Agilent Technologies 8156A

Using the Attenuator

This chapter describes the use of the Agilent Technologies 8156A

as an attenuator. There is an example given at the end of this

chapter.

Contents

Main Agilent Technologies GmbH Herrenberger Str. 130 71034 Bblingen Germany Notices Warranty Edition /P rint Date Assistance 6DIHW\6XPPDU\ *(1(5$/ (19,5210(17$/&21',7,216 %()25($33/<,1*32:(5 Page 2WKHU6DIHW\,QIRUPDWLRQ :$51,1* :$51 , 1* :DUQLQJVDQG&DXWLRQV :$51 , 1* 6DIHW\6\PEROV Page 6HUYLFHDQG6XSSRUW Page 1 Getting S ta rted 2 Using the Attenuator 3 Making an Attenuation Sweep 4 Using your Attenuator as a Variable Back Re- flector 5 Setting Up the System 6 Storing and Recalling Settings 7 Programmin g the Attenuator 8 Remote Commands 8.4 DISPlay Commands ................................................104 8.5 INPut Commands ...................................................106 8.8 SYSTem Commands ...............................................122 8.6 OUTPut Commands ...............................................110 8.7 STATus Commands ...............................................114 9 Programming Examples A Installation B Accessories C Specifications D Performance Tests E Cleaning Information Page F Error messages Page Page Page List of Figures List of Tables Page Page Gett ing Start e d 1.1 Using the Attenuator Using the Modify Keys 1.2 Making an Attenuation Sweep Making an Automatic Sweep 1.3 The Manual Sweep 1.4 Using your Attenuator as a Variable Back Reflector 1.5 Using the Through-Power Mode 1.6 Selecting the Wavelength Calibration and Its Function Page Page Page 2.1 Setting Up the Hardware 2.2 Setting Up the Attenuation Entering the Attenuation Factor Entering a Calibration Factor Entering the Wavelength Page 2.3 Example, Setting the Calibration Page Page Page Page 3.1 Configuring the Hardware 3.2 The Automatic Sweep Setting Up an Automatic Sweep Starting the Setting Up Editing the Parameters Resetting the Parameters Executing the Automatic Sweep Repeating the Sweep Restarting the Sweep 3.3 The Manual Sweep Setting Up a Manual Sweep Starting the Setting Up Editing the Parameters Resetting the Parameters Executing the Manual Sweep Changing the Attenuation in a Manual Sweep 3.4 Example, an Automatic Attenuation Sweep Page Page Page Page 4.1 Configuring the Hardware 4.2 Setting Up the Software Editing the Setup Resetting the Parameters Executing the Back Reflector Application 4.3 Example, Setting a Return Loss Page Page Page Page 5.1 Setting the GPIB Address Resetting the GPIB Address 5.2 Selecting the Wavelength Calibration and Its Function Setting the Function of the Wavelength Calibration Resetting the Function of the Wavelength Calibration Data Selecting the Wavelength Calibration Data Resetting the Wavelength Calibration Data Set 5.3 Selecting the Through-Power Mode Deselecting the Through-Power Mode Resetting the Through-Power Mode 5.4 Setting the Display Brightness Resetting the Display Brightness 5.5 Selecting the Setting used at Power-On Resetting the Power-On Setting 5.6 Lo cking Ou t Resetting the 5.7 Selecting the Shutter State at Power On Resetting the Shutter State at Power On 5.8 Setting the Display Resolution Resetting the Display Resolution Page Page 6.1 Storing the Setting or the 6.2 Recalling a Setting Resetting the Instrument Recalling a User Setting Page Page Page 7.1 GPIB Interface Page 7.2 Setting the GPIB Address 7.3 Returning the Instrument to Local Control 7.4 How the Attenuator Receives and Transmits Messages How the Input Queue Works Clearing the Input Queue The Output Queue The Error Queue 7.5 Some Notes about Programming and Syntax Diagram Conventions Short Form and Long Form Command and Query Syntax Page Page 8.1 Units 8.2 Command Summary Page Page Page 8.3 The Common Commands Common Status Information SRQ, The Service Request *CLS *ESE *ESE? *ESR? *IDN? *OPC *OPC? *OPT? *RCL *RST *SAV *SRE *SRE? *STB? *TST? *WAI 8.4 DISPlay Commands :DISPlay:BRIGhtness :DISPlay:BRIGhtness? :DISPlay:ENABle :DISPlay:ENABle? 8.5 INPut Commands :INPut:ATTenuation :INPut:ATTenuation? :INPut:LCMode :INPut:LCMode? :INPut:OFFSet :INPut:OFFSet? :INPut:OFFSet:DISPlay :INPut:WAVelength :INPut:WAVelength? 8.6 OUTPut Commands :OUTPut:APMode :OUTPut:APMode? :OUTPut:POWer :OUTPut:POWer? :OUTPut:[:STATe] :OUTPut[:STATe]? :OUTPut:[:STATe]:APOWeron :OUTPut[:STATe]:APOWeron? 