Agilent Technologies 86120C User Manual

Agilent 86120C Multi-Wavelength Meter User’s Guide

Notices

This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved.

No part of this document may reproduced in (including electronic storage and retrieval or translation into a foreign language) without prior agreement and written consent from Agilent Techno logies Deutschland GmbH as governed by United States and international copywright laws.

Agilent Technologies Deutschland GmbH Herrenberger Str. 130 71034 Böblingen Germany

Subject Matter

The material in this document is subject to change without notice.

Agilent Technologies makes no

warranty of any kind with regard to this printed material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Agilent Technologies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

Warranty

This Agilent Technologies instrument product is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from date of shipment. During the warranty period, Agilent will, at its option, either repair or replace products that prove to be defective.

For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned to a service facility designated by Agilent. Buyer shall prepay shipping charges to Agilent and Agilent shall pay shipping charges to return the product to Buyer. However, Buyer shall pay all shipping charges, duties, and taxes for

products returned to Agilent from another country. Agilent warrants that its software and firmware designated by Agilent for use with an instrument will execute its programming instructions when properly installed on that instrument. Agilent does not warrant that the operation of the instrument, software, or firmware will be uninterrupted or error free.

Limitation of Warranty

The foregoing warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by Buyer, Buyer-supplied software or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside of the environmental specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance.

No other warranty is expressed or implied. Agilent Technologies specifically disclaims the implied warra nties of Me rchantab ility and Fitness for a Particular Purpose.

Exclusive Remedies

The remedies provided herein are Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedies. Agilent Technologies shall not be liable for any dir ect, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages whether based on contract, tort, or any other legal theory.

Assistance

Product maintenance agreements and other customer assistance agreements are available for Agilent Technologies products. For any assistance contact your nearest Agilent Technolo gies Sales and Service Office.

Certif ication

Agilent Technologies Inc. certifies that this product met its published specifications at the time of shipment from the factory. Agilent Technologies further ce rtifies that its calibration mea surements are traceable to the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST (formerly the United States National Bureau of Standards, NBS) to the

extent allowed by the Institutes’s calibration facility, and to the calibration facilities of other International Standards Organization members.

ISO 9001 Certification

Produced to ISO 9001 international quality system standard as part of our objective of continually increasing customer satisfaction through improved process control.

Safety Notices CAUTION

Caution denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to or de struction o f the product. Do not proceed beyond a caution sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

WARNING

Warning denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in inju ry or loss of life. Do not proceed beyond a warning sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

The instruction manual symbol. The product is marked with this warning symbol when it is necessary for the user to refer to the instructions in the manual.

The laser radiation symbol. This warning symbol is marked on products which have a laser output.

The AC symbol is used to indicate the required nature of the line module input power.

The ON sym bols are used to mark the positions of the instrument power line switch.

The OFF symbols are used to mark the positions of the instrument power line switch.

The CE mark is a registered trademark of the European Community.

The CSA mark is a regi stered trademark of the Canadian Standards Association.

The C-Tick mark is a registered trademark of the Australian Spectrum Management Agency.

This text denotes the

ISM1-A

instrument is an Industrial Scientific and Medical Group 1 Class A product.

Typ ogra phic al Co nven tion s.

The following conventions are used in this book:

Key type for keys or text located on the keyboard or instrument.

Softkey type for key names that are displayed on the instrument’s screen.

Display type for words or characters displayed on the computer’s screen or instrument’s display.

User type for words or characters

that you type or enter.

Emphasis type for words or characters that emphasize some point or that are used as place holders for text that you type.

Second Edition 86120-90C03 August 2004

First Edition: 86120-90035: February 2000

The Agilent86120C—At a Glance

The Agilent 86120C—At a Glance

The Agilent 86120C Multi- Wavelength Meter measures the wavelength and optical power of laser light in the 1270–1650 wavelength range. Because the Agilent 86120C simultaneously measures multiple laser lines, you can characterize wavelength- division- multiplexed (WDM) systems and the multiple lines of Fabry- Perot lasers.

