Phoenix adds digital programming to its polarization controllers

Phoenix Photonics Ltd. of the UK is expanding its range of Firebird polarization controllers. The new products – a programmable polarization control instrument and an associated polarization controller microprocessor interface – will be introduced at the ECOC exhibition, being held in the RAI Conference Centre in Amsterdam next week (stand #614).

The microprocessor interface (PCI) enables the electronic polarization controller (EPC) to be programmed directly from either a desktop or laptop computer through a USB interface. It is compatible with the existing Firebird control software, and additional interface software is also available for engineers who wish to write their own control program.

The polarization-control instrument integrates the EPC and the PCI into a single bench-top instrument. Fully compatible with the Firebird control software, USB and RS-232 standard communication links and optional GPIB and Ethernet links are also available. Additional functionality is included in the bench-top version.

“The analog-controllable EPC has proved very popular with customers, and we have developed the new Microprocessor Interface and Windows-based software for programming the polarization transfer function in the fiber in response to their requirements,” said Dr. Ian Giles, CEO of Phoenix Photonics. “The bench-top instrument brings together both modules into a compact, easy-to-use format, allowing us to introduce additional functionality to widen flexibility.”

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