AQ6374 Wide Range Optical Spectrum Analyzer 350 – 1750 nm (DISCONTINUED)

Notice: This product was discontinued on Nov 20, 2023. See this replacement product:

Optical Spectrum Analyzer Function

The AQ6374 Wide Range Optical Spectrum Analyzer covers wavelengths from 350 to 1750 nm including visible lights (380 to 780 nm) and the telecommunication wavelengths.

Optical Spectrum Analyzer Working Principle

Spectrum analyzers measure signals' spectrum content using a vertical (amplitude) and horizontal sweep (frequency) of an oscilloscope.

World-Class Optical Performance

  • Wavelength range: 350 to 1750nm
  • High wavelength accuracy: ±0.05nm
  • High wavelength resolution: 0.05 to 10 nm
  • Wide dynamic range: 60dB (peak ±1.0nm)
  • Wide level range: +20 to -80dBm
  • Fast measurement: 0.5 sec. (100nm span)

Wavelength Resolution Settings:

There are 8 wavelength resolution settings: 0.05 to 10 nm
to enable the user to choose the best value according to the
device/system under test.

Measurable Level Range:

The wide measurable level range is from−80 to +20 dBm. This is suitable to measure high power as well as low power sources used in different fields of application.

Wavelength accuracy:

The ±0.05 nm wavelength accuracy can be maintained by the calibration using the built-in reference light source or an external light source including HeNe laser and Argon light source.

Fast measurement:

The instrument takes only 0.5 s for 100 nm span (with sensitivity set to NORM_AUTO).

Number of sampling: 100001

The number of wavelength samples has been doubled. One sweep can measure a wider wavelength range at high resolution.

Mouse and keyboard operation

More than 30 years of feedback from users have enabled intuitive and easy-to-use front panel operation. Mouse functionality provides ease of use for navigation and the keyboard helps to enter numbers and file names.

AQ6374 Mouse And Keyboard

Trace zooming

  • Change display conditions, such as center wavelength and span, by clicking and dragging the mouse.
  • Enlarge your area of interest instantly and move it at will.
  • No need for another measurement to modify the display conditions.

AQ6374 Trace Zooming

Trace calculation and analysis

Seven individual traces

  • Simultaneous multi-trace display
  • Calculation between traces (subtraction between traces)
  • Max/Min Hold function

USB ports

Four USB ports in total available on front and back facilitate the use of external devices such as a mouse, keyboard, external hard drives and memory sticks.

AQ6374 USB Port

Thumbnail file preview

The thumbnail allows an easy and fast route to find a particular file out of many files in internal and external storage.

All-at once trace filing

A time-saving feature which allows to save all seven traces in one file at once. Files are saved in CSV format and can be easily manipulated with a PC application software.

16 data analysis functions

  • WDM (OSNR) analysis
  • Optical Fiber Amplifier analysis
  • DFB-LD analysis
  • FP-LD (VCSEL) analysis
  • LED analysis
  • Spectral Width analysis
  • Notch Width analysis
  • SMSR analysis
  • PMD analysis
  • Optical Power analysis
  • Color analysis
  • Optical Filter analysis (PK, BTM, WDM-PK, WDM-BTM)
  • Go/No-Go Judgment

Purge feature

AQ6374 Purge Feature

Due to the high resolution and sensitivity of the AQ6374, it can actually detect the presence of water molecules in the air. The water vapor is detected in the upper Near-IR wavelength region and could overlap with or mask the spectral characteristics of the actual device under test in that particular region.

By continuously supplying a pure purge gas such as nitrogen to the monochromator through the ports on the back panel, the AQ6374 can reduce the influence of water vapor absorptions and provide more reliable and accurate measurements than ever before.

Built-in cut filter for high order diffracted light

Due to the diffractive technology used, the monochromator in some circumstances could generate high order diffracted light which appears at wavelengths equal to the integral multiple of input wavelengths.

The built-in calibration source

Ambient temperature change, vibrations and shock affect the measurement accuracy of high precision products like optical spectrum analyzers. We want our OSAs to be able to deliver always the precise measurements they were designed for, therefore our instruments are equipped with a light source for calibration.

Calibration process is fully automatic and takes only 2 minutes to complete. It includes:

  • The Optical Alignment function, which automatically aligns the optical path in the monochromator to assure the level accuracy.
  • The Wavelength Calibration function, which automatically calibrates the spectrum analyzer with the reference source to ensure the wavelength accuracy.