NOTE

The front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector uses a single-mode input fiber.

CAUTION For Option 022 instruments, the front-panel OPTICAL INP UT connector is an

angled physical contact interface.

Characterize laser lines easily

With the Agilent 86120C you can quickly and easily measure any of the following parameters:

• Measure up to 200 laser lines simultaneously

• Wavelengths and powers

• Average wavelength

• Total optical power

• Laser line separation

• Laser drift (wavelength and power)

• Signal-to- noise ratios

• Fabry-Perot lasers

iii

The Agilent86120C—At a Glance

In addition to these measurements, a “power bar” is displayed that shows power changes like a traditional analog meter. You can see the power bar shown in the following figure of the Agilent 86120C’s display.

CAUTION The input circuitry of the Agilent 86120C can be damaged when total input

power levels exceed +18 dBm. To prevent input damage, this specified level must not be exceeded.

Print measurement results

You can get hardcopy results of your measurements by connecting a printer to the rear-panel PARALL EL PRIN TE R P ORT connector.

Program the instrument for automatic measurements

The Agilent 86120C offers an extensive set of GPIB programming commands. These commands allow you to perform automated measurements on manufacturing production lines and remote sites. Chapter 3,

“Programming” and Chapter 4, “Programming Commands” provide all

the information you’ll need to know in order to program the Agilent 86120C.

Display wavelengths as if measured in vacuum or standard air

Although all measurements are made in air, displayed results are corrected for air dispersion to accurately show wavelength values in vacuum or in “standard air.” To ensure accurate wavelength measurements, make sure that you enter the elevation from which you will be making measurements as described in Chapter 1, “Getting

Started”.

The Agilent86120C—At a Glance

Measurement accuracy—it’s up to you!

Fiber-optic connectors are easily damaged when connected to dirty or damaged cables and accessories. The Agilent 86120C’s front-panel INPUT connector is no exception. When you use improper cleaning and handling techniques, you risk expensive instrument repairs, damaged cables, and compromised measurements.

Before you connect any fiber-optic cable to the Agilent 86120C, refer to “Cleaning

Connections for Accurate Measurements” on page 2-40.

Genera l S a fety Consid erations

General Safety Considerations

This product has been designed and tested in accordance with IEC 61010-1, and has been supplied in a safe condition. The instruction documentation contains information and warnings which must be followed by the user to ensure safe operation and to maintain the product in a safe condition.

Laser Classification: This product is classified according to IEC 60825- 1.

There is no output laser aperture

The Agilent 86120C does not have an output laser aperture. However, light less than 1 nW escapes out of the front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector. Operator maintenance or precautions are not necessary to maintain safety. No controls, adjustments, or performance of procedures result in hazardous radiation exposure.

General Safety Considerations

WA RNING If this instrument is not used as specified, the protection provided by

the equipment could be impaired. This instrument must be used in a normal condition (in which all means for protection are intact) only.

WA RNING No operator serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified

personnel. To prevent electrical shock, do not remove covers.

WA RNING To prevent electrical shock, disconnect the Agilent 86120C from mains

before cleaning. Use a dry cloth or one slightly dampened with water to clean the external case parts. Do not attempt to clean internally.

WA RNING This is a Safety Class 1 product (provided with protective earth). The

mains plug shall only be inserted in a socket outlet provided with a protective earth contact. Any interruption of the protective conductor inside or outside of the product is likely to make the product dangerous. Intentional interruption is prohibited.

WA RNING For continued protection against fire hazard, replace line fuse only with

same type and ratings, (type F 6.3A/250V IEC 60127 type 5x20mm). The use of other fuses or materials is prohibited. Verify that the value of the line-voltage fuse is correct.

vii

Genera l S a fety Consid erations

CAUTION This product complies with Overvoltage Category II and Pollution Degree 2.

