OBB Corp is proud to present a computer controlled tunable high-intensity illuminator comprised of powerful point source arc lamp, power supply and integrated igniter, motorized high throughput quarter-meter type Czerny-Turner monochromator, and USB computer interface and Labview type software. All you need to do is select a grating and lamp.

For the size and cost, it offers an unbeatable amount of optical power, tunable over a wide wavelength range—from 180 nm to 2,500 nm, with variable bandwidth continuously adjustable from 0.25 nm.

Light Source

When a broadband light source in the ultraviolet-visible-near infrared portion of the spectrum is required, as for illuminating a monochromator, an arc lamp has no peer. The intensity of an arc lamp is extremely high and, depending on the lamp, reasonably continuous throughout the region from 240 to 1200 nanometers. Usable intensities are available in the deep UV to 180 nm and in the near infrared to 2500 nm.

The essential ingredient that makes OBB Corp’s tunable source the most powerful is the unique light source.

Click here for “Comparative Field Test Results”

At the heart of virtually every OBB Light Source is a proprietary on-axis ellipsoidal reflector. Our reflectors collect up to 70% of the radiant energy from the arc lamp—vs 12% for typical condenser systems. The ellipse literally wraps around the arc lamp, collecting 5 to 6 times more output power than from a conventional system.

The arc source is located at one focus of the ellipse, and the radiation is reflected by the ellipse to the other focus. Since the light is brought to a focus by reflection rather than refraction (through a lens), there are less losses from absorption or lens-surface back-reflection. Since it collects light more efficiently, and focuses it more effectively, an OBB Lamp housing produces up to 11 times more power into a given smaller area than a conventional design. This is critical whether illuminating light guides, monochromator slits, pinholes or other small areas.

What this means is simply that you get the same output with an OBB 75 W system as with a conventional 450 W system. You obviously will save money and space.

Our elliptical reflectors are proprietary in design and the coating used. They are NOT electro-formed reflectors, which can distort with heat, and can degrade within months. Our proprietary design ensures that distortion of the critical ellipsoid does not occur as the lamp reaches its operating temperature. This ensures thermal stability of focus. The coating ensures reasonably long operating life—typically 2–3 years.

While conventional lamp housings resemble chimneys emitting ozone and requiring cumbersome venting, the OBB compact high intensity light source has a sealed lamp housing that requires no ozone venting.

Ignition noise can disrupt, or even destroy, sensitive equipment in the vicinity of an Arc Lamp during start-up. This can be quite a concern in a crowded lab environment. OBB Engineers introduced an igniter that is integrated onto the lamp housing. This design provides an effective EMI shield which contains the EMI pulse, providing a safer and more convenient environment to do your research in.

The lamp housing includes an adaptor that will accommodate either a 75 W Xenon or 100 W Mercury lamp (OBB Corp specified or supplied). An optional 150 W Xenon lamp adaptor is also available.

What is not included but required are a: reflector (choice of three), window (choice of three) and lamp. Here you have choices depending on your requirements.

Specifications Lamp power capacity 75 to 150 watts Height 100 mm (3.9 inches) Width 100 mm (3.9 inches) Length 210 mm (8.3 inches) Weight 1.9 kg (4.2 pounds) Window Diameter (D) 65 mm

Lamp

You have a choice of lamps depending on the spectral output that you require. Of course you may order more than one of the lamps, they are interchangeable.

There are two types of arc lamps available—xenon and mercury. The xenon gas used in the lamp provides continuous spectra from 180 nm to 2,500 nm of course at varying intensity (refer to spectral output graph). The mercury provides a line spectra (refer to spectral graph). The spectral curves for xenon and mercury are normalized (relative intensities) therefore it is not obvious that the mercury lamps, intensity—where it emits, exceeds that of the xenon lamp. Because of the smaller arc size, the mercury lamp can also provide greater intensity in a smaller area (greater brightness) than the xenon lamp.

The normal envelope for most lamps is quartz—which generally cuts off the deep UV below 240 nm, but it also eliminates ozone. In case of our lamp housing, because it is sealed, ozone is not a safety hazard. Therefore in case where you require spectral output from 180 to 240 nm (for xenon lamps only), you can order a lamp with a suprasil envelope.

