 843-R is turned on.
2.4.4 Power Measurement
Warning:
Do not exceed maximum sensor limits for power,
energy, power density and energy density as listed in
Table 6 in Chapter 7. Sensor Specifications.
Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the sensor.
To simulate an analog needle display on the 843-R:
1. Press the Display key and select Needle.
2. Press OK to continue with measurements.
To expand the graph (Bargraph or Needle) scale ±5x
about the present reading:
1. Press the Zoom key.
2. Press the Zoom key again to return to the full scale
graph. See Section 5.3.1.2 for full details.
To subtract background and set current reading to zero:
1. Press the Offset key.
2. Press the Offset key again to cancel. See Section
5.3.1.2 for full details.
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Chapter 3.
The 843-R Power Meter Unit
3.1 General Description
The model 843-R laser power/energy meter represents a
new level of sophistication, sensitivity, compactness and
accuracy, coupled with ease of operation. It can operate
with thermal and photodiode sensors. It has smart
connector technology. Simply plugging in the sensor
configures and calibrates the 843-R to operate with that
sensor.
The 843-R’s large size TFT 320x240 screen enhances
measurement readouts in ways that smaller displays
cannot.
The 843-R displays power measurements in both digital
and analog form at the same time and also has a needle
type display. It can be set to autorange, so you do not
have to set scales; or to a manual range if you wish. It will
remember what mode you were using before you turned it
off and will return to that mode when turned on. You can
zoom in on the present reading, or subtract background.
The 843-R reads the calibration information that is stored
in the sensor’s smart connector and is ready to measure
from the moment it’s powered up. You can also zero the
843-R at the touch of a button.
The 843-R’s user interface is self-explanatory; you should
not have to refer to this manual very often. Above all, the
843-R has advanced circuitry and digital signal
processing for excellent sensitivity, signal to noise ratio,
accuracy, and response time. It also has special circuitry
to reject electromagnetic interference.
The 843-R has all the infrastructure for field upgrading of
the embedded software, should the need arise.
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3.2 Smart Connectors
The 843-R meter is versatile and can operate with either
thermal or photodiode type laser measuring sensors. The
sensor configuration and calibration information is stored
in an EEROM in the sensor connector plug. This means
that when the sensor is plugged in, the 843-R
automatically identifies the sensor type, calibration and
configuration. The user does not have to adjust anything.
Figure 3.1 843-R displaying power measured with a Thermopile
sensor. Displayed in analog needle mode with persistence on.
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Note:
With the 843-R, sensors are hot swappable. Even
after the meter is switched on, you can remove one
sensor and insert a different one. The 843-R will
recognize the switch and reconfigure itself according
to the settings of the new sensor.
When no sensor is plugged in, the 843-R meter gives the
user the opportunity to hide or show settings, change the
line frequency setting, and set the real time clock. It also
shows the serial number of the instrument, last
calibration date and firmware version. The user can also
re-zero the instrument. See section 3.5.
3.3 Soft Keys
The soft keys have functions defined by the legend above
the key. The legend usually indicates what will happen
when pressing the key. For example, if "Mode" appears
above a key, pressing that key will open a menu to allow
user to select between Power and Energy measurement
modes. Some functions operate when the key is pressed
and are canceled when the key is pressed again. Those
keys show reverse highlighting when operational.
Pressing the same key again cancels the operation and
the highlighting.
Key Functions
The 843-R has certain conventions as to the meaning of
standard key strokes and these are as follows:
Highlighted item: The highlighted item is the item that is
presently active.
OK: Returns to the previous screen with the selected
setting for immediate use and saved for next startup.
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Cancel: Cancels the selection and returns to the previous
screen, leaving the settings unchanged.
Start: This puts into operation the active item.
Exit: This gets you to the previous screen and saves
changes made until instrument is turned off.
Save: This saves changes permanently. The change is
implemented now and is also saved for future use of the
instrument.
3.4 Power Up and Shut Down
To turn the 843-R on:
Briefly press the On/Off Switch.
The unit will switch on, and the display will appear. If no
sensor is connected, the Setup screen will appear. If a
sensor is connected, the appropriate default
measurement screen will appear.
To toggle the state of the backlight on and off:
The backlight for the 843-R’s LCD can be configured to
toggle between low, half, and full intensity (see Section
3.7.1 for full details). This toggling will be performed by
briefly pressing the On/Off switch after the 843-R has
been switched on.
To switch the 843-R off:
Press the On/Off switch and hold it for about 2 seconds
until the display blanks.
The current measurement settings will be saved
automatically for the next time the 843-R is powered up.
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3.5 843-R Functions that are Independent of Sensor
Type
When no sensor is connected, the 843-R setup screen
will be displayed. This gives the user the opportunity to
hide or show settings, change the line frequency setting,
and set the real time clock. It also shows the firmware
version, serial number of the instrument, and last
calibration date. The user can also re-zero the
instrument.
3.5.1 Show or Hide Settings
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Show Settings is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Set to Yes to display sensor settings in the
measurement screens. Set to No to hide the sensor
settings and show a larger graph.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
Figure 3.2 843-R Setup Screen with no sensor connected.
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3.5.2 Line Frequency
1. Setting Line Frequency correctly removes electrical
noise that may be introduced to the measurements
2. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Line Frequency is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
3. Set to 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on the electrical
power grid of the area that you are in.
4. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
Note:
The present settings are automatically saved for the
next time the 843-R Power Meter is turned on.
3.5.3 Analog Output
The 843-R Power Meter has an analog output with a fullscale output of 1 Volt.
For thermal and photodiode sensors in power mode, the
analog output is continually updated 15 times per second
with the latest power measurement. For thermal sensors
in single shot energy mode, the analog output is held
fixed until the next pulse triggers.
3.5.4 Clock Settings
The 843-R Power Meter is equipped with a real time clock
which will show the date and time. This clock will also
allow the 843-R Power Meter to query the sensor
attached and notify you if the sensor is due for
calibration.
To set Date and Time
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until the Date and Time
are highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Scroll through and select Month, Day, Year, Hour,
and Minutes with the Right arrow ( ). Change the
selected item with the Down arrow ( ).
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3. When finished, press the OK key to keep the new
setting.
3.5.5 Zero Adjustments
In 843-R Power Meter, all adjustments, including zeroing
internal circuits, are done from the software. This
ensures simple and accurate realignment. It is
recommended to re-zero the 843-R Power Meter every 2
months for best performance. The simple zeroing
procedure follows.
To zero instrument:
1. If a sensor is connected, disconnect it.
2. Press the Zero key to enter the Zeroing screen
3. Make sure that the instrument is not in an
electrically noisy environment and is undisturbed
4. Press the Start key and wait for message, "Zeroing
completed successfully".
