About MatchBox Series

The MatchBox Series is a powerful platform, encompassing CW lasers, up to 4-wavelength diode lasers, and Q-Switch nanosecond lasers. It offers the simplicity of integration and selection of >150 products within the series.

Features
- Fiber coupling options
- Ultra-compact All-in-One design*
- Thermally stabilized optics
- Monolithic design
- Hermetically sealed
- Automatic power control
- +5VDC input voltage (voltage is upconverted internally to make it suitable for various laser diodes)
Control Interface
MatchBox® series lasers feature a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) controller interface. The pinout is explained below - separately for diode and DPSS lasers.
A 'Break-out-Box' is used for converting UART into USB or RS232 protocols. The converter chip for USB is 'Silicon Labs CP2102' and for the RS232 it is 'MAX232'.
Diode Laser

- Tx and Rx pins are used for communication, error read-out, and change of parameters
- GND pin is common to the enclosure
- Vcc pin is used for +VDC power
- TTL pin can have two purposes: TTL ON/OFF modulation of the laser (in case of regular diodes) or control of a variable speed fan*** (in case of wavelength-stabilized diodes)
***TTL or FAN setting is factory pre-configured.
DPSS or High-Power Diode Laser

- Tx and Rx pins are used for communication, error read-out, and change of parameters
- GND pin is common to the enclosure
- Vcc pin is used for +VDC power
- Fan ctrl. pin is used for variable speed control of a fan***
***Can be configured into virtual TTL modulation having up to 500 kHz modulation bandwidth.
Break-out-Box Explanation
The Break-outBox contains UART to USB converter circuit and conventional connection ports in a plastic housing.
- Data USB is used for communication with a PC
- Interlock has two pins (INT and INT-GND). When the pins are shortened with an interlock loop, the laser can be operated
- TTL modulation pin
- Power USB is used for the provision of +5V power.
- FAN and +5V are used to connect a Heatsink. FAN is for Heatsink GND pin and +5V is for Vcc.
Software Interface

Heatsinks

A low-profile forced-air cooler has an integrated centrifugal fan. Very efficient for dissipation of a large amount of excess heat.
A compact TEC-cooled mounting adapter plate is a great cooling unit for good thermal and mechanical stability requiring lasers and setups.
Power Supplies
Advantages
- Easy to integrate (smallest enclosure on the market)
- Convenient to arrange in the proximity of a working area (use of fiber pigtails is often not necessary)
- Standard Package (MatchBox®)
- User-friendly software with multiple parameter monitoring
- Low power consumption in standby-mode (important for battery-powered applications)
- Excellent beam pointing angle and beam position accuracy
- High cooling capacity
- Rugged enclosure
- Operational hours counter
- On/Off cycle counter
- Smart over-heat protection
- Power delivery (PD) based power supplies
- Variety of accessories
- Space-saving pinhead connector
What's in the Box?
- Laser Source (integrated power electronics in the same enclosure)
- One thermal film. If a laser is sent mounted on a heatsink with a thermal film, an additional 1 g of thermal grease is included.
- 2 screws of M2.5x20 mm for fixing the laser to a mounting plate. Tightening torque 0.25 - 0.35 N·m
- Hex key: 1.5 mm; BN:1169; DIN:911