Next-generation optical power meter modules series release

Yokogawa Test & Measurement Corporation has launched the AQ23211A and AQ23212A optical power meter modules (OPMs), additions to the AQ2300 Series, a multi-application test system for manufacturers of semiconductor devices and optical components such as optical fibres.

Available in both 1-channel and 2-channel variations, these modules inherit the functionality and high reliability of the predecessor AQ2200 Series while providing new features such as a synchronous connection function between the OPMs and source measure unit (SMU), faster communication speeds within the frame, and faster file transfer speeds outside the frame. The series provides substantial space and time savings for customers by delivering a converged, single-chassis photonics-electronics measuring solution.

The development of the OPMs was driven by the necessity for faster and more accurate optical measurements in photonics and electronics. The company aimed to develop a solution that satisfies the increasing demand for high-speed data acquisition and large-volume data transfer in optical power measurements.

The OPMs feature a 20µs average time – substantially improving from the previous 100µs. This improvement allows faster and more accurate data collection that improves measurement efficiency. Also, the transfer time for files containing up to 100,001 data points is now less than one second, enabling high-speed, large-volume data transfer. The maximum number of data points for optical power logging measurements has grown from 20,001 to 1,000,001. These improvements make the OPMs highly efficient and precise, offering substantial time and cost savings.

Part of the development ambition was for the new OPMs to seamlessly integrate with the already released AQ23811A SMU inside the single-frame AQ2300 Series modular multi-application test system. The SMU offers high-quality pulse waveform generation (50µs width), high interoperability, and the capability to perform simultaneous voltage and current measurements. Users can easily synchronise the SMU and OPMs within the frame without any wiring requirements, delivering a convenient and space-saving photonics-electronics convergence measurement solution that flexibly fulfils various application requirements.

According to the company's research, the series modular multi-application test system hosting both the SMU and new AQ23211A/AQ23212A OPMs in a single chassis is the first such solution available on the market. The frame features a digital I/O interface that can link to external devices, allowing the AQ2300 to receive measurement start signals and transmit measurement end signals. This feature improves the system's flexibility and adaptability, making it suited to small and medium-sized measurement systems.