HP 83480A User Manual

Lightwave Connector Care
CAUTION
Improper connector care, cleaning, or use of mismatched cable connectors
can invalidate the published specications and damage connectors. Clean all
cables before applying to any connector. Repair of damaged connectors due to
improper use is not covered under warranty.
Introduction Lightwave cable interfaces can be damaged by improper cleaning and
connection procedures. Dirty or damaged lightwave interfaces can result in
nonrepeatable
or
inaccurate
measurements
.
This
chapter
will suggest
some
best
practices
to
clean,
care
for
,
connect, and
inspect lightwave
connectors.
Lightwave
connectors
are
used
to
connect
two
ber
ends
together
.
These
connections
may
be
used
to
join
cables
between
optical
ports
on
devices
,
laser
sources
,
receivers
,
patch
panels
,
terminals
and
many
other
types
of
systems
or
components
.
Fiber
optic
cables
are
used
at
dierent
wavelengths
,
in
single
or
multimode
,
and
in
dierent environments
.
There
are
a
variety
of
sizes
,
core/cladding
combinations
,
jackets,
and
indexes
of
refraction.
In
general,
dierent
types
of
cables
do not
work
well
together
.
Cables
should
match
each
other
and
the
system.
However
,
regardless
of
the
cable
type
,
the
connectors
have only
one function:
to
provide
a
direct
and
low-loss
optical
signal
transition from
one ber
end
to
another
.
When
these
connectors
are
used
in a
measurement system,
repeatability becomes an important factor.
Lightwave connectors dier from electrical or microwave system
connectors. In a ber optic system, light is transmitted through an extremely
small ber core. Because ber cores are often 62.5 microns (0.0625 mm) or
less in diameter, and dust particles range from tenths of a micron to several
microns
in
diameter,
dust
and
very
minute
contamination
on
the
end
of
the
ber
core
can degrade
the
performance
of
the
connector
interface
(where
the
two cores meet). Therefore
, the connector must be precisely aligned and the
connector interface free of trapped foreign material.
Connector (or insertion) loss is one important performance characteristic
of a lightwave connector
. Typical values are less than 1 dB of loss
,and
sometimes as little as 0.1 dB of loss with high performance connectors
.
xix

HP 83480A Specifications

General

Brand	HP
Model	83480A
Category	Measuring Instruments
Language	English