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What is max power I can use with DLP LightCrafter and how easy is it to upgrade to a better version of the LightCrafter?

Tori
Prodigy 90 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DLP4500NIR, DLPC900, DLPC350, DLP9000, DLP4500

I'm looking to purchase a DMD and controller for use in an atomic physics experiment. At the moment, I'm considering the DLP LightCrafter Evaluation Module (taking out the LED) or the DLP LightCrafter 6500. I have two questions that I wasn't able to answer very well by just browsing the website. I would appreciate any input you have on the questions below. Thanks!

1) Is there a maximum power with which I can illuminate the DMD?

2) How easy is it to "upgrade" from one DMD and controller to another? If I purchase the DLP LightCrafter Evaluation Module to test out my application but then later realize I need something with a higher resolution (such as the DLP LightCrafter 6500), is the computer software the same? Can I just replace one device with the other and use the same programming or do I need to start everything over from scratch?

  • 0
    TI__Expert 6370 points
    Hi Victoria,

    Welcome to the DLP section of E2E!

    1) Yes, check out the DMD Recommended Operating Characteristics in each datasheet to see the illumination limitations. For both the DLP3000 (the DMD in the LightCrafter) and the DLP6500, the illumination is thermally limited in the visible range (420-700 nm). If you follow the footnotes, you will find an equation you can use to find the temperature of your system and compare it to the maximum temperature of the DMD.

    2) If the DMDs use the same controller, it is simple or relatively easy to upgrade (i.e. DLP4500 to DLP4500NIR using DLPC350 or DLP6500 to DLP9000 using DLPC900). However, it becomes much more challenging to upgrade to a device with a different controller - as you would when switching from the DLP3000 to the DLP6500. While the GUIs and written code for the two have many similarities, the change between the two is somewhat significant. I would encourage you to explore your design requirements completely before making the choice between those two DMDs.

    Also, I will note that the LightCrafter (with the DLP3000) comes with an included light engine and optics, while the LightCrafter6500 comes without optics or a light engine.

    Best regards,
    Trevor
  • 0 in reply to Trevor Dowd
    Prodigy 90 points

    I have one more question. I was trying to look this up on the spec sheets, but I was having trouble finding the answer. For the DLP3000 and the DLP6500, is it possible to switch between patterns with the hardware or does it need to be done with the TI software? Ideally I would like to be able to switch between (binary) patterns on the DMD by sending in a TTL pulse (or some other input signal) from another computer program (that's running the rest of the experiment). Is that possible with these devices? If not, is it possible to at least begin a sequence of patterns stored in the controller with some trigger from a different program in the computer? If so, how precisely can we know the timing of this (is there a lag and if so is it constant)? Thanks!

  • 0 in reply to Tori
    TI__Genius 13235 points
    Hi Tori,

    Thanks for using our forums. I responded to your new post about this question. Creating a new thread for each topic is best practice in the forums, which you have done. This ensures that your new question does not get missed in a thread that has been answered.

    For reference, Tori's question above is being discussed in the following thread:
    e2e.ti.com/.../427081

    Thanks again,
    Clinton