5. Press the Save key to save the new zero settings.
6. Press the Exit key to return to the Setup screen.
Note (for Thermal Sensors only)
For best results with thermal sensors, it may be
necessary to do the procedure once with the sensor
disconnected and a second time with it reconnected.
After completing steps 1 - 6 above, Connect the sensor
and make sure it is at room temperature and well
shielded from any stray thermal power. It may be best
advised to lay the sensor with the absorber face down on
the table.
7. Connect the thermopile sensor. Ensure that is at
room temperature and well shielded from any stray
thermal power. It may be best advised to lay the
sensor with the absorber face down on the table.
Press the Zero key to enter the Zeroing screen
8. Press the Start key and wait for message, "Zeroing
completed successfully".
9. Press the Save key to save the new zero settings.
10. Press the Exit key to return to the Setup screen.
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3.6 843-R Measurement Screens
3.6.1. Bargraph
The Bargraph is a ruler-like display in which the graph is
filled proportionally to the reading’s being a percentage
of full scale. The Bargraph display is available when
measuring power or energy.
Press the Zoom key to zoom in on a smaller section of the
range when readings are fluctuating slightly.
If you notice that noise has gotten into the measurement,
you can press the Offset key to remove it from the
measurement.
3.6.2. Needle
A Needle graph simulates an analog display, similar to
the style of an analog voltmeter or a car’s speedometer.
The Needle display is available when measuring power or
energy.
Press the Zoom key to zoom in on a smaller section of the
range when readings are fluctuating slightly.
Figure 3.3 Bargraph with Thermopile Sensor.
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If you notice that noise has gotten into the measurement,
you can press the Offset key to remove it from the
measurement.
Press the Persist key to continue to display previous
readings as well as to show the minimum and maximum
measurements.
Figure 3.4 Analog Needle with Photodiode Sensor with Persistence
Enabled
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3.7 Hardware Functions
3.7.1. LCD Backlight
The LCD backlight is actually a set of LED’s that illuminate
the display from behind. Because the 843-R uses a TFT
display, the backlight must be constantly on. It can be
operated at full intensity for full illumination; or at low or
half level to conserve power consummation. The
backlight level is toggled by a short press on the On/Off
switch.
The 843-R backlight consumes considerably less power
than competing instruments and therefore it can operate
from the battery even when the charger is not plugged in.
Nevertheless, since it does shorten the time between
charges, it is recommended to set the backlight to less
than full intensity when the instrument is operated
without the charger.
3.7.2. Charging
The 843-R can be operated either by the internal battery
or from an AC source with the charger plugged in all the
time. Plug the charger into the jack labeled "12VDC" on
the back panel (see Figure 3.3). The battery will be
charged at the same rate whether the 843-R is switched
on or off, and whatever the backlight level. The battery
will fully recharge in around 4-5 hours.
Note: The charger circuit of the 843-R is designed to
allow the charger to be plugged in for an extended period
without causing damage to the battery.
The approximate time between charges is given in the
following table for various configurations:
Sensor Type
Backlight Level
Time Between
Charges
Thermopile and
Low
19 hours
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Photodiode
Thermopile and
Photodiode
Half
17 hours
Thermopile and
Photodiode
Full
15 hours
The battery charge is indicated by the icon. The
battery charge is shown approximately by each segment
of the icon, e.g. if 2 segments are shown the battery is ½
full. When the battery is charging, the segments turn on in
sequence. When the battery is low, the charger should be
plugged in.
3.7.3. Analog Output
The instrument provides an analog voltage output via the
2.5mm stereo plug on the rear panel marked “AN OUT”
(see Figure 3.3). The 843-R is supplied with the mating
adapter plug that connects to this socket. The analog
output is useful for driving chart recorders and other
analog devices. The voltage is proportional to the reading
on the display and scaled such that full scale equals
1.00V.
The analog output is driven through an impedance of 100
ohm. For best accuracy, is recommended to limit the
external load to 100K (or larger). A smaller load (down to
1K) is possible, but may result in loss of accuracy.
Figure 3.3 843-R Rear Panel View
In power mode, the analog output is continually updated
15 times per second with the latest power measurement.
12VDC AN OUT SENSOR INPUT USB OTG
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For thermal sensors in single shot energy mode, the
analog output is held fixed until the next pulse triggers.
3.7.4. Field Upgrade
The 843-R has all of the necessary infrastructure for field
upgrading of the embedded software, should the need
arise. This is done through the USB OTG port that is found
on the rear panel of the instrument.
To Update the 843-R Firmware:
1. Download the latest 843-R firmware upgrade
package from the Newport website:
http://www.newport.com/ and copy to your target
directory.
2. Run the upgrade executable and follow the on
screen instructions
3.7.5. Sensor Disconnect / Connect Recognition
With the 843-R, sensors are hot swappable. Even after the
meter is switched on, you can remove one sensor and
insert a different one. The 843-R will recognize the switch
and reconfigure itself according to the settings of the
new sensor.
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Chapter 4.
Operation with Thermopile Absorber Sensors
Warning:
Before using the sensor for power or energy
measurement, check that your laser power, energy
and energy density do not exceed the sensor ratings.
See Tables 5 and 6 in Chapter 7.
If the sensor is a water-cooled type, ensure that the
cooling water is flowing at an adequate rate; see table
below. Also, note that the reflectance from the absorber
could be as much as 10% and with CO2 lasers, the
reflected beam can be quite specular, so it is advisable to
provide a beam stop for the reflected beam with the
highest power lasers.
Sensor
Type
Liters
per
Minute At
Full Power
Min
Pressure
Bar
US
Gallons
per
Minute
919P-
5KW-50
4.5
0.8
1.2
Table 1 Minimum Flow Rates for Water-Cooled Sensors
4.1 Thermopile Absorber Sensors
When a radiant heat source, such as a laser, is directed
at the absorber sensor aperture, a temperature gradient
is created across the thermopile of the enclosed detector
disc. This generates a voltage proportional to the incident
power.
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The meter’s electronics amplifies this signal and
indicates the power level received by the sensor. At the
same time, signal processing software causes the meter
to respond faster than the actual thermal rise time of the
detector disc, thereby reducing the response time of the
843-R. Energy of a single pulse is measured on the 843-R
by digitally integrating the pulse power over time.
4.1.1. Supported Models
The 843-R Power Meter is compatible with our new line of
919P Thermal Sensors. Older models of thermal sensors
are not compatible.
