JDSU mSWS-A2TX Four-Output Telemetry Transmitter Expansion Module

JDSU mSWS-A2TX Four-Output Telemetry Transmitter Expansion Module

The JDSU mSWS-A2TX is a four-output telemetry transmitter expansion module for the MAP-based mSWS-A2 Swept Wavelength System. It supports the distributed architecture used by the mSWS platform to coordinate source-side telemetry with compatible receiver and detector hardware at multiple optical measurement stations.

The mSWS-A2 is a modular system for characterizing optical components and modules as functions of wavelength. A complete configuration can measure insertion loss, polarization-dependent loss, and, with the required optional hardware, return loss and directivity. The mSWS-A2TX helps expand this architecture by providing four telemetry outputs for compatible distributed measurement-station configurations.

This module is intended for integration with other mSWS components rather than independent operation. Required system hardware can include a C+L-band tunable laser, source optics module, MAP-300 mainframe, mSWS-A2RX telemetry receivers, mSWS-A2DM detector modules, optical fibers, computer hardware, and compatible application software.

Features and Benefits of the JDSU mSWS-A2TX

The JDSU mSWS-A2TX provides practical expansion capability for laboratories and manufacturing facilities operating distributed swept-wavelength measurement systems.

• Four telemetry outputs: Provides four outputs for communication with compatible distributed mSWS measurement stations.
• Source-side expansion: Expands the telemetry capability associated with the compatible source optics configuration.
• Distributed test architecture: Supports the mSWS platform’s scalable arrangement of multiple individually controlled measurement stations.
• Parallel optical testing: Helps implement systems in which configured optical channels are measured in parallel during a wavelength sweep.
• MAP-based integration: Operates as part of the mSWS-A2 system built around compatible MAP-300 photonics test hardware.
• C- and L-band system support: Participates in complete mSWS configurations operating across wavelengths from 1520.086 nm to 1630 nm.
• High-port-count testing: Supports scalable systems for complex optical components with numerous input and output ports.
• Manufacturing scalability: Allows organizations to increase measurement-station capacity as production requirements grow.
• R&D flexibility: Supports configurable optical test arrangements for component development and qualification.
• System automation: Works within software-controlled measurement systems that can incorporate additional switches, sources, and optical modules.

Role Within the mSWS-A2 System

The mSWS-A2TX is identified as a four-output telemetry transmitter expansion module associated with the source optics portion of the mSWS-A2 platform. Its primary role is to expand the transmission of system telemetry to compatible receiver-equipped measurement stations.

Each distributed measurement station uses compatible receiver and detector hardware to acquire optical data during a wavelength sweep. The source and telemetry architecture coordinates these stations so that several optical paths can be characterized efficiently from a shared tunable-laser system.

The mSWS-A2TX does not independently generate the swept optical signal, detect optical power, or calculate insertion loss. These functions require the other supported elements of the complete mSWS architecture.

Four-Output Telemetry Expansion

The four-output configuration allows one mSWS-A2TX module to provide telemetry expansion for four compatible receiver paths. Additional system hardware and configuration are required to convert these telemetry paths into complete measurement stations.

The broader mSWS distributed architecture supports as many as eight separate, individually controlled measurement stations per source laser. The final number of available stations depends on the installed source optics, telemetry transmitters, telemetry receivers, detector modules, mainframes, system software, and optical connections.

This scalable arrangement allows an organization to begin with a smaller research or development system and add measurement stations as component complexity or manufacturing volume increases.

Parallel Swept-Wavelength Testing

The mSWS platform is designed to measure configured channels in parallel. Parallel measurement can reduce total characterization time for wavelength-selective switches, ROADMs, multiplexers, couplers, splitters, and other devices with numerous optical paths.

Rather than routing every path through one detector in a strictly sequential process, distributed receiver and detector stations can acquire several channels during the same tunable-laser sweep. The mSWS-A2TX supports this architecture by distributing the required source-side telemetry to compatible receiver stations.

Actual measurement time depends on the wavelength span, selected sweep speed, number of channels, software delay, network configuration, and complete system arrangement.

