Knowledge Base

Changing out reference cables during the insertion loss and return loss testing process to accommodate new DUT types can cause downtime for a manufacturing line and drastically reduce the efficiency of the cable production process. With single channel DUTs and reference cables, the issue may seem inconsequential. However, in the modern fibre production line every minute counts; any method that...

In optical networks where action on a message or signal is time critical, latency becomes a critical design element. Latency in communications networks is comprised of the networking and processing of messages, as well as the transmission delay through the physical fibre. Measuring and optimising this optical transmission delay can be critical in diagnosing latency issues in a data centre...

Norpix StreamTouch  digital video recording software comes with an easy to use interface that is compatible with touch screens or applications requiring a simple and easy to use GUI. StreamTouch is ideal for factory floor, airborne, or in vehicle applications requiring a simple point and click GUI. Compatible with either touch screen or mouse use. Easy to use GUI. Ideal for...

Measuring the return loss along a fibre optic network, or within a photonic integrated circuit, is a common and very important technique when characterising a network’s or device’s ability to efficiently propagate optical signals. Reflectometry is a general method of measuring this return loss and consists of launching a probe signal into the device or network, measuring the reflected light...

Sensing in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) range (wavelengths from 0.9 to 1.7 microns) has been made practical by the development of Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) sensors. Sensors Unlimited, Inc., part of UTC Aerospace Systems, is the pioneer in this technology and clear leader in advancing the capability of SWIR sensors. Founded in 1991 to create lattice-matched InGaAs structures, Sensors Unlimited...

QPSI™ Technology Shrugs Off Vibration from Common Sources When image stabilization became available on digital cameras, it vastly reduced the number of photos ruined by camera shake. The new technology eliminated the effects of common hand tremors, greatly improving image quality in many photo situations. Animated comparison of a PSI measurement with fringe print-through due to vibration, and the same...

DynaPhase® Dynamic Acquisition for Extreme Environments Confidence in metrology, no matter the conditions Fizeau Interferometry has become a trusted standard for precise metrology of optical components and systems. Traditionally, these instruments were required to be installed in lab environments, where conditions were carefully controlled, to ensure high precision measurements were not compromised. However, today a growing number of applications demand...

FFT Spectrum Analysers, such as the SRS SR760, SR770, SR780 and SR785, take a time varying input signal, like you would see on an oscilloscope trace, and compute its frequency spectrum. Fourier's theorem states that any waveform in the time domain can be represented by the weighted sum of sines and cosines.The FFT spectrum analyser samples the input signal, computes...

The nano mechanical imaging (NMI) mode is an extension of the contact mode. The static force acting on the cantilever is used to produce a topography image of the sample. Simultaneously, at each pixel force curves are produced and used to extract quantitative material properties data such as adhesion, deformation, dissipation... Click here to read the complete article.   To...

Electronic products can emit unwanted electromagnetic radiation, or electromagnetic interference (EMI). Regulatory agencies create standards that define the allowable limits of EMI over specific frequency ranges. Testing designs and products for compliance to these standards can be difficult and expensive, but there are tools and techniques that can help to minimise the cost of testing and help to enable designs...