4.2 Startup Configuration
On power up, the 843-R meter checks its own memory as
well as the sensor’s to decide on the measurement
configuration. For example, if in the last session, the
sensor was used to measure power in the Bargraph
screen in autoranging with a YAG laser and averaging for
10 seconds, this will be the setup used the next time the
system is powered up.
These settings can all be easily changed, as will be
described fully in the following sections.
4.3 Power Measurement
Thermopile sensors measure power continuously at an
update rate of 15 times per second. To best ensure
measurement accuracy, center the laser beam carefully
on the absorber surface.
Power measurements can be displayed in Bargraph or
Needle graphical formats. Updating measurement
parameters is performed in the easy-to-reach Setup
screen.
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4.3.1 Bargraph Display
4.3.1.1 Screen Layout
The Bargraph is a ruler-like display in which the graph is
filled proportionally to the reading’s being a percentage
of full scale.
The Bargraph display is composed of the following
components:
Parameter settings, the sensor’s name and
serial number, and battery status indicator at
the top of the screen.
Large numeric display shown prominently in the
middle of the screen.
Bargraph displayed close to the bottom.
Softkey legends at the bottom of the screen.
4.3.1.2 Softkey Functionality
Mode: Press this key to change the selected
measurement mode.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the
measurement mode to Power or Energy.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
Figure 4.1 Bargraph display with first set of Softkeys
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o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue in Power measurement mode.
Display: Press this key to change the graphical
display.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the display
mode to Bargraph or Needle.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue with the Bargraph display.
Setup: Press this key to change the Power
measurement parameters. This will be described in
Section 4.3.3 Power Setup Screen.
Right Arrow ( ): Press this for additional Bargraph
screen functions.
Left Arrow ( ): Press this for previous set of
Bargraph functions.
Zoom: Press this key to focus the Bargraph on the
present reading. The Bargraph will show 20% of the
Figure 4.2 Bargraph display with second set of Softkeys
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full scale centered on the present reading. Thus, if
the full scale of the Bargraph is 20 watts, and your
reading is 15 watts, pressing Zoom will make the
Bargraph scale range between approximately 13
and 17 watts. Small fluctuations in power are more
easily seen in this mode. Zoom will be reverse
highlighted to show that it is active. Press the Zoom
key again to return to the unexpanded Bargraph
display.
Offset: If the ambient environment has a thermal
background, so that the 843-R shows a nonzero
power reading even when there is no laser, you can
subtract the background using the Offset function.
For example, the 843-R display reads 0.1 Watts when
the laser is blocked, and 20.5 Watts with laser power
applied. In this case, the true power is 20.5 - 0.1 =
20.4 Watts. To subtract the background, press the
Offset key while the laser is blocked. The 843-R will
now read zero, and the 0.1 Watt background will be
subtracted from all subsequent readings. The laser
power reading displayed will thus be 20.4 Watts.
When active, the Offset key is reverse highlighted
and the offset that is being subtracted is shown in
the upper right part of the screen. To deactivate,
press Offset again.
If you suspect that the 843-R has a permanent zero
offset, the instrument’s internal zero should be reset.
See Section 3.5.5.
4.3.2 Needle Display
4.3.2.1 Screen Layout
A Needle graph simulates an analog display, similar to
the style of an analog voltmeter or a car’s speedometer.
By making use of the persistence feature, you can know
what the full range of measurements actually is, including
the maximum and minimum readings of the present set of
measurements.
The Needle display is composed of the following
components:
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Parameter settings, the sensor’s name and
serial number, and battery status indicator at
the top of the screen.
Needle displayed prominently in the middle of
the screen.
Large numeric display.
Softkey legends at the bottom of the screen.
4.3.2.2 Softkey Functionality
Mode: Press this key to change the selected
measurement mode.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the
measurement mode to Power or Energy.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue in Power measurement mode.
Display: Press this key to change the graphical
display.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the display
mode to Bargraph or Needle.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue with the Bargraph display.
Figure 4.3 Needle display with first set of Softkeys
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Setup: Press this key to change the Power
measurement parameters. This will be described in
Section 4.3.3 Power Setup Screen.
Right Arrow ( ): Press this for additional Needle
screen functions.
Left Arrow ( ): Press this for previous set of Needle
functions.
Zoom: Press this key to focus the Needle on the
present reading. The Needle arc will show 20% of
the full scale centered on the present reading. Thus,
if the full scale of the Needle is 20 watts, and your
reading is 15 watts, pressing Zoom will make the
Needle scale range between approximately 13 and
17 watts. Small fluctuations in power are more
easily seen in this mode. Zoom will be reverse
highlighted to show that it is active. Press the Zoom
key again to return to the unexpanded Needle
display.
Offset: If the ambient environment has a thermal
background, so that the 843-R shows a nonzero
power reading even when there is no laser, you can
Figure 4.4 Needle display with second set of Softkeys and
Persistence active
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Figure 4.5 Setup Screen
subtract the background using the Offset function.
For example, the 843-R display reads 0.1 Watts when
the laser is blocked, and 20.5 Watts with laser power
applied. In this case, the true power is 20.5 - 0.1 =
20.4 Watts. To subtract the background, press the
Offset key while the laser is blocked. The 843-R will
now read zero, and the 0.1 Watt background will be
subtracted from all subsequent readings. The laser
power reading displayed will thus be 20.4 Watts.
When active, the Offset key is reverse highlighted
and the offset that is being subtracted is shown in
the upper right part of the screen. To deactivate,
press Offset again.
If you suspect that the 843-R has a permanent zero
offset, the instrument’s internal zero should be reset.
See Section 3.5.5.
4.3.3 Power Setup Screen
The 843-R Power Meter can be set to various chosen
settings while operating. These configuration settings
are automatically saved for the next time the meter is
turned on with this sensor.
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4.3.3.1 Power Range
Autorange
In autorange mode, you do not have to change scales.
When the reading of the meter is more than 100% of full
scale of the present range, the 843-R will reconfigure
itself to the next higher range. The ranges are arranged
in factors of 1, 10, 100, etc. When the reading falls below
9% of full scale of the present range, the 843-R will
reconfigure itself one range down. This change only
occurs after a few seconds delay, thereby providing
overlap (hysteresis) that limits the 843-R from flipping
back and forth when reading close to the end of the
scale.
Manual Range
There are certain disadvantages to autorange since it
changes scale even if you don't want it to do so. If you
want to measure in the same range all the time, it is
better to use manual range.
The correct range to select is the lowest one that is
larger than the largest expected measurement.
