Agilent Technologies 8156A Operating instructions

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Agilent Technologies GmbH
Herrenberger Str. 130
71034 Böblingen
Germany
Notices
Copyright © 1994-2000 Agilent
Technologies Deutschland GmbH.
All rights reserved.
No part of this manual may be
reproduced in any form or by any
means (including electronic
storage and retrieval or translation
into a foreign language) without
prior agreement and written
consent from Agilent Technologies,
Inc. as governed by United States
and international copyright laws.
Warranty
The material contained in this
document is subject to change without
notice. Agilent Technologies makes
no warranty of any kind with regard to
this material, including, but not
limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose. Agilent
Technologies shall not be liable for
errors contained herein or for
incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the furnishing,
performance, or use of this material.
Edition/Print Date
All Editions and Updates of this
manual and their creation dates are
listed below.
08156-91011: E0500
Second Edition ………… May 2000
First Edition W0194, E0694, E0696,
E1098
Assistance
Product maintenance agreements
and other customer assistance
agreements are available for
Agilent Technologies products.
For any assistance, contact your
nearest Agilent Technologies Sales
and Service Office (see “Service
and Support” on page 9).
ISO 9001 Certification
Produced to ISO 9001 international
quality system standard as part of
Agilent Technologies’objective of
continually increasing customer
satisfaction through improved
process control.
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The following general safety precautions must be observed during
all phases of operation of this instrument. Failure to comply with
these precautions or with specific warnings elsewhere in this
manual violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and
intended use of the instrument. Agilent Technologies assumes no
liability for the customer’s failure to comply with these
requirements.
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This product is a Safety Class 1 instrument (provided with a
protective earth terminal). The protective features of this product
may be impaired if it is used in a manner not specified in the
operation instructions.
All Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) used in this product are Class 1
LEDs as per IEC 60825-1.
(19,5210(17$/&21',7,216
This instrument is intended for indoor use in an installation category
II, pollution degree 2 environment. It is designed to operate at a
maximum relative humidity of 95% and at altitudes of up to 2000
meters. Refer to the specifications tables for the ac mains voltage
requirements and ambient operating temperature range.
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Verify that the product is set to match the available line voltage, the
correct fuse is installed, and all safety precautions are taken. Note
the instrument’s external markings described under Safety Symbols.
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To minimize shock hazard, the instrument chassis and cover must
be connected to an electrical protective earth ground. The
instrument must be connected to the ac power mains through a
grounded power cable, with the ground wire firmly connected to an
electrical ground (safety ground) at the power outlet. Any
interruption of the protective (grounding) conductor or
disconnection of the protective earth terminal will cause a potential
shock hazard that could result in personal injury.
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Only fuses with the required rated current, voltage, and specified
type (normal blow, time delay, etc.) should be used. Do not use
repaired fuses or short-circuited fuse holders. To do so could cause
a shock or fire hazard.
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Do not operate the instrument in the presence of flammable gases or
fumes.
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Operating personnel must not remove instrument covers.
Component replacement and internal adjustments must be made
only by qualified service personnel.
Instruments that appear damaged or defective should be made
inoperative and secured against unintended operation until they can
be repaired by qualified service personnel.
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•Adjustments described in this manual are performed with power
supplied to the instrument while protective covers are removed.
Be aware that energy at many points, if contacted, result in
personal injury.
•Do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized
modification to the instrument.
•Be aware that capacitors inside the instrument may still be
charged even if the instrument has been connected from its
source of supply.
:$51,1* To avoid hazardous electrical shock, do not operate the instrument
if there are any signs of damage to any portion of the outer
enclosure (covers, panels, and so on).
:$51,1* To avoid the possibility of injury or death, you must observe the
following precautions before powering on the instrument.
–If this instrument is to be energized via an autotransformer for
voltage reduction, ensure that the Common terminal connects
to the earthed pole of the power source.
–Insert the power cable plug only into a socket outlet provided
with a protective earth contact. Do not negate this protective
action by the using an extension cord without a protective
conductor.
–Before switching on the instrument, the protective earth
terminal of the instrument must be connected to a protective
conductor. You can do this by using the power cord supplied
with the instrument.
–It is prohibited to interrupt the protective earth connection
intentionally.
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•The following work should be carried out by a qualified
electrician. All local electrical codes must be strictly observed:
If the plug on the cable does not fit the power outlet, or if the cable
is to be attached to a terminal block, cut the cable at the plug end
and rewire it.
The color coding used in the cable depends on the cable supplied. If
you are connecting a new plug, it should meet the local safety
requirements and include the following features:
•Adequate load-carrying capacity (see table of specifications).
•Ground connection.
•Cable clamp.
:$51,1* To avoid the possibility of injury or death, please note that the
Agilent 8156A does not have a floating earth.
:$51,1* The Agilent 8156A is not designed for outdoor use. To prevent
potential fire or shock hazard, do not expose the instrument to rain
or other excessive moisture.
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:$51,1* The WARNING sign denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a
procedure, practice, or the like, which, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in personal injury. Do not proceed beyond a
WARNING sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood
and met.
