Optical amplifier adds flexibility to optical test

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Mar 21, 2002

New from Teradyne's Assembly Test Division (ATD) is the GRPX1040 CompactPCI C-band optical amplifier, the latest addition to its GR VersaOT optical communications test product portfolio.

New from Teradyne's Assembly Test Division (ATD) is the GRPX1040 CompactPCI C-band optical amplifier, the latest addition to its GR VersaOT optical communications test product portfolio.

Teradyne's GRPX1040 C-band optical amplifier is a flexible, low-cost instrument with a small form factor for use in production test and field monitoring applications.

Manufacturers of optical metro area network equipment can use it to reduce test costs by amplifying a single optical transmitter and then splitting it through a 1 x 4, or 1 x 8 splitter for parallel testing of multiple ports.

This enables multiple optical receiver interfaces to be tested simultaneously with only one Sonet/SDH transmitter.

Its compact size, versatility and extraordinarily low noise figure also make the GRPX1040 ideal for field monitoring applications.

"The GRPX1040 optical amplifier is an extremely versatile test instrument that expands the overall flexibility of our GR VersaOT platform, and overall presence in the area of optical communications test", said Jim Ficaro, manager of the electronic manufacturing test business unit.

"It offers equipment manufacturers and optical network operators a low-cost, modular instrument that can be used to create cost-effective test systems for both production and installation/maintenance optical test applications".

The GRPX1040 is a 6U CompactPCI, single-port optical amplifier designed for operation in the C-band.

It can be integrated into any CompactPCI chassis.

In manufacturing, the GRPX1040 can function as a booster amp to increase the transmitted signal power from a Sonet/SDH instrument or laser source, and is capable of testing multiple units in parallel.

This enables optical communications manufacturers to accelerate production throughput and lower costs.

Because of its exceptionally low noise figure (typically less than 3.3dB), the GRPX1040 can function as a preamplifier in field monitoring applications, strengthening a weak signal before it enters a receiver.

The GRPX1040 has a list price of $15,500 with 8 week ARO and can be ordered individually or as an option of the VersaOT manufacturing test platform.