C- and L-Band Characterization

A complete mSWS-A2 system provides wavelength coverage from 1520.086 nm to 1630 nm. This range supports characterization across the C and L telecommunications bands.

The system provides an absolute wavelength accuracy of ±2 pm and user-selectable wavelength resolution of 3, 1.5, 0.75, or 0.4 pm. Supported source optics sweep rates are 10, 20, 40, and 100 nm/s.

These wavelength specifications apply to the complete supported mSWS-A2 system and not to the mSWS-A2TX transmitter module by itself. The transmitter participates in system coordination but does not independently establish wavelength range, accuracy, or resolution.

Insertion Loss and PDL Measurement Support

When the mSWS-A2TX is integrated into a complete compatible system, distributed measurement stations can participate in insertion-loss and polarization-dependent-loss measurements as functions of wavelength.

The documented insertion-loss range is 70 dB for a stand-alone measurement station and 60 dB for a distributed station under the applicable test conditions. Insertion-loss resolution is 0.001 dB.

The complete system can also measure polarization-dependent loss using four polarization states generated within the compatible source optics module. Mueller matrix analysis is used to calculate PDL across the scanned wavelength range.

These performance values depend on the source, source optics module, receiver, detector, optical fibers, connectors, software, temperature stability, sweep rate, calibration, and complete test configuration.

Optional Return-Loss Measurements

Return-loss measurement is available when the mSWS system includes the required ORL utility cassette and compatible mSWS-A2DM detector and mSWS-A2RX receiver modules.

The mSWS-A2TX can support telemetry distribution within such a complete system, but it does not independently provide return-loss measurement capability. The appropriate optical return-loss hardware must be installed and configured separately.

Optical Component Test Applications

The distributed architecture supported by the mSWS-A2TX is particularly useful for testing components with many wavelength-dependent optical paths. Compatible systems can evaluate insertion loss, PDL, passband position, bandwidth, crosstalk, and flatness.

Application software can calculate parameters relative to the measured spectral peak, an ITU wavelength grid, or a user-defined grid. Available analysis functions include loss at peak, center wavelength, loss at center wavelength, bandwidth at a selected threshold, left and right crosstalk, cumulative crosstalk, and flatness.

Typical Applications

The JDSU mSWS-A2TX Telemetry Transmitter Expansion Module supports complete mSWS systems used for applications such as:

• Colorless, directionless, contentionless ROADM testing
• Wavelength-selective switch characterization
• High-port-count optical device testing
• Wavelength blocker evaluation
• DWDM multiplexer and demultiplexer testing
• Tunable optical filter characterization
• Optical coupler and splitter testing
• Optical switch qualification
• Variable optical attenuator testing
• Interleaver spectral analysis
• Optical circuit-pack testing
• MEMS and waveguide device characterization

Product Overview

Brand	JDSU
Model	mSWS-A2TX
Product Category	Telemetry Transmitter Expansion Module
System Family	MAP-based mSWS-A2 Swept Wavelength System
Telemetry Outputs	Four
System Architecture	Distributed parallel optical test architecture
Compatible Measurement Station Receiver	mSWS-A2RX
Compatible Detector Module	mSWS-A2DM
System Wavelength Range	1520.086 nm to 1630 nm
Primary Application	Source-side telemetry expansion for distributed swept-wavelength measurement stations

 

System-Level Wavelength Specifications

Specification	Details
Wavelength Range	1520.086 nm to 1630 nm
Absolute Wavelength Accuracy	±2 pm
Selectable Wavelength Resolution	3, 1.5, 0.75, or 0.4 pm
Supported SOM Sweep Rates	10, 20, 40, and 100 nm/s
System Measurement Channels	Configured channels are measured in parallel

 

Documented System Sweep Periods

Sweep Rate	C-Band Period	C+L-Band Period
10 nm/s	8 seconds	15 seconds
20 nm/s	5.5 seconds	9 seconds
40 nm/s	4 seconds	6 seconds
100 nm/s	3 seconds	4 seconds

 

