New products test key dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) components faster and more accurately, answering need for low-cost capacity growth in optical networks
Tektronix has announced a new series of physical layer measurement applications for its optical test system, which it says set new performance benchmarks in accuracy, resolution, and throughput for optical equipment manufacturers of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) components and network elements.
Today, optical equipment manufacturers are challenged with making more efficient use of installed fibre to vastly increase available bandwidth while reducing the cost of deployment.
Passive optical components for all-optical networks are a key solution to this challenge; however, until now, test solutions have been unable to keep pace with manufacturers' needs when addressing the physical layer.
The OTS9600 Series of optical test modules, a new product category in the Tektronix Optical Test System (OTS) product family, is a swept-wavelength measurement system that specifically addresses physical layer testing for passive optical components.
The OTS9600 Series enables companies to make great advances in optical research, development, and manufacturing through industry-leading resolution, picometre level accuracy, and high dynamic range.
It optimises test time and ensures equipment quality for manufacturers delivering optical products that cost-effectively increase network bandwidth and maximise fibre capacity. "Optical equipment manufacturers look to Tektronix to provide innovative test solutions that will help them deliver high-quality, low-cost optical products as the market resumes its growth", said Rick King, the company's vice president of optical business.
"Prior to the OTS9600 Series, there was no physical layer test solution with sufficiently high wavelength resolution to address the narrow channel spacing of next-generation DWDM components while delivering the high dynamic range needed to fully characterise the component design." For manufacturing test applications, the OTS9600 Series provides throughput, setting new performance benchmarks in accuracy and resolution.
Using Tektronix' patent-pending wavelength reference technology, the swept-wavelength system automatically calibrates prior to each measurement, eliminating the need for manual calibration and reducing time per test.
To further optimise test time and ensure product quality, the OTS9600 Series provides greater than one picometre accuracy and wavelength resolution and a measurement time of just 6.5 seconds, which offer combined performance levels unavailable until now.
Add expandability from eight to 88 channels and a robust networking/programming environment, and the OTS9600 Series offers the perfect solution for increasing manufacturing productivity and product quality.
The OTS9600 Series also delivers a new set of tunable lasers, the high-performance optical stimulus needed for many different optical testing applications.
These high-quality lasers are mode-hop free, feature a fast tuning speed and a modular and compact package.
The OTS9600 Series' eight-channel power meter, a fast, highly linear optical power meter with industry-leading density for power monitoring on the factory floor and network operations, offers a wide dynamic range and an eight channel CPCI module.
