Lambda Scan Applications The Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver
Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition 241
The Prepare Multi Fram e Lambda Scan Function
The Prepare Multi Frame Lambda Scan (hp816x_p repareMfLambdaScan)
function prepares a Lambda Scan operation for multiple Mainframes.
That is, it prepares an operation where a Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave
Measurement System with a back-loadab le Tunable Laser module and up
to 100 Power Meter Channels locate d in different Mainframes are
installed. The function performs a wa velength sweep where the Tunable
Laser module and Power Sensors are co-ordinated with eac h other.
The Prepare Multi Frame Lambda Scan (hp816x_p repareMfLambdaScan)
function must be called before a Multi Frame Lambd a Scan is executed.
Use the return values of this function (Numb er of Datapoints and Number
of Power Arrays) to allocate arrays for th e Execute Multi Frame Lambda
Scan (hp816x_executeMfLambdaScan) function.
The function scans all mainframes to find back-loadable Tunable Laser
Sources. The function scans each mainframe in the order that they were
originally registered by the Register Mainframe func tion
(hp816x_registerMainframe). The first back-loadable Tunable Laser
Source found will perform the sweep operation.
To obtain a higher precision, the Tunable Laser Source is set 1 nm before
the Start Wavelength, this means, you have to choose a Start Wavelength
1 nm greater than the minimum possible wavelength. Also, the wavelength
sweep is actually started 90 pm before the Start Wavelength and ends 90
pm after the Stop Wavelength, this means, you have to choos e a Stop
Wavelength 90 pm less than the maximu m possible wavelength.
Triggers coordinate the Tunable Laser module with all Power Meters. The
function sets for the lowest possible avera ging time available for the
installed Power Meters and, then, sets the highest possible sweep speed
for the selected Tunable Las er module sweep. A ll mainframes must b e
connected to the GPIB bus and have their Input Trigger Connector
connected to the Output Trigger Connector of the Agilent 8164A/B
Lightwave Measurement System mainfram e that the Tunable Laser
module is installed in.
If one of the following circumstance s occurs, the "parameter mismatch"
error will be returned:
1If one Power Meter is out of the specification at 1550 nm , the error
"powermeter wavelength does not span 15 50nm" will be returned. For
example, the HP 81530A Power Sensor and the HP 81520A Optical Head
are out of s pecifica tion at 1 550 nm. R emove th e Power Meter tha t is out
of specification at 1550 nm from the mainframe.