AUGUST 6, 2008 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (search for Agilent) has introduced the fourth member of its lightwave component analyzer (LCA) series. The company asserts that this new unit is the only turnkey test system available for CATV or radio over fiber electro-optical component test. The LCA is designed to offer fast calibration and test setup, providing a time-saving, competitive edge to design and manufacturing engineers.
The Agilent N4374B LCA offers accurate and traceable electro-optical S-parameter for transmitter and receiver test and is based on the widely used and well-known ENA-C series Agilent network analyzers, according to the company. It replaces the Agilent 8702 LCA.
The N4374B LCA is designed to enable engineers to design electro-optical transmitters and receivers with the lowest distortion by offering specified phase accuracy in addition to high-amplitude accuracy.
The Agilent N4374B LCA offers first-time relative and absolute responsivity specification traceable to international standards. This ensures that all test data are worldwide comparable within the specified uncertainty, thus helping R&D and manufacturing engineers to compare test results measured with two LCAs at different locations.
"Fast and accurate electro-optical test with a turnkey solution are key contributors for developing high-quality products with a reduced design cycle," said Juergen Beck, general manager of Agilent's Digital Photonic Test business. "The lightwave component analyzer is the workhorse for designers and manufacturing engineers of electro-optical components because it offers the highest productivity, thanks to faster and easy calibration and test setup."
According to Agilent, features of the Agilent N4374B LCA include:
- accurate responsivity test with less than 0.8 dB uncertainty
- specified absolute accuracy of absolute responsivity
- 75-ohm support with minimum loss pad for CATV applications
- specified phase uncertainty
- integrated optical average power meter
- identical user interface and remote control across all new N437x LCA series.
Visit Agilent Technologies
For more fiber optic testing news and resources, visit the Test & Measurement Resource Center