Solution Design
Typical Requirement
A customer typically requires an optical measurement laboratory (Lab), where it is possible to test and validate broadband/narrow band optical signals as well as to verify and validate optical components and systems . The customer typically requires the ability to test optical components and systems in a safe area away from production sites or to allow suppliers to demonstrate, validate and support their systems on simulated/live signals in a Lab environment. As far are as possible, all Lab equipment must be modular and rack mounted.
System Topology
The fiber optic test laboratory will typically consist of various types of conditioning- and analysis equipment that have been set up to allow configurable interconnection of the available equipment through an Optical Switch(OX). Analysis equipment which are typically provided are also shown in the schematic below.
User Experience
The lab will typically allow for two input/output simplex fibers to be conditioned, analyzed and distributed to third-party Devices Under Test. The optical switch will allow for programmatic configuration of signal distribution paths through the required subset of conditioning equipment, without the need for manual fiber reconnection. This means that the configuration is highly repeatable.
The lab analyst will have the capability to configure a signal path per fiber through the variety of signal conditioning equipment to achieve a desirable signal. After appropriate signal conditioning has been achieved, the signal can be analyzed by routing it to the performance monitor, OMA or spectrum analyzer. Optical splitters will enable analysis of the signals while simultaneously distributing the same signal to a DUT. This will enable the lab analyst to use the software on the computer to analyze the results from the OMA and spectrum analyzer as well as to develop further analyses on the signal in MATLAB.