To Set the Power Range
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Range is highlighted
and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the
available ranges until you reach the one that is
correct for your measurement needs.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
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4.3.3.2 Laser
Most Thermopile sensors have somewhat different
absorption at different wavelengths. In order to
compensate for this, each sensor has been calibrated by
laser at several wavelengths. When you choose the
correct laser wavelength, the correction factor for that
wavelength is automatically introduced. Note that the
laser wavelength correction in use is displayed in the
upper left corner of the display.
To set type of laser being used:
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Laser is highlighted
and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the
available lasers until you reach the appropriate laser
wavelength.
3. Press the OK key.
4.3.3.3 Average
How Averaging Works
When a laser output is fluctuating or unstable, it is useful
to measure the average power over a certain period. The
843-R gives you this exclusive feature, allowing averaging
over periods varying from 1 second to 1 hour.
As soon as the main power measurement screen (See
Figure 4.2) is entered and the instrument is set to average
mode, the instrument displays the average of readings
over the period since the screen was entered up to the
present. When the time period of the average is reached,
the average becomes a running average over the
average period backward in time. For instance, if the
average period is 1 minute, at 30 seconds, the average is
over 30 seconds, at 1 minute it is over 1 minute, at 5
minutes, it is over the period from 4 to 5 minutes (1 minute
back from the present).
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To Set the Average Period:
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Average is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the list of
average periods until you reach the one that is
correct for your measurement needs. Set the
average period to NONE to disable averaging.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
4.3.3.4 Other Settings
Show or Hide Settings
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Show Settings is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Set to Yes to display sensor settings in the
measurement screens. Set to No to hide the sensor
settings and show a larger graph.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
Line Frequency
The 843-R has built-in circuitry to screen out electrical
noise from the local power grid that can introduce errors
to the measurements.
Set Line Frequency to your power grid’s frequency to
screen out the noise correctly.
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Line Frequency is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Set to 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on the electrical
power grid of the area that you are in.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
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Clock Settings
The 843-R is equipped with a real time clock which will
show the date and time. This clock will also allow the
843-R to query the sensor attached and notify you if the
sensor is due for calibration.
To set Date and Time
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until the Date and Time
are highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Scroll through and select Month, Day, Year, Hour,
and Minutes with the Right arrow ( ). Change the
selected item with the Down arrow ( ).
3. When finished, press the OK key to keep the new
setting.
4.3.3.5 Additional On Screen Information
On the right hand side of the Setup screen the following
information is provided to the user
Instrument
o Firmware Version
o Serial Number
o Date of Last Calibration
Sensor
o Name
o Serial Number
o Date of Last Calibration (if supported by the
sensor
4.4 Energy Measurement
4.4.1 Measuring Energy with Thermopile Sensors
Although thermopile sensors are used primarily to
measure power, they can measure single shot energy as
well, where they integrate the power flowing through the
disc over time and thus measure energy. Since the typical
time it takes for the disc to heat up and cool down is
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several seconds, these thermal sensors can only
measure one pulse every several seconds at most. Thus
they are suitable for what is called “single shot”
measurement. Although the response time of the sensor
discs is slow, there is no limit to how short the pulses
measured are since the measurement is of the heat
flowing through the disc after the pulse.
4.4.1.1 Standard Case of Energy Measurement
To measure energy of a single pulse, first set up the
Energy Range, Laser, and Threshold as described in
Section 4.4.4 Energy Setup Screen.
1. Wait until READY is flashed on the screen. This
indicates that the sensor is ready for a new
measurement
2. Fire the laser. The display will go blank while the
energy is being integrated.
3. After about 2 - 4 seconds (depending on the sensor),
the correct energy will be displayed.
4. Return to Step 1 for the next measurement. Note: If
you fire another pulse before "READY" appears, the
reading may be inaccurate or may not be displayed.
4.4.1.2 Measuring Pulses of Very Low Energy
When it is necessary to measure pulses of very low
energy, i.e., less than 0.5% of the maximum range of the
instrument, the following two alternative methods allow
greater accuracy to be obtained.
1. A continuous train of pulses may be fired, and the
average power measured using “Power” mode. The
energy per pulse can be calculated by:
Average Energy per pulse = Average power /
Pulse Repetition Rate
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2. A train of a known number of pulses may be fired, and
the total energy measured in “Energy” mode. This
train should not exceed 5 seconds duration. The
energy per pulse can be calculated by:
Average Energy per pulse = Total Energy / Number of
Pulses
In both of the above methods, the pulse repetition rate
must exceed 3Hz. Higher rates will generally give
improved accuracy, but care should be taken not to
exceed maximum power ratings.
4.4.1.3 Measuring Energy of Rapidly Repeating Pulses
With a typical thermopile sensor, the 843-R will only
measure individual pulses every 5 seconds or so. You
can also calculate the average energy of rapidly
repeating pulses by measuring average power on the
power setting and using the formula:
Average Energy per Pulse = Average Power / Pulse
Repetition Rate
4.4.2 Bargraph Screen
4.4.2.1 Screen Layout
The Bargraph is a ruler-like display in which the graph is
filled proportionally to the reading’s being a percentage
of full scale.
The Bargraph display is composed of the following
components:
Parameter settings, the sensor’s name and
serial number, and battery status indicator at
the top of the screen.
READY will be flashed on the screen to indicate
that the 843-R is ready to measure the next
laser pulse to be fired.
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Large numeric display shown prominently in the
middle of the screen.
Bargraph displayed close to the bottom.
Softkey legends at the bottom of the screen.
4.4.2.2 Softkey Functionality
Mode: Press this key to change the selected
measurement mode.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the
measurement mode to power or energy.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue in Power measurement mode.
Display: Press this key to change the graphical
display.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the display
mode to Bargraph or Needle.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue with the Bargraph display.
Figure 4.6 Bargraph display with first set of Softkeys
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Setup: Press this key to change the Energy
measurement parameters. This will be described in
Section 4.4.4 Energy Setup Screen.
Right Arrow ( ): Press this for additional Bargraph
screen functions.
Left Arrow ( ): Press this for previous set of
Bargraph functions.
Zoom: Press this key to focus the Bargraph on the
present reading. The Bargraph will show 20% of the
full scale centered on the present reading. Thus, if
the full scale of the Bargraph is 30 Joules, and your
reading is 15 Joules, pressing Zoom will make the
Bargraph scale range between approximately 12 and
18 Joules. Small fluctuations in energy are more
easily seen in this mode. Zoom will be reverse
highlighted to show that it is active. Press the Zoom
key again to return to the unexpanded Bargraph
display.
