86060C Compact Lightwave Switch
86061C Mid-size Lightwave Switch
86062C Full-Size Lightwave Switch
Agilent 8606xC Series
Lightwave Switches
Product Overview
2
• Temperature stabilized performance with low insertion loss
• Easy-to-use manual interface with visual signal path display
• Repeatable switching with 10 million cycle minimum life
• SCPI-compatible remote commands via GPIB and RS-232
• Multilayer switches and other custom configurations available
The Agilent 8606xC series of
programmable lightwave switches cover a broad range of
switching capacity and provide
easy signal routing for accurate
and repeatable measurement
automation. These switches
provide an important building
block for implementing automated test systems in manufacturing. They are designed
to be versatile and can be
easily configured with several
different options for automated test environments.
The 8606xC switch family features an easy-to-use manual
interface and a visual signal
routing display. The interface
allows quick manual operation
for initially setting up a measurement or for quick investigation
of test device performance.
Selected switch positions can
be saved and recalled. The
switches can be easily integrated into automated test
systems using SCPI-compatible commands via GPIB or
RS-232 interfaces.
Agilent 86060C
Features and Benefits
The new “C” series of lightwave
switches are now temperature
stabilized and thus, offer
excellent repeatability and
insertion loss stability. They
are designed for long reliable
service with low insertion loss
and low back reflections, for
accurate lightwave measurements in automated test setups
where the switch is an integral part of the measurement.
The 86060C is a compact
switch available with four to
eight output channels and one
or two inputs. The switch is
designed for easy configuration
with Agilent optical attenuators,
lightwave multimeters, OTDRs,
and other lightwave test
instrumentation for either
benchtop or automated system
applications.
New to the “C” series switch
family is the 86061C—a midsize switch in a half-width
chassis, available with one or
two input channels. It can
accomodate from four to twelve
output channels on the front
panel and up to eighteen outputs on the rear panel.
The 86062C is a full-width
instrument with 20 to 100 output channels. It is designed
for automated production and
evaluation testing of large
numbers of devices.
The 8606xC Series Lightwave
Switches are designed for
9/125 µm single-mode, as well
as 62.5/125 and 50/125 µm
multi-mode operation. Switching is bi-directional. The 1xN
switching module is built
around a precision stepper
motor.
Standard configurations include
fiber “pigtails” or FC, SC, or ST
connectors. Other connector
types including Diamond or
angled physical contact are
available on request. (Unlike
most Agilent products, these
connector types are not interchangeable.)
Lightwave Switching
for Test Automation
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
Increments to next
higher or lower position
Numeric Key-
Enter new values
Enter - Completes
a numeric entry
Visual signal path display for
viewing switch's position
Switch Port - Selects and highlights the
active switch port for changing connections
A2-
A1-
-B8
-B6
-B1
PORT B ACTIVE
OFF
SYSTEM
LOCAL HELP 7 8 9
4 5 6
1 2 3SAVE
RECALL
SWITCH
PORT
0 ENTER
ENTRY
SWITCH FRONT PANEL
Figure 1. Agilent’s manual interface and visual signal routing display (top diagram)
.
3
Switching Operation
The basic 1xN switching design
of the 8606xC is shown in
Figure 2. It consists of a single
input channel that is routed
through a movable arm. The arm
is controlled by the stepper
motor to align the input to any
output position1. Very low
insertion loss and excellent
repeatability are achieved
using high quality optics and
precise motor control.
A two input switch diagram is
shown in Figure 3. In this configuration, the two input arms
move together to connect
either input channel to an
output channel. The standard
8606xC design is called “nonblocking” since the unselected
input channel is not blocked
to the output. In this example,
connecting A1 to B1 may also
connect A2 to B2. “Blocking”
type switches that only allow
one of the input channels to be
connected to the output can
also be configured in the 8606xC
family. These are available as
special options at this time.
For additional information about
blocking switches, please refer
to the custom switching configuration section of this document or contact your local
Agilent field office.
Contiguous Switching Option
A variation on the two input
switch as in Figure 3, this option
allows both inputs to be connected to corresponding adjacent output channels. This is
true both mechanically and
programmatically. For example,
when selecting Input A1 to
Output B1 you will get an A1
to B1 port connection. In the
case of the contiguous option,
you will also get an A2 to B2
adjacent connection, even though
these connections were not
selected.
The standard version does not
guarantee that the non-selected
input channel will be adjacent
to the selected output channel.
Figure 4 demonstrates one
application for this option in
which multiple devices under
test have their inputs connected to the odd output channels
and their outputs connected
to the adjacent even output
channels. This enables multiple
products to be connected and
tested in parallel, which can
dramatically reduce test times.
1
The terms “input” and “output” denote
one side of the switch versus the other.
They do not imply that transmission can
only occur in one direction. The 8606xC
series switches are all bi-directional (i.e.,
signals can transmit in either direction).
Input
Channel
Output
Channels
Rotatable
Input Armature
A
B
B
B
B
B
N
4
3
2
1
.
.
.
1
Input
Channels
Output
Channels
Rotatable
Input Armature
A
B
B
B
B
B
N
4
3
2
1
.
.
.
1
A
2
Input
Channels
Output
Channels
Rotatable
Input Armature
A
B
B
B
B
B
N
4
3
2
1
.
.
.
1
A
2
DUT
DUT
Figure 2. 1xN switching configuration
Figure 3. 2xN non-blocking configuration
Figure 4. Contiguous switching option
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