Waveform analysis

Agilent has introduced three new measurement solutions for testing next-generation storage and telecommunications components and systems.

They are claimed to be the first of their kind in the industry and are based on the 86100C digital communications analyser. They allow engineers to visualise and quantify the quality of their latest component system designs.

The measurement solutions are: integrated 16X fibre channel receiver; jitter analysis software; complex-modulation signal analysis software.

The 86105D 20 GHz optical/35 GHz electrical plug-in module is designed for precision waveform analysis of optical transceivers operating at 8 or 16X fibre channel and 10 Gb SONET/SDH/ethernet rates.

The integrated optical receiver has an unfiltered bandwidth exceeding 20 GHz and switchable compliant reference receivers.

The instrument allows complete waveform analysis from early R&D through volume manufacturing over multiple transceiver technologies.

When it is coupled with the updated 83496B clock recovery module, the module is said to be the first complete waveform analysis for the 16X fibre channel standard.

The wide-bandwidth and broad-wavelength capability of the 86100C/86105D system allows engineers to test next-generation 16X fibre channel designs as well as today’s mainstream transceivers used in short-distance data communications, storage and long-distance telecommunication applications.

The 86100C option 401 software enables engineers to analyse jitter on random and long data patterns, including PRBS 31.

The software uses an external PC to extract waveforms from the 86100C DCA and allows engineers to separate jitter into random and deterministic components and estimate total jitter and eye contours to low probabilities.

Software for the 86100C DCA provides signal analysis capability for optical communications technologies.

Firmware revision 8.1 allows the analyser to convert receiver outputs to I-Q diagrams, making it easier for engineers to visualise a receiver’s ability to detect complex modulation signals.

The revision also allows engineers to measure the J2 and J9 parameters.