Offset: Unlike power, offset subtraction is not
necessary to achieve accurate energy
measurements. However it can be used to facilitate
Figure 4.7 Bargraph display with second set of Softkeys
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comparison between readings. For example, the first
laser pulse is 1 Joule. To subtract this from future
readings, press the Offset key. If the next pulse is
actually 3 Joules, 2 Joules will be displayed on the
screen, thereby indicating the difference between
the two laser pulses.
When active, the Offset key is reverse highlighted
and the offset that is being subtracted is shown in
the upper right part of the screen. To deactivate,
press Offset again.
4.4.3 Needle Screen
4.4.3.1 Screen Layout
A Needle graph simulates an analog display, similar to
the style of an analog voltmeter or a car’s speedometer.
By making use of the persistence feature, you can know
what the full range of measurements actually is, including
the maximum and minimum readings of the present set of
measurements.
The Needle display is composed of the following
components:
Parameter settings, the sensor’s name and
serial number, and battery status indicator at
the top of the screen.
READY will be flashed on the screen to indicate
that the 843-R is ready to measure the next
laser pulse to be fired.
Needle displayed prominently in the middle of
the screen.
Large numeric display.
Softkey legends at the bottom of the screen
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4.4.3.2 Softkey Functionality
Mode: Press this key to change the selected
measurement mode.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the
measurement mode to power or energy.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue in Power measurement mode.
Display: Press this key to change the graphical
display.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the display
mode to Bargraph or Needle.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue with the Bargraph display.
Setup: Press this key to change the Energy
measurement parameters. This will be described in
Section 4.4.4 Energy Setup Screen.
Figure 4.8 Needle display with first set of Softkeys
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Right Arrow ( ): Press this for additional Needle
screen functions.
Left Arrow ( ): Press this for previous set of Needle
functions.
Zoom: Press this key to focus the Needle on the
present reading. The Needle arc will show 20% of
the full scale centered on the present reading. Thus,
if the full scale of the Needle is 30 Joules, and your
reading is 15 Joules, pressing Zoom will make the
Needle scale range between approximately 12 and
18 Joules. Small fluctuations in energy are more
easily seen in this mode. Zoom will be reverse
highlighted to show that it is active. Press the Zoom
key again to return to the unexpanded Needle
display.
Offset: Unlike power, offset subtraction is not
necessary to achieve accurate energy
measurements. However it can be used to facilitate
comparison between readings. For example, the first
laser pulse is 1 Joule. To subtract this from future
readings, press the Offset key. If the next pulse is
actually 3 Joules, 2 Joules will be displayed on the
screen, thereby indicating the difference between
the two laser pulses.
Figure 4.9 Needle display with second set of Softkeys and
Persistence active
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Figure 4.10 Setup Screen
When active, the Offset key is reverse highlighted
and the offset that is being subtracted is shown in
the upper right part of the screen. To deactivate,
press Offset again.
4.4.4 Energy Setup Screen
The 843-R Power Meter can be set to various chosen
settings while operating. These configuration settings
are automatically saved for the next time the meter is
turned on with this sensor.
4.4.4.1 Energy Range
Energy measurment is always made in a set manual
range. The correct range to select is the lowest one that
is larger than the largest expected measurement.
To Set the Energy Range
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Range is highlighted
and press the Enter arrow ( ).
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2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the
available ranges until you reach the one that is
correct for your measurement needs.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
4.4.4.2 Laser
Most Thermopile sensors have somewhat different
absorption at different wavelengths. In order to
compensate for this, each sensor has been calibrated by
laser at several wavelengths. When you choose the
correct laser wavelength, the correction factor for that
wavelength is automatically introduced. Note that the
laser wavelength correction in use is displayed in the
upper left corner of the display.
To set type of laser being used:
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Laser is highlighted
and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the
available lasers until you reach the appropriate laser
wavelength.
3. Press the OK key.
4.4.4.3 Minimum Energy Threshold
If the 843-R is used in a noisy environment or where there
is a high level of background thermal radiation, the
instrument may trigger spuriously on the noise or
background radiation. It would then fail to measure the
intended pulse. Since there is always some degree of
noise or background radiation, the instrument is designed
not to respond to pulses below some preset minimum
size. This "Minimum Energy Threshold" is typically set to
0.3% of full scale of the selected range. If this level is
found to be too sensitive for the user's particular
environment, it may be altered by the user. The threshold
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should not, however, be raised higher than necessary.
This will cause a degradation in the accuracy of energy
measurements of pulses below about 4 times the
threshold level. The factory setting of energy threshold is
"Medium". If the unit triggers on noise, set the threshold
to "High". If you are measuring small energies and the unit
does not trigger, set the threshold to "Low".
To Set the Minimum Threshold Level:
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Threshold is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the list of
threshold levels until you reach the one that is
correct for your measurement needs.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
4.4.4.4 Other Settings
Show or Hide Settings
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Show Settings is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Set to Yes to display sensor settings in the
measurement screens. Set to No to hide the sensor
settings and show a larger graph.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
Line Frequency
The 843-R has built-in circuitry to screen out electrical
noise from the local power grid that can introduce errors
to the measurements.
Set Line Frequency to your power grid’s frequency to
screen out the noise correctly.
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Line Frequency is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Set to 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on the electrical
power grid of the area that you are in.
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3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
Clock Settings
The 843-R is equipped with a real time clock which will
show the date and time. This clock will also allow the
843-R to query the sensor attached and notify you if the
sensor is due for calibration.
To set Date and Time
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until the Date and Time
are highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Scroll through and select Month, Day, Year, Hour,
and Minutes with the Right arrow ( ). Change the
selected item with the Down arrow ( ).
3. When finished, press the OK key to keep the new
setting.
4.4.4.5 Additional On Screen Information
On the right hand side of the Setup screen the following
information is provided to the user
Instrument
o Firmware Version
o Serial Number
o Date of Last Calibration
Sensor
o Name
o Serial Number
o Date of Last Calibration (if supported by the
sensor
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Chapter 5.
Operation with Photodiode Sensors
Warning:
Before using the sensor for power measurement,
check that your laser power or energy and energy
density does not exceed the sensor ratings. See
Table 7 in Chapter 7.
5.1 Photodiode Sensors
When a photon source, such as laser, is directed at one
of the 918D or 818DB series photodiode detectors, a
current is created proportional to the light intensity and
dependent on the wavelength.
The 843-R Power Meter amplifies this signal and
indicates the power level received by the sensor. Due to
the superior circuitry of the 843-R, the noise level is very
low, and the 918D / 818 series sensors with the 843-R
meter have a large dynamic range, from nanowatts to 2
watts.