CAUTION VENTILATION REQUIREMENTS: When installing the product in a cabinet, the

convection into and out of the product must not be restricted. The ambient temperature (outside the cabinet) must be less than the maximum operating temperature of the product by 4

°C for every 100 watts dissipated in the cabinet.

If the total power dissipated in the cabinet is greater than 800 watts, then forced convection must be used.

CAUTION Always use the three-prong ac power cord supplied with this instrument. Failure

to ensure adequate earth grounding by not using this cord may cause instrument damage.

CAUTION Do not connect ac power until you have verified the line voltage is correct as

described in “Line Power Requirements” on page 1-5. Damage to the equipment could result.

CAUTION This instrument has autoranging line voltage input. Be sure the supply voltage

is within the specified range.

viii

Contents

The Agilent 86120C—At a Glance iii General Safe ty Considerations vi

1Getting Started

Step 1. Inspect the Shipment 4 Step 2. Connect the Line-Power Cable 5 Step 3. Conn ect a Printer 6 Step 4. Turn on the Agilent 86120C 7 Step 5. Enter Your Elevation 8 Step 6. Select Medium for Wavelength Values 9 Step 7. Turn Off Wavelength Limiting 10 Returning the Instrument for Service 11

2 Making Measurements

Measuring Wavelengt h and Power 3 Changing the Units and Measurement Rate 12 Defining Laser - Line Peaks 15 Measuring Laser Separat ion 18 Measuring Laser Drift 22 Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios 25 Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios with Averaging 29 Measuring Fabry-Perot (FP) Lasers 31 Measuring Modulated Lasers 34 Measuring Total Power Greater than 10 dBm 36 Calibrating Measurements 37 Printing Measurement Results 39 Cleaning Conne ctions for Accurate Measurements 40

3 Programming

Addressing and Initializing the Instrument 3 Making Measurements 5 Monitoring th e Ins trument 16 Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules 23 Example Programs 28 Lists of Commands 43

Contents-1

Contents

4 Programm ing Comma nds

Common Commands 3 Measurement Instructions 15 CALCulate1 Subsys tem 25 CALCulate2 Subsys tem 31 CALCulate3 Subsys tem 44 CONFig u r e M ea s u r em en t In str u c ti o n 74 DISPlay Subsystem 75 FETCh M ea s ur ement Instru c ti o n 79 HCOPy Subsystem 80 MEASure Measurement Instruction 81 READ Measurement Instruction 82 SENSe Subsystem 83 STATus Subsystem 90 SYSTem Subsystem 97 TRIG g e r S u bsyste m 103 UNIT S u bsyste m 107

5 Performance Tests

Test 1. Absolute Wavelength Accuracy 3 Test 2. Sensitivi ty 4 Test 3. Polarization Dependence 5 Test 4. Optical Input Return Loss 6 Test 5. Amplitude Accuracy an d Linearity 9

6 Specifications and Regulatory Information

Definition of Terms 3 Specifications—NORMAL Update Mode 5 Specifications—FAST Update Mode 8 Operating Specifications 11 Laser Safety Information 12 Compliance with Canadian EMC Requirements 13 Declaration of Conformity 14 Product Overview 15

7 Reference

Instrument Preset Conditions 2

Contents-2

Menu Maps 4 Error Messages 11 Front-Panel Fiber-Optic Adapters 17 Power Cords 18 Agilent Technologies Service Offices 18

Contents

Contents-3

Step 1. Inspect the Shipment 1- 4 Step 2. Connect the Line-Power Cable 1-5 Step 3. Connect a Printer 1-6 Step 4. Turn on the Agilent 86120C 1-7 Step 5. Enter Your Elevation 1-8 Step 6. Select Medium for Wavelength Values 1-9 Step 7. Turn Off Wavelength Limiting 1-10 Returning the Instrument for Service 1- 11

Getting Started

The instructions in this chapter show you how to install your Agilent 86120C. You should be able to finish these procedures in about ten to twenty minutes. After you’ve completed this chapter, continue with Chapter 2, “Making Measurements”.

