Laser test and measurement has been made easier
by improved test equipment and simplified user
interfaces. Image courtesy of Lasermet.
classification limit and comparing the two answers.
‘Manufacturers are aware
Tozer adds: ‘However, choosing the correct
measurement conditions and carrying out the
that testing equipment
calculations correctly can be complex, particularly
for non-point sources such as LEDs and stacked
needs to be easy to use’
laser diodes. In addition, measurements need to
be carried out under reasonably foreseeable single large buttons on the front panel of the meter. We
fault conditions, which often mean assessing the have also incorporated quick start guides into
drive electronics and simulating failure modes. All our user manuals, and provide installable PC
of this makes the work suited to a specialist test applications software on CD. These types of
house like Lasermet.’ features and ergonomic designs have become
But for those users without the option of much more important in the laser measurement
farming out their testing equipment to a separate business in recent years.’
facility, there is still hope. The manufacturers are Ophir-Spricon is also improving its kit to be
aware that testing equipment needs to be easy to more user-friendly and providing more means
use for all. Bergman says: ‘We also do not want for users to train themselves up. Wagner says:
to have too many overlapping products on the ‘Typically you will design products with limited
market, so many of our products need to serve features to address the specific low-tech market
many applications and many different types of you are trying to reach. This can be from a single
users. We address this by optimising our meter readout on a power/energy meter to a basic picture
front panels and graphical user interface in such a of the laser beam or single spectrum readout of
way as to make basic operation very intuitive, while the wavelength – the simpler the better in many
also providing features and capabilities important cases. One of the most critical aspects is a quick
to more advanced users that might be available in tutorial on basic uses. Secondly, one needs a top
advanced setup screens, for example.’ notch customer service department that is both
Manufacturers also need to produce clear patient and knowledgeable to be able to step new
documentation as well as an easy-to-understand users through an application. Having application
design. Bergman adds: ‘Making a product easier to notes and web tutorials also helps in this training.’
use is a combination of understanding the needs But there is no substitute for sitting down with
of your customers and then modifying the design a user and taking them through the kit. Powerlase’s
and documentation. In some cases, individuals in Mason says: ‘A number of customers have used
these situations might be looking for a very simple our lasers to replace non-laser applications, but
way of measuring the power output of their laser, they are usually laser-savvy enough to know
so we have devices available that are simple to use roughly what they want from the system. We
without extra features like on-board data analysis. usually work closely with the customer to make
Alternatively, our new higher end LabMax meter sure he gets the functionality he needs for his
has the most common measurement tasks particular application. We try to make the laser
(measure, tune, and trend) directly accessible via as user-friendly as we can by giving the customer
EOfeb09 pp16-19 testing.indd 17 17/2/09 16:46:37
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