The ongoing bidding war for Coherent between Lumentum, II-VI, and MKS Instruments continues to develop.
There are many challenges to overcome to provide quick and efficient characterisation of photonic integrated circuits, finds Andy Extance
The new PXI optical test modules from Coherent Solutions and National Instruments (NI) include optical switches, optical-electrical converters, and variable optical attenuators, with more modules promised for release throughout the year.
Coherent Solutions has introduced five new modules for its MTP modular optical test platform for manufacturing and research and development environments. The company has also developed a smaller version of the test platform.
The new MTP modules add more functionality to the optical engineer’s toolbox while improving testing efficiency and reducing workspace clutter. They include:
The o2e from Coherent Solutions is a DC-coupled amplified optical-to-electrical converter that brings optical signal measurement capability to real-time oscilloscopes. With 25GHz of analogue electrical bandwidth, it provides an optical front-end for testing high-speed multilevel intensity-modulated optical signals.
Coherent Solutions has added a new functional module to its MTP1000 modular test platform. The PolBlade is the new polarisation controller module that adds automatic polarisation control functionality to the test automation platform. Its addition allows users to achieve remote operation and automation of polarisation dependent testing from one MTP1000 mainframe.
The user can adjust three voltage settings of the PolBlade to control the polarisation, or it can be put into scrambling mode, which gives fast and even coverage of all states of polarisation.
Modern high bit rate optical communication channels now use polarization, amplitude and phase of the optical carrier to encode digital information. The future of optical communication requires Optical Arbitrary Waveform Generation (O-AWG). The ability to produce any kind of optical waveform, through the use of an optical modulator and an electrical AWG requires better accuracy and reliability than ever before. O-AWG’s require full control of an optical modulator, including the ability to bias at any arbitrary point on the modulator's electrical-to-optical transfer functions. The needs of the research and development community are ever changing and a truly arbitrary O-AWG will be as necessary to the optical R&D engineer as is the electrical AWG is for the RF engineer.
Coherent Solutions of Auckland, New Zealand, has launched the IQABC, a pattern independent automatic bias controller for IQ modulators used by engineers developing the next-generation of high-speed coherent optical systems.
The IQABC enables full control of an IQ-modulator’s DC biases, in automatic or manual mode, and is modulation format independent, paving the way towards simple generation of any conceivable optical signal.
Coherent Solutions of Auckland, New Zealand, has chosen ECOC 2015 in Valencia, Spain to launch its 40GHz IQTransmitter, the IQTX-40.
The IQTX-40 is the first fully integrated laboratory optical transmitter with 40GHz of RF bandwidth, according to the company, providing R&D engineers with the instruments they need to generate coherent modulated signals using baud rate up to 56Gbaud.
The New Zealand- based company, Coherent Solutions, together with Teledyne LeCroy, has launched a portfolio of Optical Modulation Analysers (OMA) using Coherent Solutions' IQScope technology, coupled with Teledyne LeCroy's LabMaster 10 Zi real-time oscilloscopes.
The IQScope-RT Coherent Optical Receiver is now available with standard models operating with 42 GHz and 70 GHz electrical bandwidth, the highest bandwidth commercially available for a Coherent Optical Receiver. The device is controlled via the GUI of the LabMaster.
FormFactor's fast photonic wafer probers enable rapid tests through faster photonic alignment than previously possible. (Credit: FormFactor Inc)
To some, optical communication product buyers’ expectation that prices continually fall may seem a strange and unnecessary pressure on vendors.
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The submarine cable industry is still a very healthy one, with figures from Research and Markets predicting that it will reach $30.8bn by 2026.
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The drive toward 5G and beyond has been a key factor in the demand for higher bandwidth and more reliable networks. This has, in turn, brought about a greater appetite for intelligent infrastructure supported by automation.
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Arguably one of the biggest topics in optical communications in the past two years has been fifth-generation coherent optics, with a raft of trials and demonstrations, highlighting 800G wavelength achievements taking place.
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Fibre deployment is currently taking place at pace throughout the world. According to the latest study from research firm, Global Industry Analysts (GIA), the global FTTH/B market is predicted to reach S31.3bn by 2026.
Fibre networks have allowed 5G trials to take place across areas of South Africa such as Port Elizabeth (MD_Photography/Shutterstock.com)
Kithinji Muriungi of KamsHub presented at this year’s OFC, focusing on how fibre technology in Africa might look in 2030
Jay Tourigny takes a look at cleaning techniques and which are suited for different applications
