This work demonstrates the development of an optical shutter from a computer hard disk. The electrical current control of the device is made by pulse width modulation, a technique that allows varying current/voltage levels by adjusting the pulse width of a digital signal. This control is made in order to minimize the power dissipated into the device, thus raising its lifetime. The main unit of the control circuit is Arduino Uno, a low cost and ease of programming microcontroller board, extensively used as a platform for electronic prototyping. As an example, we present the use of an optical shutter developed in a microfabrication setup via two-photon polymerization, in which it plays an important role.
Keywords:
Optical shutter; pulse width modulation; Arduino Uno; two-photon polymerization