Newport’s 818 and 918D series photodiode sensors come
with an attenuation filter, while the 818-xx-L-FC/DB series
low cost fiber optic detectors do not. Some of the 819C/D
series integrating sphere detectors utilize the 918D series
detector, which has an integrated filter. Please refer to
their user manuals and web sites for the specifications.
A general guideline is to use the filter when the power
level of the source is more than a few mW, to avoid
sensor saturation. When saturated, the legend "OVER"
will appear on the screen.
5.2 Startup Configuration
On power up, the 843-R Meter checks its own memory as
well as the sensor’s to decide on the measurement
configuration. For example, if in the last session, the
sensor was used to measure power in the Bargraph
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screen in autoranging with a 1064 laser and averaging for
10 seconds, this will be the setup used the next time the
system is powered up.
These settings can all be easily changed, as will be
described fully in the following sections.
5.3 Power Measurement
Photodiode sensors measure power continuously at an
update rate of 15 times per second. To best ensure
measurement accuracy, center the laser beam carefully
on the absorber surface.
Power measurements can be displayed in Bargraph or
Needle graphical formats. Updating measurement
parameters is performed in the easy-to-reach Setup
screen.
5.3.1 Bargraph Display
5.3.1.1 Screen Layout
The Bargraph is a ruler-like display in which the graph is
filled proportionally to the reading’s being a percentage
of full scale.
The Bargraph display is composed of the following
components:
Parameter settings, the sensor’s name and
serial number, and battery status indicator at
the top of the screen.
Large numeric display shown prominently in the
middle of the screen.
Bargraph displayed close to the bottom.
Softkey legends at the bottom of the screen.
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5.3.1.2 Softkey Functionality
Power: With Photodiode sensors, the only
measurement mode available is Power. Pressing this
key will affect no change.
Display: Press this key to change the graphical
display.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the display
mode to Bargraph or Needle.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue with the Bargraph display.
Setup: Press this key to change the Power
measurement parameters. This will be described in
Section 5.3.3 Power Setup Screen.
Right Arrow ( ): Press this for additional Bargraph
screen functions.
Figure 5.1 Bargraph display with first set of Softkeys
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Left Arrow ( ): Press this for previous set of
Bargraph functions.
Zoom: Press this key to focus the Bargraph on the
present reading. The Bargraph will show 20% of the
full scale centered on the present reading. Thus, if
the full scale of the Bargraph is 20 mW, and your
reading is 15 mW, pressing Zoom will make the
Bargraph scale range between approximately 13
and 17 mW. Small fluctuations in power are more
easily seen in this mode. Zoom will be reverse
highlighted to show that it is active. Press the Zoom
key again to return to the unexpanded Bargraph
display.
Offset: If the ambient environment has a thermal
background, so that the 843-R shows a nonzero
power reading even when there is no laser, you can
subtract the background using the Offset function.
For example, the 843-R display reads 0.1 mW when
the laser is blocked, and 20.5 mW with laser power
applied. In this case, the true power is 20.5 - 0.1 =
20.4 mW. To subtract the background, press the
Offset key while the laser is blocked. The 843-R will
now read zero, and the 0.1 mW background will be
subtracted from all subsequent readings. The laser
power reading displayed will thus be 20.4 mW.
Figure 5.2 Bargraph display with second set of Softkeys and Zoom
active
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When active, the Offset key is reverse highlighted
and the offset that is being subtracted is shown in
the upper right part of the screen. To deactivate,
press Offset again.
If you suspect that the 843-R has a permanent zero
offset, the instrument’s internal zero should be reset.
See Section 3.5.5.
5.3.2 Needle Display
5.3.2.1 Screen Layout
A Needle graph simulates an analog display, similar to
the style of an analog voltmeter or a car’s speedometer.
By making use of the persistence feature, you can know
what the full range of measurements actually is, including
the maximum and minimum readings of the present set of
measurements.
The Needle display is composed of the following
components:
Parameter settings, the sensor’s name and
serial number, and battery status indicator at
the top of the screen.
Needle displayed prominently in the middle of
the screen.
Large numeric display.
Softkey legends at the bottom of the screen.
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5.3.2.2 Softkey Functionality
Power: With Photodiode sensors, the only
measurement mode available is Power. Pressing this
key will affect no change.
Display: Press this key to change the graphical
display.
o Press the Up/Down arrow ( ) to set the display
mode to Bargraph or Needle.
o Press OK to return to the measurement screen
with the new selection.
o Press Cancel to ignore any changes and
continue with the Bargraph display.
Setup: Press this key to change the Power
measurement parameters. This will be described in
Section 5.3.3 Power Setup Screen.
Right Arrow ( ): Press this for additional Needle
screen functions.
Figure 5.3 Needle display with first set of Softkeys
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Left Arrow ( ): Press this for previous set of Needle
functions.
Zoom: Press this key to focus the Bargraph on the
present reading. The Bargraph will show 20% of the
full scale centered on the present reading. Thus, if
the full scale of the Bargraph is 20 mW, and your
reading is 15 mW, pressing Zoom will make the
Bargraph scale range between approximately 13
and 17 mW. Small fluctuations in power are more
easily seen in this mode. Zoom will be reverse
highlighted to show that it is active. Press the Zoom
key again to return to the unexpanded Bargraph
display.
Offset: If the ambient environment has a thermal
background, so that the 843-R shows a nonzero
power reading even when there is no laser, you can
subtract the background using the Offset function.
For example, the 843-R display reads 0.1 mW when
the laser is blocked, and 20.5 mW with laser power
applied. In this case, the true power is 20.5 - 0.1 =
20.4 mW. To subtract the background, press the
Offset key while the laser is blocked. The 843-R will
now read zero, and the 0.1 mW background will be
Figure 5.4 Needle display with second set of Softkeys and
Persistence active
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Figure 5.5 Setup Screen
subtracted from all subsequent readings. The laser
power reading displayed will thus be 20.4 mW.
When active, the Offset key is reverse highlighted
and the offset that is being subtracted is shown in
the upper right part of the screen. To deactivate,
press Offset again.
If you suspect that the 843-R has a permanent zero
offset, the instrument’s internal zero should be reset.
See Section 3.5.5.
5.3.3 Power Setup Screen
The 843-R Power Meter can be set to various chosen
settings while operating. These configuration settings
are automatically saved for the next time the meter is
turned on with this sensor.
5.3.3.1 Power Range
Autorange
In autorange mode, you do not have to change scales.
When the reading of the meter is more than 100% of full
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scale of the present range, the 843-R will reconfigure
itself to the next higher range. The ranges are arranged
in factors of 1, 10, 100, etc. When the reading falls below
9% of full scale of the present range, the 843-R will
reconfigure itself one range down. This change only
occurs after a few seconds delay, thereby providing
overlap (hysteresis) that limits the 843-R from flipping
back and forth when reading close to the end of the
scale.