Refer to Chapter 6, “Specifications and Regulatory Information” for information on operating conditions such as temperature.

If you should ever need to clean the cabinet, use a damp cloth only.

CAUTION This product has autoranging line voltage input. Be sure the supply voltage is

within the specified range.

CAUTION The front panel LINE switch disconnects the mains circuits from the mains

supply after the EMC filters and before other parts of the instrument.

CAUTION Install the instrument so that the LINE switch is readily identifiable and is easily

reached by the operator. The LINE switch or the detachable power cord is the instrument disconnecting device. It disconnects the mains circuits from the mains supply before other parts of the instrument. Alternately, an externally installed switch or circuit breaker (which is really identifiable and is easily reached by the operator) may be used as a disconnecting device.

CAUTION Install the instrument according to the enclosure protection provided. This

instrument does not protect against the ingress of water. This instrument protects against finger access to hazardous parts within the enclosure.

1-2

Getting Started

Measurement accuracy—it’s up to you!

Before you connect any fiber-optic cable to the Agilent 86120C, refer to “Cleaning

Connections for Accurate Measurements” on page 2-40.

1-3

Getting Started

Step 1. Inspect the Shipment

1 Verify that all system components ordered have arrived by comparing

the shipping forms to the original purchase order. Inspect all shipping containers.

If your shipment is da maged or i ncompl ete, save the packi ng mat erials and noti fy both the shippi ng carrier and the nearest Agilen t Technologies sales and se rvice office. Agilent Technologies will arrange for repair or replacement of damage d or incomplete shipments withou t waiting for a settle me nt f r o m the transportation company. Notify the Agilen t Technologies customer engine er of any problems.

2 Make sure that the serial number and options listed on the instrument’s

rear-panel label match the serial number and options listed on the shipping document. The following figure is an example of the rear-panel serial number label:

1-4

Getting Started

Step 2. Connect the Line-Power Cable

Step 2. Connect the Line- Power Cable

WA RNING This is a Safety Class I Product (provided with protective earth). The

mains plug shall only be inserted in a socket outlet provided with a protective earth contact. Any interruption of the protective conductor inside or outside of the instrument is likely to make the instrument dangerous. Intentional interruption is prohibited.

CAUTION Always use the three-prong AC power cord supplied with this instrument.

Failure to ensure adequate earth grounding by not using this cord may cause instrument damage.

CAUTION Do not connect ac power until you have verified the line voltage is correct as

described in the following paragraphs. Damage to the equipment could result.

CAUTION This instrument has autoranging line voltage input. Be sure the supply voltage

is within the specified range.

1 Verify that the line power meets the requirements shown in the

following table.

Line Power Requirements

Power: max. 70 W

Voltage: max: 110 / 115 / 230 / 240 V~

Frequency 50 / 60 Hz

2 Connect the line-power cord to the instrument’s rear-panel connector.

1-5

Getting Started

Step 3. Connect a Printer

3 Connect the other end of the line-power cord to the power receptacle.

Various power cables are available to connect the Agilent 86120C to ac power outlets unique to specific geographic areas. The cable appropriate for the area to which the Agilent 86120C is originally shipped is included with the unit. The cable shipped with the instrument also has a right-angle connector so that the Agilent 86120C can be used while sitting on its rear feet. You can order additional ac power cables for use in different geographic areas. Refer to “Power Cords” on

page 7-18.

Step 3. Connect a Printer

The Agilent 86120C can print hardcopies of measurement results on a printer. The output is ASCII text. If you don’t have a printer, continue with “Step 4. Turn on the Agilent 86120C” on page 1-7.

1 Using a standard parallel printer cable, connect the printer to the

Agilent 86120C’s rear-panel PARALLEL PRINTER PORT connector.