AQ6374 Calibration

Data logging function

Records analysis results such as WDM analysis (OSNR, optical signal/noise ratio), distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD) analysis, and multi-peak measurements at up to 10000 points per channel with time stamps. Recorded data can be displayed in table and graphical forms. This function is useful for the long-term stability testing and temperature cycle testing of systems and devices. The optical spectrum of each measurement can also be stored for reviewing and troubleshooting.

AQ6374 Data Logging Function

Advanced marker function

Adds markers to obtain the power spectral density and the integrated power of a designated spectrum. This new feature makes it easy to get an OSNR value of the signal, whether modulated or not, directly from its spectrum.

Building automated test systems

Any model of the AQ6370 Series, thanks to the built-in Macro Programming Function, can perform automatic measurements and control external equipment through its remote interfaces.

GP-IB, RS-232 and Ethernet ports are available to have the instrument remotely controlled by a PC and to transfer standard SCPI-compatible or proprietary AQ6317- compatible commands. Also LabVIEW® drivers are available.

The AQ6370 Viewer

AQ6374 AQViewer

Real-time remote control

The AQ6370 Viewer is a software package, which replicates The OSA's screen on a PC and enables:

  • Remote control and operation of the instrument
  • Display, analyze and transfer the data acquired by the instrument on your remote PC

The AQ6370 Viewer is appreciated especially by:

  • Production Managers, who can command the instrument and collect its measurement results from their office without physically going to the actual production line.
  • Service Engineers, who can help their customers or colleagues by setting the instrument in the proper way, tuning it on the device/system they want to test.

Smoothing function

Reduces the noise on the measured spectrum.

Active component test

Characterization of laser sources

How do you use a spectrum analyzer? Today various light sources such as DFB-LD, FP-LD and VCSEL emitting in the visible light to mid-infrared wavelength region are mounted into many different devices/systems used in different areas of application, such as:

  • Telecommunication: with glass fiber or plastic fiber
  • Industrial: Barcode scanners, LiDAR surface scanners
  • Consumer electronics: audio output of Hi-Fi audio systems, laser printers, computer mice

AQ6374 Characterization Of Laser

Example of DFB-LD analysis (AQ6370D)

Characterization of sources used in laser Absorption Spectroscopy

Laser Absorption Spectroscopy is a measurement technique used to detect and measure the concentration of gases in the air, and in open or closed environment. The lasers used in Absorption Spectroscopy require excellent single-mode operation performance, which directly determines the limits of detection. Furthermore such lasers should produce a stable oscillation in the absorption region in order to achieve sensitive detection of the gas of interest. Most of the greenhouse gases, for example CO2, SO2, NOx and CH4, have strong absorption lines in the 2-3 μm wavelength region.

The lasers used in Absorption Spectroscopy are DFB-LD and VCSEL. Important parameters for evaluating the performance of these lasers are the Side Mode Suppression Ratio (which is the amplitude difference between the main mode and the side mode), and the Spontaneous Emission level (which is the magnitude of background noise light). Both parameters can be accurately and quickly measured by the AQ6375B and AQ6376.

Characterization of Supercontinuum light sources

Supercontinuum light is generated by promoting highly nonlinear optical processes in special materials, e.g. photonic crystal fiber, by pumping them with a mode-locked pulsed laser (typically a femtosecond Ti: Sapphire laser). Supercontinuum light can be best described as ‘broad as a lamp, bright as a laser’, in fact it matches the characteristics of incandescent and fluorescent lamps—i.e. very broad spectrum—with the characteristics of lasers—i.e. high spatial coherence and very high brightness, which enables optimum coupling to a fiber and outstanding single-mode beam quality.

The Supercontinuum light sources are nowadays finding applications in a diverse range of fields, including optical coherence tomography, frequency metrology, fluorescence lifetime imaging, optical communications, gas sensing and many others.

The AQ6370 series, thanks to its premium performance, are the ideal instruments to test and characterize Supercontinuum light sources during their pre and post production quality checks.