Manual Range
There are certain disadvantages to autorange since it
changes scale even if you don't want it to do so. If you
want to measure in the same range all the time, it is
better to use manual range.
The correct range to select is the lowest one that is
larger than the largest expected measurement.
Logarithmic Scale
The 843-R allows the measurement to be made in units of
dBm that is a logarithmic scale. This is useful if you
expect the readings to vary over several ranges and want
to everything in one scale.
The formula for dBm units is defined as 10 x Log (reading
in mW). Therefore, at 1mW the reading will be 0 dBm, at
10mW it will be 10 dBm, at 100mW it will be 20 dBm etc.
To Set the Power Range
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Range is highlighted
and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the
available ranges until you reach the one that is
correct for your measurement needs.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
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5.3.3.2 Laser
Photodiode sensors have a different sensitivity at
different wavelengths. Moreover, the filters used in the
sensor have a different transmission at different
wavelengths. In order to compensate, each sensor has a
built in calibration curve (with 1nm resolution) over the
entire measurement range.
When you choose the correct laser wavelength, the
correction factor for that wavelength is automatically
introduced.
To set type of laser being used:
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Laser is highlighted
and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the
available lasers until you reach the appropriate laser
wavelength.
3. If your wavelength is listed, use the Down arrow ( )
to scroll through the wavelengths until reached and
press the OK key.
4. If the wavelength you want is not among the
wavelengths in the six wavelengths listed press the
Modify key.
5. Use the Right ( ) and Down ( ) arrows to adjust the
wavelength as desired. Then press the OK key.
5.3.3.3 Filter
When the sensor is equipped with an attenuator filter, as
is the case for the 818 or 918D series, the calibration
module contains two sets of calibration data, with and
without the filter on. When the Filter function is turned
on, the calibration data with the filter in is used.
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Warning:
If a Newport photodiode sensor is used in the "Filter
IN" setting and the filter is not installed or vice versa
the readings will be completely incorrect.
If the power of your laser exceeds the maximum for
filter in, you can purchase a thermal or integrating
sphere sensor for that wavelength. Consult your
Newport agent for details.
To choose the filter setting:
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Filter is highlighted
and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), toggle between OUT and
IN to reach the appropriate Filter setting.
3. If you choose wish to work with filter IN, be sure to
place the removable filter on the detector sensor.
4. If you choose wish to work with filter OUT, be sure to
remove the removable filter from the detector
sensor.
5. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
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5.3.3.4 Average
How Averaging Works
When a laser output is fluctuating or unstable, it is useful
to measure the average power over a certain period. The
843-R gives you this exclusive feature, allowing averaging
over periods varying from 1 second to 1 hour.
As soon as the main power measurement screen (See
Figure 5.1) is entered and the instrument is set to average
mode, the instrument displays the average of readings
over the period since the screen was entered up to the
present. When the time period of the average is reached,
the average becomes a running average over the
average period backward in time. For instance, if the
average period is 1 minute, at 30 seconds, the average is
over 30 seconds, at 1 minute it is over 1 minute, at 5
minutes, it is over the period from 4 to 5 minutes (1 minute
back from the present).
To Set the Average Period:
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Average is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Using the Down arrow ( ), scroll through the list of
average periods until you reach the one that is
correct for your measurement needs. Set the
average period to NONE to disable averaging.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
5.3.3.5 Other Settings
Show or Hide Settings
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Show Settings is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Set to Yes to display sensor settings in the
measurement screens. Set to No to hide the sensor
settings and show a larger graph.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
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Line Frequency
The 843-R has built-in circuitry to screen out electrical
noise from the local power grid that can introduce errors
to the measurements.
Set Line Frequency to your power grid’s frequency to
screen out the noise correctly.
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until Line Frequency is
highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Set to 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on the electrical
power grid of the area that you are in.
3. Press the OK key to keep the new setting.
Clock Settings
The 843-R is equipped with a real time clock which will
show the date and time. This clock will also allow the
843-R to query the sensor attached and notify you if the
sensor is due for calibration.
To set Date and Time
1. Press the Down arrow ( ) until the Date and Time
are highlighted and press the Enter arrow ( ).
2. Scroll through and select Month, Day, Year, Hour,
and Minutes with the Right arrow ( ). Change the
selected item with the Down arrow ( ).
3. When finished, press the OK key to keep the new
setting.
5.3.3.6 Additional On Screen Information
On the right hand side of the Setup screen the following
information is provided to the user
Instrument
o Firmware Version
o Serial Number
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o Date of Last Calibration
Sensor
o Name
o Serial Number
o Date of Last Calibration (if supported by the
sensor
5.4 Special Cases of Power Measurement
5.4.1 Measuring dB loss using the dB Offset function
Since dBm is a logarithmic measurement, the ratio
between two measurements will be the difference
between the dBm measurements. For instance, if you
want to measure the loss in a fiber optic cable where the
measurement before the cable is 1mW = 0dBm and the
measurement after the cable is 0.1mW = -10dBm. The
ratio is then 1:10 = 0.1 and the dB loss is 0 – (-10) = 10dB.
The dB offset function allows you to easily measure this.
To do so do as follows:
1. When measuring the reference value press “dB
Offset”. The value changes to 0 dB (note that now
the units are dB, a relative value instead of dBm, an
absolute value).
2. Now make your second measurement and the value
of the difference in dB = ratio in numerical units will
be shown.
Note:
If there is a zero offset in the reference value, you
cannot subtract this using the dB offset function.
Instead, before the start of the measurement, press
“Offset” and subtract the zero offset. Then follow
steps 1 and 2 above. The zero offset subtracted when
“Offset” was pressed will be saved in the dBm scale
and you can now use the dB Offset setting to measure
true ratio without zero offset problems.
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5.4.2 Measuring Very Low Powers
When measuring very low powers, such as picowatt
measurements using Newport’s photodiode sensor, there
will be a rather large zero offset coming from the detector
as well as a considerable noise fluctuation. Nevertheless,
you can measure these low values by using the average
function and pressing offset to eliminate the detector zero
offset. In order to measure very low powers do as
follows:
1. In the Setup screen, set the appropriate Average
period. Return to the measurement screen.
2. Now block the power source you wish to measure,
wait for a few measurement periods and press
“Offset” to subtract the zero offset.
3. Now unblock the power source and measure.
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Chapter 6.
Circuit Description
The 843-R Power Meter has two circuit boards: the
Analog Module with the analog signal processing
circuitry, and the Processor Board with the power
supplies and user interface components.