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&$87,21 The CAUTION sign denotes a hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, or the like, which, if not correctly performed
or adhered to, could result in damage to or destruction of part or all
of the product. Do not proceed beyond a CAUTION sign until the
indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
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This manual is divided into 4 parts:
•Chapter 1 tells you how to set up your Attenuator.
•Chapters 2 to 6 shows you what you can do with your Attenuator.
•Chapters 7 to 9 show you how you can remotely program your
Attenuator, using GPIB commands.
•The appendices contain additional information not required for
routine day-to-day use.
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Any adjustment, maintenance, or repair of this product must be
performed by qualified personnel. Contact your customer engineer
through your local Agilent Technologies Service Center. You can
find a list of local service representatives on the Web at:
http://www.agilent-tech.com/services/English/index.html
If you do not have access to the Internet, one of these centers can
direct you to your nearest representative:
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Table of Contents
1 Getting Started
1.1 Using the Attenuator ..............................................29
Using the Modify Keys ...................................................... 29
1.2 Making an Attenuation Sweep ..............................30
Making an Automatic Sweep ............................................ 30
1.3 The Manual Sweep .................................................31
1.4 Using your Attenuator as a Variable Back Reflector
32
1.5 Using the Through-Power Mode ..........................33
1.6 Selecting the Wavelength Calibration and Its Function
33
2 Using the Attenuator
2.1 Setting Up the Hardware ......................................37
2.2 Setting Up the Attenuation .....................................38
Entering the Attenuation Factor ........................................ 38
Entering a Calibration Factor ............................................ 39
Entering the Wavelength ................................................... 40
2.3 Example, Setting the Calibration ..........................42
3 Making an Attenuation Sweep
3.1 Configuring the Hardware ....................................47
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Table of Contents
3.2 The Automatic Sweep ............................................48
Setting Up an Automatic Sweep ........................................48
Executing the Automatic Sweep ........................................50
3.3 The Manual Sweep .................................................51
Setting Up a Manual Sweep ...............................................51
Executing the Manual Sweep .............................................53
3.4 Example, an Automatic Attenuation Sweep .........54
4 Using your Attenuator as a Variable Back Re-
flector
4.1 Configuring the Hardware ....................................59
4.2 Setting Up the Software .........................................60
Editing the Setup .................................................................60
Executing the Back Reflector Application .........................61
4.3 Example, Setting a Return Loss ............................62
5 Setting Up the System
5.1 Setting the GPIB Address .....................................67
Resetting the GPIB Address ...............................................67
5.2 Selecting the Wavelength Calibration and Its Function
67
Setting the Function of the Wavelength Calibration ..........68
Selecting the Wavelength Calibration Data .......................69
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Table of Contents
5.3 Selecting the Through-Power Mode .....................70
Deselecting the Through-Power Mode ............................... 71
Resetting the Through-Power Mode .................................. 71
5.4 Setting the Display Brightness ..............................71
Resetting the Display Brightness ....................................... 71
5.5 Selecting the Setting used at Power-On ...............72
Resetting the Power-On Setting ........................................ 72
5.6 Locking Out ENB/DIS .............................................72
Resetting the ENB/DIS Lock Out ....................................... 73
5.7 Selecting the Shutter State at Power On ..............73
Resetting the Shutter State at Power On ............................ 73
5.8 Setting the Display Resolution ..............................74
Resetting the Display Resolution ...................................... 74
6 Storing and Recalling Settings
6.1 Storing the Setting .................................................77
6.2 Recalling a Setting ..................................................77
Resetting the Instrument .................................................... 77
Recalling a User Setting .................................................... 77
7 Programming the Attenuator
7.1 GPIB Interface .......................................................81
7.2 Setting the GPIB Address .....................................83
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Table of Contents
7.3 Returning the Instrument to Local Control ........83
7.4 How the Attenuator Receives and Transmits Messages
83
How the Input Queue Works ..............................................83
The Output Queue ..............................................................84
The Error Queue .................................................................84
7.5 Some Notes about Programming and Syntax Diagram
Conventions ..................................................................85
Short Form and Long Form ................................................85
Command and Query Syntax .............................................86
8 Remote Commands
8.1 Units ........................................................................89
8.2 Command Summary ..............................................89
8.3 The Common Commands .....................................93
Common Status Information ..............................................93
*CLS ...................................................................................95
*ESE ...................................................................................95
*ESR? ..................................................................................96
*IDN? .................................................................................97
*OPC ..................................................................................98
*OPT? ................................................................................98
*RCL ..................................................................................99
*RST ..................................................................................99
*SAV ..................................................................................100
*SRE ..................................................................................101
*STB? .................................................................................102
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Table of Contents
*TST? ................................................................................ 103
*WAI ................................................................................. 104
8.4 DISPlay Commands ................................................104
:DISPlay:BRIGhtness ........................................................ 104
:DISPlay:ENABle .............................................................. 105
8.5 INPut Commands ...................................................106
:INPut:ATTenuation .......................................................... 106
:INPut:LCMode ................................................................. 107
:INPut:OFFSet ................................................................... 107
:INPut:OFFSet:DISPlay .................................................... 108