AQ6374 Characterization Of Supercontinuum

Passive component test

Visible LED test

The optical spectrum of visible LEDs used in lighting, signage, sensing and other applications can be measured and analyzed. By supporting the large core fiber input, AQ6373B and AQ6374 can efficiently get the LED light and measure its spectrum.The built-in Color Analysis function automatically evaluates the dominant wavelength and the chromatic coordinates of the source.

AQ6374 Example Of Color Analysi

In conjunction with a broadband light source such as ASE, SLD, SC light source, the OSA can simply perform evaluation of passive devices such as WDM filters and FBG. Superb optical characteristics of the AQ6370 series enable higher resolution and wider dynamic range measurements. The built-in optical filter analysis function simultaneously reports peak/bottom wavelength, level, crosstalk, and ripple width.

AQ6374 Passive Component Test

Loss wavelength characterization of optical fibers

Loss values of optical fibers are different depending on wavelengths of propagating optical signals. These differences are caused by the absorption by optical fibers and the effect of Rayleigh scattering. The loss values vary by the materials and types of fibers: in the case of a quartz single mode fiber, a loss around 1.55 μm is about 0.2 dB/km, which is the smallest, and around 1.4 μm a large loss occurs due to water ions (OH). The loss wavelength characterization of this type of optical fibers requires measuring a wide range of wavelengths.

With the combination with a white light source, the AQ6374 efficiently characterizes the loss wavelength measuring a wide range of wavelengths. The loss value is displayed in terms of the loss per unit length of the optical fiber.

AQ6374 Wavelength Los Characterization

Characterization of Fiber Bragg Gratings

A Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) is a type of distributed Bragg reflector constructed in a short segment of optical fiber that reflects particular wavelengths of light and transmits all the others. This is achieved by creating a periodic variation in the refractive index of the fiber core, which generates a wavelength specific dielectric mirror. A Fiber Bragg Grating can therefore be used as an inline optical filter to block certain wavelengths, or as a wavelength-specific reflector. The primary application of Fiber Bragg Gratings is in optical communications systems: they are specifically used as notch filters and they are also used in optical multiplexers and demultiplexers with an optical circulator, or optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM). Fiber Bragg Gratings tuned on 2-3 μm region are also used as direct sensing elements for strain and temperature in instrumentation applications such as seismology and in pressure sensors for extremely harsh environments. To characterize FBGs, the high wavelength resolution and high dynamic range of the AQ6370 series are indispensable.

AQ6374 Fiber Bragg Grating

Gas detection and concentration measurements

Used together with a broadband light source like Super Continuum (SC) or Super Luminescent Diode (SLD), the AQ6370 series can show the absorption spectrum of the gas mixture under test.

AQ6374 Hydrogen Cyanide Absorbtion

Hydrogen Cyanide absorption spectrum measurement

Front View

AQ6374 Front Interface

  1. High Resolution Display:
    A large 10.4-inch SVGA LCD clearly displays detailed waveforms and numerical results. On-screen buttons facilitate the instrument setting by using the mouse.
  2. Optical interfaces
    The AQ6370D, AQ6374, AQ6375B and AQ6376 offer a universal type optical connector system for optical input and calibration output enabling direct coupling to popular styles of optical connectors. The connectors can be replaced by users.
  3. Rotary knob
    This multifunctional knob allows easy and quick adjustment of parameters and settings.
  4. USER button:
    Registering frequently used soft keys in the USER button allows execution of frequently used functions in a just a few steps.
  5. USB:
    USB ports to easily operate on the instrument using a mouse and a keyboard.
  6. Macro programming button:
    User can compile up to 64 programs (200 steps per program) to build-up automatic measurement systems.
    • No external PC is required.
    • Easy to create test program by recording the user’s actual key strokes and parameter selections.
    • Can control external equipment through the remote interfaces.

Rear View

AQ6374 Rear Interface 1

  1. Trigger IN/Trigger OUT
    Pulsed light measurement, Gate sampling
  2. Analog OUT
    Voltage output for a stability test w/oscilloscope
  3. Serial (RS-232), Video OUT (SVGA)
    Auxiliary interfaces
  4. GP-IB (IEEE 488.1/488.2)
  5. Ethernet
  6. USB (2X)
  7. Purge gas IN/OUT
LCA Reduced emission of CO2 about 26% compared to the previous model.

PDFResults of Life Cycle Assessment
Overview:

To accurately measure pulsed light using an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the OSA and select the appropriate measurement method and settings.

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