Column Control DTX

26.5 GHz Multimode Fiber Lightwave Component Analyzer

Data Sheets

The performance of digital, photonic transmission is ultimately described by the Bit Error Ratio (BER), but it is the analog nature of electro-optical subcomponents like modulators, PIN-TIA receivers and detectors that determines the performance of the entire transmission system.

Only a careful design of these electro-optical components over a wide modulation signal bandwidth guarantees successful operation in the transmission system.

Keysight’s N4376E Lightwave Component Analyzer (LCA) is the ideal choice to characterize such electro-optical components for 10 Gbit/s, 40 Gbit/s and 100 Gbit/s transmission systems. Using the advanced measurement capabilities of the new N52xxB series PNA Microwave Network Analyzers, all relevant S-parameter related characteristics of the device under test can be qualified from 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz

Productivity and Operator Guidance

The N4376E LCA has been designed with high productivity in mind: As an integrated, turn-key solution, it speeds up time-to-market when implementing the testing strategy for a new device. Compared to home-grown measurement solutions that leave the responsibility for accuracy and traceability to the user, high confidence in measurement results is maintained through self-test routines, which take uncertainty out of the calibration and measurement procedures.

An easy-to-perform, highly automated user calibration routine based on the e-Cal module, reduces the number of manual operator tasks, therefore shortening the measurement preparation time. Built-in RF switches, and the guidance provided by the instrument during user calibration and measurement setup minimize the number of re-connections and reduce operator-induced uncertainties.

Accuracy and Traceability

The N4376E LCA is built from carefully selected opto-electronic and electronic components. Temperature-stabilized transmitter and receiver components ensure measurements are reproducible over days without user re-calibration.

Because measurements at high absolute and relative accuracy improve both, development results, and production yield, every LCA undergoes an extended factory calibration across multiple optical power levels to minimize noise and ripple in the measurement traces.

Factory calibration against reference standards traceable to national standards ensures that test results can be compared among test locations worldwide. For balanced measurements, traceability is ensured up to frequencies as high as 26.5 GHz.

Software and Remote Control

Software and remote control are identical across the N437xB/C/D and N437xE generations of LCAs. They also share a common user interface, just like the recent PNA generations, to reduce operator training needs.

Remote control via LAN using .NET or COM interfaces, or through the industry-standard, easy-to-use SCPI interface simplifies the LCA’s integration into an automated test environment. This is particularly helpful when an opto-electronic component’s frequency response needs to be qualified over a wide range of parameters – a cumbersome and error-prone process if done manually.

The Network Analyzer

The N4376E is based on the new 2- and 4-port N5222B PNA microwave network analyzer with an identical and well-known user interface across all Keysight network analyzers. Versions with configurable test set and bias-T integrated in the network analyzer are available. The High RF output power ensures an optical modulation index (OMI) above 50%. This offers the freedom to change between small signal analysis and large signal analysis of a device under test. True mode balanced measurements are possible with 4-port, dual source network analyzers

 

Target Test Devices

Transmitters and receivers are typically tested for their frequency response over a range of bias voltages, optical input power levels, operating currents and ambient temperatures. The LCA’s built-in optical power meter allows checking and controlling the user-selectable operating power, but also gives an indication of a bent fiber or a bad connection. The optional, auxiliary PMF input (option 050) enables the measurement of optically filtered/ demultiplexed O/E devices at specific wavelengths as proposed by the IEEE 802.3 standards and MSAs, or the verification of S-parameters over wavelength using an external tunable laser. With the LCA’s high update rate, parameters can be adjusted to determine the optimum operating point of such devices.

Transmitters (E/O)

Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZM), electro-absorption modulators (EAM), directly modulated lasers, driver amplifier – modulator hybrids and transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSA) are among the most common optical transmitter components that can be characterized using the LCA. Dual-drive optical modulators and transmitters with differential electrical inputs can also be characterized using 4-port PNA versions of the LCA.

Receivers (O/E)

PIN photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes (APD), receiver optical subassemblies (ROSA) and integrated PIN-TIA receivers are examples of optical receiver components typically tested with an LCA. Moreover, 4-port PNA versions of the LCA can characterize PIN-TIA combinations with differential output for common-mode rejection and gain imbalance.

Optical Devices (O/O)

Transmission systems are typically tested for bandwidth and group delay using an LCA. Passive optical components and multimode fiber can be tested for insertion loss, bandwidth limitations, and optical group delay.

Electronic Devices (E/E)

Measurements of amplifiers, filters and transmission lines focus on transmission bandwidth, insertion loss or gain, impedance match and group delay. Such purely electronic measurements are possible with the network analyzer that is part of the LCA

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Column Control DTX