First off, hello! This is my first actual posting, although I've been reading here for a bit. I started at LPF and wandered over here in search of some drivers...
I love how flashlights here have multiple modes/brightness levels yet only use one button to cycle through them. The drivers with UI and other such interfaces are pretty cool. Currently no laser driver exists that features such an easy change of current to be supplied to the diode. I would like to buy/build one for my own custom build but haven't quite found what I'm looking for.
Here's what I need in the driver:
Constant current
Buck/Boost (yes it needs both)
Output between 3-5 volts (the range could be bigger, but that is the minimum)
Input of one Li-ion battery (so 4.2-3v, if I could design it to automatically shut off at 3v that would be awesome)
At least 2, preferably 3 output modes. They would something around 250ma, 600ma, and 1300ma.
So far I have found nothing currently made that fits all those specifications. The closest I've found is the MaxFlex, but unfortunately it is boost only. The laser diode I will be driving has a forward voltage of ~3.5-4.5 depending on the current running through it and so the MaxFlex would work only with the high power ranges or with almost dead batteries.
If anyone knows of another driver that fits my specifications that I haven't found, please let me know...
Otherwise, I want to know how drivers such as the MaxFlex work so that I could design my own to use. Here a few sample questions to give an idea of what I want to know:
How do these drivers regulate current? Constant current chips? DC/DC regulators? Constant voltage chips with a resistor?
How does one program such drivers? Is there another chip(s) that let the user change things with the push of a button?
I know most these drivers have some kind of memory... how does this get added and how is connected to the various other components?
I have searched the forums quite a bit looking to find an introduction into designing/building such circuits, but I haven't found anything. If such threads already exist, please link me to them.
I am more than willing to do reading and research - I am just having trouble finding where to do so.
Thanks,
Awlego
I love how flashlights here have multiple modes/brightness levels yet only use one button to cycle through them. The drivers with UI and other such interfaces are pretty cool. Currently no laser driver exists that features such an easy change of current to be supplied to the diode. I would like to buy/build one for my own custom build but haven't quite found what I'm looking for.
Here's what I need in the driver:
Constant current
Buck/Boost (yes it needs both)
Output between 3-5 volts (the range could be bigger, but that is the minimum)
Input of one Li-ion battery (so 4.2-3v, if I could design it to automatically shut off at 3v that would be awesome)
At least 2, preferably 3 output modes. They would something around 250ma, 600ma, and 1300ma.
So far I have found nothing currently made that fits all those specifications. The closest I've found is the MaxFlex, but unfortunately it is boost only. The laser diode I will be driving has a forward voltage of ~3.5-4.5 depending on the current running through it and so the MaxFlex would work only with the high power ranges or with almost dead batteries.
If anyone knows of another driver that fits my specifications that I haven't found, please let me know...
Otherwise, I want to know how drivers such as the MaxFlex work so that I could design my own to use. Here a few sample questions to give an idea of what I want to know:
How do these drivers regulate current? Constant current chips? DC/DC regulators? Constant voltage chips with a resistor?
How does one program such drivers? Is there another chip(s) that let the user change things with the push of a button?
I know most these drivers have some kind of memory... how does this get added and how is connected to the various other components?
I have searched the forums quite a bit looking to find an introduction into designing/building such circuits, but I haven't found anything. If such threads already exist, please link me to them.
I am more than willing to do reading and research - I am just having trouble finding where to do so.
Thanks,
Awlego