1-6

Getting Started

Step 4. Turn on the Agilent 86120C

1 Press the front- panel LINE key. After approximately 20 seconds, the

display should look similar to the figure below. The front- panel LINE switch disconnects the mains circuits from the

mains supply after the EMC filters and before other parts of the instrument.

2 If the Agilent 86120C fails to turn on properly, consider the following

possibilities:

• Is the line fuse good?

• Does the line socket have power?

• Is it plugged into the proper ac power source?

If the instrument still fails, return it to Agilent Technologies for repair.

Refer to “Returning the Instrument for Service” on page 1-11.

Instrument firmware version

When the instrument is first turned on, the display briefly shows the instrument’s firmware version number. In the unlikely event that you have a problem with the Agilent 86120C, you may need to indicate this number when communicating with Agilent Technologies.

1-7

Getting Started

Step 5. Enter Your Elevation

In order for your Agilent 86120C to accurately measure wavelengths and meet its published specifications, you must enter the elevation where you will be performing your measurements.

1 Press the Setup key. 2 Press the MORE softkey. 3 Press the CAL softkey. 4 Press ELEV. 5 Use the and softkeys to enter the elevation in meters. Entries

jump in 500 meter steps from 0 m to 5000 m.

The elevation value selected with the softkeys must be within 250 meters of the actual elevation.

6 Press RETURN to complete the entry.

Converting feet to meters

If you know your elevation in feet, you can convert this value to meters by using the following equation:

------------ -

3,281

1-8

Getting Started

Step 6. Select Medium for Wavelength Values

Because wavelength varies with the material that the light passes through, the Agilent 86120C offers wavelength measurements in two mediums: vacuum and standard air.

1 Press the Setup key. 2 Press the MORE softkey. 3 Press the CAL softkey. 4 Make the following selection:

• Press VACUUM for wavelength readings in a vacuum.

• Press STD AIR for wavelength readings in standard air.

5 Press RETURN to complete the entry.

Definition of standard air

Standard air is defined to have the following characteristics: Barometric pressure: 1013 mbar

Temperature: 15°C Relative humidity: 0%

1-9

Getting Started

Step 7. Turn Off Wavelength Limiting

The instrument’s Preset key sets the entire Agilent 86120C wavelength range of 1270–1650 nm. If a user-defined wavelength range limit was set using WL LIM, the following procedure will ensure that responses across the full wavelength are measured by returning the instrument to its preset state.

1 Press the Setup key. 2 Press the WL LIM softkey. 3 Press LIM OFF to remove the limits on wavelength range.

1-10

Getting Started

Returning the Instrument for Service

The instructions in this section show you how to properly return the instrument for repair or calibration. Always call the Agilent Technologies Instrument Support Center first to initiate service before returning your instrument to a service office. This ensures that the repair (or calibration) can be properly tracked and that your instrument will be returned to you as quickly as possible. Call this number regardless of where you are located. Refer to “Agilent Technologies Service Offices”

on page 7- 18 for a list of service offices.

Agilent Technologies Instrument Support Center

If the instrument is still under warranty or is covered by an Agilent Technologies maintenance contract, it will be repaired under the terms of the warranty or contract (the warranty is at the front of this manual). If the instrument is no longer under warranty or is not covered by an Agilent Technologies maintenance plan, Agilent Technologies will notify you of the cost of the repair after examining the unit.

When an instrument is returned to a Agilent Technologies service office for servicing, it must be adequately packaged and have a complete description of the failure symptoms attached. When describing the failure, please be as specific as possible about the nature of the problem. Include copies of additional failure information (such as the instrument failure settings, data related to instrument failure, and error messages) along with the instrument being returned.

+1 (877) 447 7278

1-11

Getting Started

Returning the Instrument for Service

Preparing the instrument for shipping

1 Write a complete description of the failure and attach it to the

instrument. Include any specific performance details related to the problem. The following information should be returned with the instrument.

• Type of service required.

• Date instrument was returned for repair.