:INPut:WAVelength .......................................................... 109
8.6 OUTPut Commands ...............................................110
:OUTPut:APMode ............................................................. 110
:OUTPut:POWer ............................................................... 112
:OUTPut:[:STATe] ............................................................ 113
:OUTPut:[:STATe]:APOWeron ........................................ 114
8.7 STATus Commands ...............................................114
:STATus:OPERation:CONDition? .................................... 116
:STATus:OPERation:ENABle .......................................... 117
:STATus:OPERation[:EVENt]? ........................................ 117
:STATus:OPERation:NTRansition ................................... 118
:STATus:OPERation:PTRansition .................................... 118
:STATus:QUEStionable:CONDition? ............................... 119
:STATus:QUEStionable:ENABle ..................................... 119
:STATus:QUEStionable[:EVENt]? ................................... 120
:STATus:QUEStionable:NTRansition .............................. 120
:STATus:QUEStionable:PTRansition ............................... 121
:STATus:PRESet ............................................................... 122
8.8 SYSTem Commands ...............................................122
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Table of Contents
:SYSTem:ERRor? ..............................................................122
8.9 User Calibration Commands .................................123
Entering the User Calibration Data ....................................123
9 Programming Examples
9.1 Example 1 - Checking Communication ................131
9.2 Example 2 - Status Registers and Queues ............132
9.3 Example 3 - Measuring and Including the Insertion
Loss .................................................................................135
9.4 Example 4 - Running an Attenuation Sweep ........139
A Installation
A.1 Safety Considerations ...........................................143
A.2 Initial Inspection ...................................................143
A.3 AC Line Power Supply Requirements ................144
Line Power Cable ...............................................................144
Replacing the Battery .........................................................146
Replacing the Fuse .............................................................146
A.4 Operating and Storage Environment ...................148
Temperature ........................................................................148
Humidity ............................................................................148
Instrument Positioning and Cooling ...................................148
A.5 Switching on the Attenuator .................................149
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Table of Contents
A.6 Monitor Output ......................................................149
A.7 Optical Output ......................................................150
Disabling the Optical Output ............................................. 150
A.8 GPIB Interface ......................................................150
Connector ........................................................................... 151
GPIB Logic Levels ............................................................ 152
A.9 Claims and Repackaging .......................................152
Return Shipments to Agilent Technologies ........................ 152
B Accessories
B.1 Instrument and Options .......................................157
B.2 GPIB Cables and Adapters ..................................157
B.3 Connector Interfaces and Other Accessories ......158
Straight Contact Connector ................................................ 158
Option 201, Angled Contact Connector ............................. 160
C Specifications
C.1 Definition of Terms ...............................................165
C.2 Specifications ..........................................................167
Supplementary Performance Characteristics ...................... 169
C.3 Other Specifications ...............................................171
C.4 Declaration of Conformity ....................................172
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Table of Contents
D Performance Tests
D.1 Equipment Required .............................................175
D.2 Test Record .............................................................177
D.3 Test Failure .............................................................177
D.4 Instrument Specification .......................................177
D.5 Performance Test ...................................................178
I. Total Insertion Loss Test .................................................179
II. Linearity/Attenuation Accuracy Test .............................182
III. Attenuation Repeatability Test ......................................184
IV. Return Loss Test ...........................................................185
D.6 V. Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL): Optional 191
Polarization Dependant Loss Test (Mueller method) .........192
E Cleaning Information
Cleaning Instructions for this Instrument ............................248
E.1 Safety Precautions ..................................................249
E.2 Why is it important to clean optical devices ? .....249
E.3 What do I need for proper cleaning? ...................250
Standard Cleaning Equipment .............................................250
Additional Cleaning Equipment ..........................................253
E.4 Preserving Connectors ...........................................256
Making Connections ...........................................................256
Dust Caps and Shutter Caps ................................................256
Immersion Oil and Other Index Matching Compounds ......256
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Table of Contents
E.5 Cleaning Instrument Housings .............................257
E.6 Which Cleaning Procedure should I use ? ...........257
Light dirt ............................................................................. 257
Heavy dirt ........................................................................... 257
E.7 How to clean connectors ........................................258
Preferred Procedure ............................................................ 258
Procedure for Stubborn Dirt ............................................... 258
An Alternative Procedure ................................................... 259
E.8 How to clean connector adapters ..........................259
Preferred Procedure ............................................................ 259
Procedure for Stubborn Dirt ............................................... 260
E.9 How to clean connector interfaces ........................260
Preferred Procedure ............................................................ 260
Procedure for Stubborn Dirt ............................................... 261
E.10 How to clean bare fiber adapters ........................261
Preferred Procedure ............................................................ 261
Procedure for Stubborn Dirt ............................................... 262
E.11 How to clean lenses ...............................................262
Preferred Procedure ............................................................ 262
Procedure for Stubborn Dirt ............................................... 263
E.12 How to clean instruments with a fixed connector inter-
face ..................................................................................263
E.13 How to clean instruments with an optical glass plate
264
E.14 How to clean instruments with a physical contact in-
terface .............................................................................264
Preferred Procedure ............................................................ 265
Procedure for Stubborn Dirt ............................................... 265
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