User Guide

Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 1: Introduction
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Connecting to the USB Port on the Back Panel of the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Instrument
A USB cable can be used to connect a computer running Windows 7, or later, with the port on the back panel of
the instrument as shown in Figure 2. The USB port is type-B. A USB cable with a type-B connector on one end
and a type-A connector on the other would allow connection with most computers.
Figure 2 Connecting the Computer and MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Instrument via the USB Ports
When discovered by the Windows PC, the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument will appear as a human interface
device (HID), rather than as a virtual serial port. The HID class includes the computer mouse and keyboard.
Please note that PC terminal software, such as Tera Term, cannot be used to communicate with the MX / MBX /
TLX1 / TLX2 instrument via USB cable. This is due to PC terminal software requiring the connected instrument to
be recognized by the PC as a virtual serial port. The Thorlabs remote control application discussed in Chapter 3
can scan for, discover, and open a connection with the connected MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument.
Connecting to the RS-232 Port on the Back Panel of the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Instrument
If the controlling computer has an RS-232 port, or if a USB to RS-232 adapter is connected to the computer’s
USB port, an RS-232 cable can be used to make the physical connection between the computer and the RS-232
port on the back panel of the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument. Any software capable of sending and receiving
data using serial ports can then be used to control the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument. Configure the serial
port of the controlling computer for 115200 baud, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control. The Thorlabs
remote control application discussed in Chapter 3
can also control the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument via an
RS-232 connection. The pin assignments for the DB9 connector on the back panel of the MX / MBX / TLX1 /
TLX2 instrument are described by Figure 3 and the table below.
Figure 3 RS-232 DB9 Connector on the
Back Panel of the MX / MBX / TLX1 /
TLX2 Instrument
RS-232 Connector
Pin # Description
1 Not Connected
2 RS-232 Input
3 RS-232 Output
4 Not Connected
5 Digital Ground
6 Not Connected
7 Not Connected
8 Not Connected
9 Not Connected
Computer
USB Port
USB Cable
USB Port
RS-232
Port
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9