• Description of the problem:

• Whether problem is constant or interm ittent.

• Whether instrument is temperature-sensitive.

• Whether instrument is vibrat ion-sensitive.

• Instrument settings required to reproduce the problem.

• Performance data.

• Company name and return address.

• Name and phone number of technical contact person.

• Model number of returned instrument.

• Full serial number of returned instrument.

• List of any accessories returned with instrument.

2 Cover all front or rear- panel connectors that were originally covered

when you first received the instrument.

CAUTION Cover electrical connectors to protect sensitive components from electrostatic

damage. Cover optical connectors to protect them from damage due to physical contact or dust.

CAUTION Instrument damage can result from using packaging materials other than the

original materials. Never use styrene pellets as packaging material. They do not adequately cushion the instrument or prevent it from shifting in the carton. They may also cause instrument damage by generating static electricity.

1-12

Getting Started

Returning the Instrument for Service

3 Pack the instrument in the original shipping containers. Original

materials are available through any Agilent Technologies office. Or, use the following guidelines:

• Wrap the instrument in antistatic plastic to reduce the possibility of damage caused by electrostatic discharge.

• For instruments weighing less than 54 kg (120 lb), use a doublewalled, corrugated cardboard carton of 159 kg (350 lb) test strength.

• The carton must be large enough to allow approximately 7 cm (3 inches) on all sides of the instrument for packing material, and strong enough to accommodate the weight of the instrument.

• Surround the equipment with approximately 7 cm (3 inches) of packing material, to protect the instrument and prevent it from moving in the carton. If packing foam is not available, the best alternative is S.D- 240 Air Cap™ from Sealed Air Corporation (Commerce, California 90001). Air Cap looks like a plastic sheet filled with air bubbles. Use the pink (antistatic) Air Cap™ to reduce static electricity. Wrapping the instrument several times in this material will protect the instrument and prevent it from moving in the carton.

4 Seal the carton with strong nylon adhesive tape. 5 Mark the carton “FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE”. 6 Retain copies of all shipping papers.

1-13

Getting Started

Returning the Instrument for Service

1-14

Getting Started

Returning the Instrument for Service

1-15

Measuring Wavelength and Power 2-3

Peak WL mode 2-4 List by WL or Power modes 2-6 Total power and average wavelength 2-7 Limiting the wavelength measurement range 2-8 Measuring broadband devices and chirped lasers 2-9 Graphical display of optical power spectrum 2-10 Instrument states 2-11 Power bar 2-11

Changing the Units and Measurement Rate 2-12

Displayed units 2-12 Measurement rate 2-13 Continuous or single measurements 2-14

Defining Laser-Line Peaks 2- 15 Measuring Laser Separation 2- 18

Channel separation 2-19 Measuring flatness 2-21

Measuring Laser Drift 2- 22 Measuring Signal- to- Noise Ratios 2- 25 Measuring Signal- to- Noise Ratios with Averaging 2- 29 Measuring Fabry- Perot (FP) Lasers 2- 31 Measuring Modulated Lasers 2- 34 Measuring Total Power Greater than 10 dBm 2- 36 Calibrating Measurements 2- 37 Printing Measurement Results 2-39 Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements 2- 40

Making Measurements

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to make a variety of fast, accurate measurements. As you perform these measurements, keep in mind the following points:

• 1270–1650 maximum input wavelength range

• +10 dBm maximum total displayed input power

• Laser linewidths assumed to be less than 5 GHz

• If you change the elevation where you will be using your Agilent 86120C, refer to “Calibrating Measurements” on page 2- 37.

• Press the green Preset key to return the Agilent 86120C to its default state.

CAUTION Do not exceed +18 dBm source power. The Agilent 86120C’s input circuitry can

be damaged when total input power exceeds 18 dBm. You can measure power levels that are greater by adding attenuation and entering a power offset as described in “To measure total power exceeding 10 dBm” on page 2-36.

2-2

+ 264 hidden pages