Compatible mSWS Core System Components

Component	Model or Part Number	Function
C+L-Band Tunable Laser	mSWS-A2SLS	Provides the swept-wavelength optical source
Dual-Output Source Optics Module	mSWS-A2SOM	Provides integrated source optics and polarization control
Telemetry Transmitter Expansion Module	mSWS-A2TX	Provides four source-side telemetry outputs
MAP-300 Eight-Slot Mainframe	MAP-380	Houses compatible MAP photonics modules
Quad Detector Module	mSWS-A2DM	Provides optical detection for measurement stations
Telemetry Receiver	mSWS-A2RX	Receives telemetry at a compatible measurement station
ORL Utility Cassette	mUTL-A1000 with MUTL-A150LR option	Adds supported optical return-loss capability
Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Jumper	mSWS-PMJ	Provides a compatible PM fiber connection for the mSWS system

 

System Configuration and Compatibility

The JDSU mSWS-A2TX is an expansion module and should not be considered a complete optical instrument. It requires compatible mSWS source, receiver, detector, mainframe, computer, networking, optical connection, and software components.

The module should be matched to the correct mSWS system generation. Compatibility should be confirmed for the tunable laser, source optics module, telemetry receivers, detector modules, MAP platform, firmware, application software, data-link libraries, and system calibration.

System-level wavelength, insertion-loss, PDL, return-loss, sweep-time, uncertainty, and resolution specifications apply only when the mSWS-A2TX is installed in a complete supported configuration.

The availability of four transmitter outputs does not by itself provide four complete stations. Each station requires the appropriate receiver, detector, optical fibers, hardware interfaces, and software configuration.

Connection and Operating Considerations

Telemetry outputs should only be connected to compatible mSWS receiver hardware using the specified system connections. Ports, cables, and optical interfaces should be identified before the module is installed or energized.

Fiber optic connectors used throughout the system should be inspected and cleaned before connection. Contaminated connectors can corrupt insertion-loss, PDL, return-loss, and spectral measurements.

Appropriate laser safety procedures must be followed when the mSWS-A2TX is used in a system containing an active tunable laser source. Unused optical ports should remain covered, and active fiber ends should never be viewed directly.

Comprehensive Functional and Performance Testing

The JDSU mSWS-A2TX receives comprehensive functional and performance testing before shipment. Testing may include module recognition, power-up, communication with compatible mSWS application software, detection of the transmitter expansion hardware, and operation of the available telemetry outputs.

When compatible mSWS-A2RX receivers are available, testing may include transmitter-to-receiver communication, station recognition, telemetry distribution, channel addressing, and coordinated operation during a swept-wavelength acquisition.

Testing within a complete system may also include operation with the tunable laser, source optics module, detector modules, MAP mainframe, application software, and representative optical paths.

The exact testing scope depends on the available source, receiver, detector, mainframe, firmware, software, cables, optical fibers, and reference components. System-level optical performance should be verified using a complete calibrated mSWS configuration.

Buyer Considerations

Buyers should confirm that the module is the four-output mSWS-A2TX telemetry transmitter expansion module and verify compatibility with the intended mSWS-A2 source optics and receiver hardware.

The product should not be assumed to include the mSWS-A2SLS tunable laser, mSWS-A2SOM source optics module, mSWS-A2RX receivers, mSWS-A2DM detector modules, MAP-380 mainframe, ORL cassette, software, fibers, cables, or computer hardware unless those items are specifically identified.

Buyers should review the module’s physical condition, output ports, connectors, mounting hardware, firmware compatibility, system recognition, telemetry operation, included cables, and testing information before purchase.

Only the transmitter module, cables, fibers, software, licenses, mainframes, source modules, receiver modules, detector modules, documentation, and accessories specifically identified in the individual product listing should be considered included.

Why Buy from AssetRelay?

AssetRelay supplies professional equipment and product solutions for fiber optic, telecom, laboratory, production, inspection, cleaning, electronic test, RF/microwave, photonics, and optical component characterization applications. The JDSU mSWS-A2TX supports engineers, optical laboratories, production facilities, component manufacturers, and quality organizations operating distributed swept-wavelength test systems.

Buyers should review the available product photographs, physical condition, mSWS generation, source optics compatibility, telemetry outputs, receiver requirements, firmware, software, included cables, and complete system requirements before purchase.

Only the equipment and accessories specifically identified in the individual product listing should be considered included.