6.1 Analog Module
6.1.1 Analog Circuit:
The signal from the detector sensor enters the analog
circuit and passes through EMI protection components to
a differential trans-impedance preamplifier. From there it
is further amplified by a programmable gain voltage
amplifier and passes to an Analog-to-Digital (A/D)
converter. All calibration data for the analog circuit is
stored in a memory chip on the main board. There are no
mechanical adjustable components (trimmers etc.) in the
843-R. The Analog Module’s on board digital processor
receives data from the A/D converter and translates it
into a measurement of current in Amps. When used with
thermopile sensors, the data is then processed by a
sophisticated digital filter that speeds up the effective
response time of the sensor and rejects noise.
6.1.2 Analog Output:
The analog output is driven through an impedance of 100
ohms and provided as a means of integrating the 843-R
meter with other instruments (such as an oscilloscope)
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6.2 Processor Board:
The Processor Board is built around a Freescale i.MX283
ARM9 application processor. The digital circuit includes
an upgradeable FLASH chip that can be programmed insitu by the 843-R support software. The Processor Board
is responsible for reading the keypad and driving the LCD
display, displaying measurement information received
from the Analog Module.
6.2.1 Power Supply:
The power supply provides the internal DC supply
voltages for both the Processor Board and the Analog
Module. It also contains the battery charging circuit and
the AC supply for the backlight. The power supply circuits
consist of high efficiency switch-mode designs.
6.2.2 EMI Protection:
The digital processor circuit and the whole 843-R
instrument are protected by EMI protection component
on all signals that pass in and out of the box. In addition,
EMI protection is added internally to prevent
disturbances to the normal functioning of the instrument.
The instrument meets the requirements of the European
Community with respect to electromagnetic compatibility
and has the “CE” mark.
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Chapter 7.
843-R Power Meter Specifications
7.1 System/Meter Specifications
Input Spe cifications
Input Ranges
15nA - 1.5mA full scale in 16 ranges
A to D Sampling rate
15Hz
A to D resolution
18 bits plus sign
Electrical accuracy
±0.25% ± 20pA new; ±0.5% ±50pA after 1 year
Electrical input noise level
500nV or 1.5pA + 0.0015% of input range @3Hz.
Dynamic range
9 decades (1:109)
General S pecifications
Detector Compatibility
919P series, 918D series, 818DB series
Analog output
1v full-scale; 0.03% resolution. 100 ohms impedance
Analog output accuracy
±0.2% (of reading) ±0.3% of full scale volts
Dimensions
114W x 41D x 212H
Mass
470g
Display
320x240 pixel TFT LCD; Active area 70x52m m approx
Display digit height
15mm
LCD lighting
LED’s. Operates from charger or battery. Lighting level
can be adjusted between 3 levels using on/off button.
Bargraph segments
310
Battery
2x Li-Ion 3.7V, 5.2Amp-hour battery pack built in
Charger input
DC 12-16v, 1W
Charge time approx. 5 hours
Automatically stops charging when battery is full
Operation between charges
With low backlight: 19 hours
With medium backlight: 17 hours
With high backlight: 15 hours
7.2 Thermal Sensor Specifications
Sensor
Max
Power
(WATTS)
Max Avg.
Power
Density at
Max Power
Absorber
Type
919P-003-10
3W
1000W/cm²
BB
919P-010-16
10W
28KW/cm²
BB
919P-020-12
4(20)W
23KW/cm²
BB
919P-030-18
30W
20KW/cm²
BB
919P-050-18HP
50W
0.5KW/cm²
PF-DIF
919P-050-26
50(150)W
12KW/cm²
BB
919P-040-50
35(150)W
12KW/cm²
BB
919P-150-26
150W
12KW/cm²
BB
919P-250-35
250W
10KW/cm²
BB
919P-500-65
500W
7KW/cm²
BB
919P-5KW-50
5000W
3KW/cm²
BB
Table 5. Max Power Specifications of Sensors
PD - Photodiode
PF - volume absorber for short pulses and high average powers
BB - broadband surface absorber, high power density
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Note:
For more detailed and exact specifications, see the
919P series product web site.
Absorber
Type
Max Energy Density J/cm²
Pulse Length
10ns
1µs
300µs
P
10
10
10
HE
3 5 15
BB
0.3
0.5 3 EX
0.8
0.9
7
Maximum Energy Densities for Various Absorbers
(Single pulse).
7.3 Photodiode Sensor Specifications
Please refer to the respective product web site for the
latest Newport photodiode sensor specifications.
7.4 Warranty
Newport Corporation warrants that this product will be
free from defects in material and workmanship and will
comply with Newport’s published specifications at the
time of sale for a period of one year from date of
Table 6
Graph 4.
Pulsed Laser Damage Threshold for Thermal Sensors
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shipment. If found to be defective during the warranty
period, the product will either be repaired or replaced at
Newport's option.
To exercise this warranty, write or call your local
Newport office or representative, or contact Newport
headquarters in Irvine, California. You will be given
prompt assistance and return instructions. Send the
product, freight prepaid, to the indicated service facility.
Repairs will be made and the instrument returned freight
prepaid. Repaired products are warranted for the
remainder of the original warranty period or 90 days,
whichever first occurs.
Limitation of Warranty
The above warranties do not apply to products which
have been repaired or modified without Newport’s
written approval, or products subjected to unusual
physical, thermal or electrical stress, improper
installation, misuse, abuse, accident or negligence in use,
storage, transportation or handling. This warranty also
does not apply to fuses, batteries, or damage from battery
leakage.
THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. NEWPORT
CORPORATION SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
RESULTING FROM THE PURCHASE OR USE OF ITS
PRODUCTS.
7.5 Technical Support Contacts
North America
Newport Corporation Service Dept.
1791 Deere Ave. Irvine, CA 92606
Telephone: (949) 253-1694
Telephone: (800) 222-6440 x31694
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Europe
Newport/MICRO-CONTROLE S.A.
Zone Industrielle
45340 Beaune la Rolande, FRANCE
Telephone: (33) 02 38 40 51 56
Asia
Newport Opto-Electronics Technologies (Wuxi) Co., Ltd
理波光电科技（无锡）有限公司
江苏省无锡市新区出口加工区
J3-8厂房 204028
Lot J3-8, Wuxi Export Processing Zone, New District,
Jiangsu China 204028
Telephone: +86-510-8113 2999
Fax: +86-510-8526 9050
For latest version please visit our website: http://www.newport.com/
843-R Power Meter
User Manual
Newport P/N 1J06058
6 May 2013
Rev 1.00-2
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