The recent ECOC 2024 exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, proclaimed the AQ6370E optical spectrum analyzer from Yokogawa Test&Measurement as the winner of its prestigious ‘Most Innovative Test Equipment’ Award. Announced live in the Product Focus Theatre, the ECOC (European Conference on Optical Communication) Awards highlight significant achievements in technology segments that include optical communications, fiber-based products and photonic integration circuits.
The judges noted that the AQ6370E provides a solution to the growing need for high-precision instruments that can measure and analyze the optical spectrum of components and light sources in large-capacity and high-speed optical communication networks. This advanced optical spectrum analyzer was purpose-designed to support the development of these next-generation optical devices and components. As well as telecommunications networks, the AQ6370E optical spectrum analyzer offers opportunities in photonics-electronics convergence (PEC) technology, and the improvement and diffusion of silicon photonics technologies.
Demand is rising rapidly for components that leverage multiplexing technologies to increase bandwidth. Evaluating the characteristics and quality of these devices and components requires high-precision test instruments that are fast, precise and easy to use. These demands formed the basis of the AQ6370E development process at Yokogawa Test&Measurement.
In the first instance, the AQ6370E’s wavelength range of 600-1700 nm can characterize a wide range of components, including lasers for optical communications, optical transceivers and optical amplifiers. This advanced optical spectrum analyzer is able to measure high-power sources that include optical amplifiers and pump lasers for Raman amplifiers, along with very weak optical signals. Users can select measurement sensitivity from seven categories according to test applications and measurement speed requirements.
Impressing the panel of judges at the ECOC Awards, the device incorporates a number of innovative functions and features that streamline development and production processes. For instance, a unique free-space input design allows users to test both DWDM-class single-mode and VCSEL-sourced multimode fibers in a single model. Another feature of note is the HCDR (High Close-in Dynamic Range) mode available on the AQ6370E-20 high-performance model[i], which makes the spectrum around the peak sharper and the side modes more clearly visible when analyzing a laser source with a single longitudinal mode. Furthermore, SMSR (Side-Mode Suppression Ratio) offers two sensitivity settings that can accelerate testing by measuring a laser’s SMSR up to twice as fast as conventional sensitivity mode.
The AQ6370E optical spectrum analyzer derived from a combination of customer feedback and the company’s more than 40 years’ experience in the optical market. Developers can leverage the benefits of the AQ6370E to advance their optical designs and help make digital communication more efficient and capable than ever before. Yokogawa Test&Measurement is delighted to win the ECOC ‘Most Innovative Test Equipment’ Award and knows continuous innovation will be essential to helping industry, academia and research institutions remain at the forefront of their activities.
For further information about the AQ6370E, please visit: https://tmi.yokogawa.com/solutions/products/optical-measuring-instruments/optical-spectrum-analyzer/aq6370e-telecom-optical-spectrum-analyzer-600-1700-nm/
Reference note
[1] Yokogawa Test&Measurement offers two models: the AQ6370E standard model with typical accuracy of 15pm; and the AQ6370E-20 high-performance model with a high wavelength accuracy of ±8pm between 1520 to 1580nm.