EN ISO 17526:2003

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2003
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Optics and optical instruments - Lasers and laser-related equipment - Lifetime of lasers
(ISO 17526:2003)
Optik und optische Instrumente - Laser und Laseranlagen - Lebensdauer von Lasern
(ISO 17526:2003)
Optique et instruments d'optique - Lasers et équipements associés aux lasers - Durée de
vie des lasers (ISO 17526:2003)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 17526:2003
ICS:
31.260 Optoelektronika, laserska Optoelectronics. Laser
oprema equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 17526
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
June 2003
ICS 31.260
English version
Optics and optical instruments - Lasers and laser-related
equipment - Lifetime of lasers (ISO 17526:2003)
Optique et instruments d'optique - Lasers et équipements Laser und Laseranlagen - Lebensdauer von Lasern (ISO
associés aux lasers - Durée de vie des lasers (ISO 17526:2003)
17526:2003)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 May 2003.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United
Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2003 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 17526:2003 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

CORRECTED  2003-07-16
Foreword
This document (EN ISO 17526:2003) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 176
"Quality management and quality assurance" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC
123 "Lasers and laser-related equipment", the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of
an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2003, and conflicting national
standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by December 2003.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of
the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and
the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 17526:2003 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 17526:2003 without any
modifications.
NOTE Normative references to International Standards are listed in Annex ZA (normative).
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their relevant European publications
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other
publications. These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the
publications are listed hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of
any of these publications apply to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by
amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the publication referred to
applies (including amendments).
NOTE Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated
by (mod.), the relevant EN/HD applies.
Publication Year Title EN Year
ISO 11145 2001 Optics and optical instruments - Lasers EN ISO 11145 2001
and laser-related equipment -
Vocabulary and symbols
ISO 11554 2003 Optics and optical instruments - Lasers EN ISO 11554 2003
and laser-related equipment - Test
methods for laser beam power, energy
and temporal characteristics
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 17526
First edition
2003-06-15
Optics and optical instruments — Lasers
and laser-related equipment — Lifetime
of lasers
Optique et instruments d'optique — Lasers et équipements associés
aux lasers — Durée de vie des lasers

Reference number
ISO 17526:2003(E)
©
ISO 2003
ISO 17526:2003(E)
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ii © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

ISO 17526:2003(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope. 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
3.1 Modes of operation . 1
3.2 Operating conditions . 2
3.3 Lifetime related terms. 3
3.4 Types and classification. 5
3.5 Others. 5
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms. 6
4.1 Symbols . 6
4.2 Abbreviated terms. 6
5 Test methods. 6
5.1 General. 6
5.2 Selection of lasers for lifetime testing . 7
5.3 Lifetime test in APPC- and ACC-mode . 7
5.4 Lifetime test at APC-mode . 7
5.5 Lifetime tests at limited aperture. 8
6 Evaluation and extrapolation. 8
7 Test report. 10
Bibliography . 12

ISO 17526:2003(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 17526 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172, Optics and optical instruments, Subcommittee
SC 9, Electro-optical systems.
iv © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

ISO 17526:2003(E)
Introduction
There are many different types of lasers with very different attributes and very different areas of application;
not all types of lasers can be treated by the same means and measures to characterize and specify their
longterm behaviour and lifetime.
This International Standard covers many types of laser, but not all methods and procedures can be applied to
all types.
There are lasers, primarily laser diodes in the lower power range, which are produced in large quantities and
which allow the performance of lifetime tests on large quantities to gain results on a statistically significant
level. In this case and if more than approximately 50 lasers are used for testing, lifetime predictions using
informative annex B of IEC 61751:1998, may be applied alternatively to this International Standard.
High-power lasers are manufactured in low quantities and lifetime tests cannot be carried out on statistically
significant sample sizes.
There are types of laser of which the main components cannot be repaired, e.g. sealed-tube gas lasers or
semiconductor lasers. There are others that can easily be repaired, e.g. CO lasers. The former class may be
characterized by “lifetime”, the latter more appropriately characterized by “meantime to failure”.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 17526:2003(E)

Optics and optical instruments — Lasers and laser-related
equipment — Lifetime of lasers
1 Scope
This International Standard covers terms and definitions as well as test methods and evaluation procedures to
characterize, estimate and predict the longterm behaviour of various types of lasers.
This International Standard defines terms for the lifetime of lasers and specifies test procedures and
fundamental aspects for the determination of lifetime. It applies for all types of lasers for which lifetime is a
critical issue, including diode lasers except those used in telecommunications.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 11145:2001, Optics and optical instruments — Lasers and laser-related equipment — Vocabulary and
symbols
ISO 11554:2003, Optics and optical instruments — Lasers and laser-related equipment — Test methods for
laser beam power, energy and temporal characteristics
IEC 60050-191:1990, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary.
...