8.7 STATus Commands Page :STATus:OPERation:CONDition? :STATus:OPERation:ENABle :STATus:OPERation:ENABle? :STATus:OPERation[:EVENt]? :STATus:OPERation:NTRansition :STATus:OPERation:NTRansition? :STATus:OPERation:PTRansition :STATus:OPERation:PTRansition? :STATus:QUEStionable:CONDition? :STATus:QUEStionable:ENABle :STATus:QUEStionable:ENABle? :STATus:QUEStionable[:EVENt]? :STATus:QUEStionable:NTRansition :STATus:QUEStionable:NTRansition? :STATus:QUEStionable:PTRansition :STATus:QUEStionable:PTRansition? :STATus:PRESet 8.8 SYSTem Commands :SYSTem:ERRor? 8.9 User Calibration Commands Entering the User Calibration Data :UCALibration:STARt :UCALibration:STARt? :UCALibration:STATe :UCALibration:STATe? :UCALibration:STOP :UCALibration:VALue :UCALibration:VALue? Page Page Page 131 Exampl e 1 - Checking Communication 9.1 Example 1 - Checking Communication This program sends a queries, and displays the reply. 9.2 Example 2 - Status Registers and Queues 133 Example 2 - Status Registers and Queues 134 Example 2 - Status Registers and Queues 9.3 Example 3 - Measuring and Including the Insertion Loss Function Requirements Setting Up the Equipment Page 137 Exampl e 3 - Measuring and I ncluding the Insertion Loss Page 139 Example 4 - Running an Attenuation Sweep 9.4 Example 4 - Running an Attenuation Sweep Page Page Page A.1 Safety Consid erations A.2 Initia l Insp ec ti on A.3 AC Line Power Supply Requirements Line Power Cable Page Replacing the Battery Replacing the Fuse Page A.4 Operating and Storage Environment Temperature Humidity Instrument Positioning and Cooling A.5 Switching on the Attenuator A.6 Monitor Output A.7 Optical Output Disabling the Optical Output A.8 GPIB Interface Connector GPIB Logic Levels A.9 Claims and Repackaging Return Shipments to Agilent Technologies Page Page Page Page B.1 Instrument and Options B.2 GPIB Cables and Adapters B.3 Connector Interfaces and Other Accessories Straight Contact Connector Page Option 201, Angled Contact Connector Page Page Page Page C.1 Definition of Terms Page C.2 Specifications Page Supplementary Performance Characteristics Minimum Attenuatio n Step: Switching Ti me: Maximum Input Power : Operating Modes Att: General Envir onmental Power: Battery Ba ck-Up: Dimensions: C.3 Other Specifications C.4 Declaration of Conformity Page Page Page Page D.2 Test Record D.3 Test Failure D.4 Instrument Specification D.5 Performance Test I. Total Insertion Loss Test Page Page II. Linearity/Attenuation Accuracy Test Page III. Attenuation Repeatability Test IV. Return Loss Test Options 100, 101, and 121 Page Page Page Page Page D.6 V. Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL): Optional Polarization Dependant Loss Test (Mueller method) Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Mueller Coefficients: Page Mueller Coefficients: Page Page Cleaning In form ation Cleaning Instructions for this Instrument E.1 Safety Precautions E.2 Why is it important to clean optical devices ? E.3 What do I need for proper cleaning? Standard Cleaning Equipment Page Page Additional Cleaning Equipment Page Page E.4 Preserving Connectors Making Connections Dust Caps and Shutter Caps Immersion Oil and Other Index Matching Compounds E.5 Cleaning Instrument Housings E.6 Which Cleaning Procedure should I use ? Light dirt Heavy dirt E.7 How to clean connectors An Alternative Procedure E.8 How to clean connector adapters E.9 How to clean connector interfaces E.10 How to clean bare fiber adapters E.11 How to clean lenses E.12 How to clean instruments with a fixed connector interface E.13 How to clean instruments with an optical glass plate E.14 How to clean instruments with a physical contact interface E.15 How to clean instruments with a recessed lens interface Page E.16 How to clean optical devices which are sensitive to mechanical stress and pressure Alternative Procedure E.17 How to clean metal filters or attenuator gratings E.18 Additional Cleaning Information How to clean bare fiber ends How to clean large area lenses and mirrors Alternative Procedure A Alternative Procedure B E.19 Other Cleaning Hints Making the connection Lens cleaning papers Immersion oil and other index matching compounds Cleaning the housing and the mainframe Page Page F.1 Display Messages FAILnnnn F.2 GPIB Messages