Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has announced new optical
switches that enable more cost-effective optical transceiver manufacturing
tests and higher efficiency in optical component and cable verification.
Optical switches are used in fiber-optic test systems to
automatically route optical signals. They are also used to optimize
manufacturers' investments in automated test equipment by improving
repeatability and throughput and by supporting parallel measurements on
multiport devices. Agilent's new N77 Series switches accomplish these
tasks with excellent repeatability and flexible automation control.
The Agilent N7731A dual 1x4 optical switch and the N7734A 1x13
optical switch are available for single-mode or multimode fiber-optic
connections.
"Manufacturers of optical transmitters and receivers
constantly strive for better yield and lower cost of test," said Jurgen
Beck, general manager of Agilent's digital photonic test products. "Our
new optical switches help them achieve their goals by making accurate
measurements and making automation easier with excellent repeatability, fast
switching time and flexible control with LAN, USB and GPIB interfaces."
Key features and specifications include:
- Repeatability: ±0.01 dB, ±0.004
dB typical
- Switching time: < 20 ms
- Lifetime: > 1 billion cycles
- 816x VXI plug-and-play driver
support
- N77xx viewer GUI
In many cases, manufacturers can use valuable signal source and
analysis instrumentation more effectively in a parallel-test configuration.
They can, for example, test multiple cables or components together during
temperature cycling. Inherently parallel components - like those used for
optical interconnections for 40G or 100G Ethernet using 10-Gb/sec components -
call for identical testing in multiple paths. These applications are well
supported by the 1x13 switch configuration, and the 13th path often can be used
as a permanent reference path.
Automated testing with switches also improves tests by avoiding
repeated reconnections during measurements. The excellent switching
repeatability of the new N77 Series switches assures that the signal level is
constant from cycle to cycle.
Multimode fiber applications are especially challenging because
signals are distributed over a range of mode groups that can have different
loss and delay in a link. For dependable multimode transceiver testing, the
instrumentation should not change this modal distribution. The Agilent
multimode switches are designed with very short collimated paths between
fibers, so signals propagate in practically the same distribution as through
uninterrupted multimode fiber.
Designed for high test throughput, lowest cost per channel and
narrow footprint, all members of Agilent's N77 Series optical test instruments
are built on a common platform and provide a common PC-based user interface. A
complete set of control interfaces (including LAN, USB2.0 and GPIB) simplifies
integration with manufacturing control systems. Code-compatible with Agilent's
Lightwave Measurement System modules, the new generation of switches can serve as
plug-in replacements in existing test solutions.
All N77 Series optical test instruments offer:
- "Just-enough-test"
with low hardware overhead.
- Built-in international power
supply.
- SCPI command set, compatible
with existing instrument categories for easy drop-in replacement.
- Plug-and-play drivers and a
PC-based graphical user interface.
Additional information about Agilent's new optical switches is
available at www.agilent.com/find/jet.
High-resolution images are available at http://www.agilent.com/find/jet_images.
Additional information about Agilent's N7700A photonic application
suite can be found at www.agilent.com/find/n7700.
A backgrounder on optical component test technology and Agilent's
solutions is available at www.agilent.com/find/oct_backgrounder.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Agilent N7731A dual 1x4 optical switch and N7734A single 1x13
optical switch for single-mode and multi-mode applications can be ordered now.
List prices for the N7731A start at $14,500. List prices for the N7734A start
at $19,000.
About
Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier
measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life
sciences, electronics and communications. The company's 18,700 employees serve
customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $6.6 billion
in fiscal 2011. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.