The standard system comes with an adaptor for 75 W xenon and 100 W mercury lamps (the adaptor is the same for both). If you desire to operate a 150 W xenon lamp you will need to get either an extra adaptor (if you plan to operate it in addition to the lower wattage lamps) or a substitute, 150W lamp adaptor in place of a 75 W one.

Although a 150 W xenon lamp has twice the power rating, it does not always mean that you will get twice the usable power. Because of the compact arc size of the 75 W xenon and 100 W mercury lamp they are much better point source (smaller arc size) and will provide much more power into a small area—like for example when you want to illuminate a narrow slit on a monochromator, or illuminate a small fiber optic element or liquid light guide.

If you want to illuminate small areas, typically 1 mm and below, the smaller wattage lamps provide you with more power in that area, than a 150 W lamp would. Obviously if you are interested in illuminating an area above 2 mm, the 150 W lamp will give you more power than a 75 W lamp.

If you want to collimate the output from the lamp, use the smaller lamps because they are point sources will give you better collimation.

The 150 W lamp, because of the sealed housing used will require water-cooling and there is provision on the lamp housing for water cooling. You can either get your water directly from the cold-water tap (can be a problem if the water is hard or when water is not available) or from an inexpensive circulating water bath option that we provide.

We have selected water-cooling over air: because it allows us to make a more compact housing; seal in the ozone and eliminates the need for venting.

Due to bulb geometry, the 150 W lamp will not work with f/1 or f/2.5 reflector.

Power Supply

The lamp power supplies are highly-regulated DC units that provides very stable power for xenon and mercury lamps. Designed for use with various lamp housings, they may be used with lamp housings from other manufacturers.

For 75–150 W Xenon and 100 W Mercury Lamps

Monchromator

The monochromator has four ports that can be utilized for two inputs and two outputs. In the standard configuration it comes with one entrance and exit port populated. This gives you a choice of four different input/output geometries:

180° Straight Line – with folding mirrors on entrance and exit

90° Right Angle – with folding mirror on the exit side

90° Left Angle – with folding mirror on the entrance side

360° – with no folding mirrors

180° Straight Line	90° Right Angle
90° Left Angle	360°

You can also elect as an option to have two entrance ports, two exit ports or two entrance and two exit ports by adding flipping mirror(s) and slit(s), refer to accessories.

All monochromators are shipped with two continuously adjustable slit assemblies.

Grating(s)

You must select one or two gratings depending on the Monochromator that you plan to order. The spectral range that you require will determine the type of grating that you should choose.

Software

A software package is provided to control the monochromator and shutter (optional) with an RS-232 electronic interface that will work with PC type computers. Requires Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system. A DLL is available to integrate to third party software by the user.

Software Features

• Universal power supply included
• Synchronization TTL output each time motor stops
• Two phase motor 1 A per phase, 200 steps per revolution, 1.8 degree per step
• Maximum motor speed is 1200 RPM with zero torque
• Maximum speed with mono 15,000 nm per minute
• Stepping motor voltage 5–12 V
• Stepping modes: Full, Half and Micro steps: 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64 computer selectable
• Slew rate: 1 to 62,500 micro steps per second
• Auto calibration of wavelength
• Linear ramping rate for heavy duty, fast, precision operation

Click to enlarge.

Accessories

Liquid light guide

Ideal as a delivery system. We offer a two-millimeter core diameter, two-meter length liquid light guide complete with attachment to exit port of monochromator. Transmission is greater than 30% from 280 nm to 700 nm.

Programmable shutter

A computer controlled shutter can be ordered at the time of original order. This is an ideal accessory when working with photodegradable samples. The programmable shutter requires Computerized Wavelength Control.

Second entrance or exit port

A second entrance to attach for example a second light source or a second exit can be added to the monochromator. It includes a flipping mirror for selecting desired exit or entrance as well as a slit assembly. If you desire both two exits and two entrances for the monochromator you need two of these accessories.

Dual Exit Ports	Dual Entrance Ports	Dual Entrance and Exit Ports

Nitrogen Inlet Port

If you plan to use the monochromator with UV, below 250 nm, you may wish to purge the monochromator with nitrogen gas to eliminate oxygen, which absorbs in the UV.