Lambda Scan Applications

The Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver

The Prepare Multi Frame Lambda Scan Function

The Prepare Multi Frame Lambda Scan (hp816x_prepareMfLambdaScan) 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-loadable Tunable Laser module and up to 100 Power Meter Channels located in different Mainframes are installed. The function performs a wavelength sweep where the Tunable Laser module and Power Sensors are co-ordinated with each other.

The Prepare Multi Frame Lambda Scan (hp816x_prepareMfLambdaScan) function must be called before a Multi Frame Lambda Scan is executed. Use the return values of this function (Number of Datapoints and Number of Power Arrays) to allocate arrays for the 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 function (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 choose a Stop Wavelength 90 pm less than the maximum possible wavelength.

Triggers coordinate the Tunable Laser module with all Power Meters. The function sets for the lowest possible averaging time available for the installed Power Meters and, then, sets the highest possible sweep speed for the selected Tunable Laser module sweep. All mainframes must be 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 mainframe that the Tunable Laser module is installed in.

If one of the following circumstances 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 1550nm" will be returned. For example, the HP 81530A Power Sensor and the HP 81520A Optical Head are out of specification at 1550 nm. Remove the Power Meter that is out of specification at 1550 nm from the mainframe.

Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition

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Agilent Technologies 8166A, B, 8163A, 8164A manual Prepare Multi Frame Lambda Scan Function, 241
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8163A, 8164A, 8166A, B specifications

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