Optical Card switches light signals from various sources.
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Press Release Summary:
Model 7090 optical switching card enables optical, dc and RF switching within one instrument. It also provides switching of optical signals among several instruments, a single instrument between multiple devices, or combination of both. When used in company's existing switching platforms, it helps automate tests of laser diodes and related optoelectronic devices, and allows optical measurement processes to be integrated with electrical testing.Original Press Release:
Keithley's First Optical Switching Card Enables Electronic Test Stands To Integrate DC, RF, And Optical Measurements
Keithley Instruments, Inc. (NYSE:KEI) today announced the Model 7090 Optical Switching card that enables optical, DC and RF switching, all within one instrument. When used in Keithley's existing 7001/7002 switching platforms, the Model 7090 enables manufacturers of laser diodes and related optoelectronic devices to automate test applications more effectively, saving them the time and expense of developing their own hardware and software solutions.
The Model 7090 provides rapid, convenient switching of an optical signal between several instruments, a single instrument between multiple devices, or a combination of both. Test systems that combine optical switching with other instruments, such as Keithley's L-I-V Test System, pulsed laser test systems, multimeters, and sources, can provide comprehensive switching capable of seamlessly transferring optical, DC, and RF
characteristics.
The benefits of true optical switching for optoelectronic test applications include more effective automation, faster testing, less time spent on integration, and improved ROI on existing test instruments.
Applications and Markets.
Optical switches are used for channel monitoring of optoelectronic devices that are essential to the construction of fiber optic networks in telecommunications and related applications:
* Laser Diodes
* Photodiodes
* Optical Add/ Drop Multiplexers (OADM)
* LEDs and OLEDs
* VCSEL Arrays
The Model 7090 represents a significant expansion of Keithley's focus in test and measurement products. Throughout its history, Keithley has specialized in instruments designed for measurement, control, and sourcing of electrical phenomena. Optical switching now provides Keithley's test systems the ability to switch light signals between multiple input and output optical channels. This capability enables optical measurement processes to be integrated with electrical testing, and to be automated more completely and consistently, with
a minimum of operator involvement. Optical switching is becoming increasingly vital as manufacturers strive to make optical device production testing more efficient.
Switching Capabilities.
The Model 7090 is available in 1 x 4 and 1 x 8 switching configurations. This enables systems to be assembled that can accommodate up to 4 or 8 DUTs or instruments, or greater numbers of devices via cascaded switches. Cards are compatible with Keithley's GPIB-controlled Model 700X switching mainframes, which accept up to 10 separate switching cards. DC and RF switching cards are already being used in these mainframes to create complex switching solutions. Furthermore, these mainframes can be combined with other Keithley tools, such as Trigger-Link, to yield larger test systems that provide simpler integration and faster synchronization than other types of switching systems.
Price and Availability:
The Model 7090 Optical Switching Card with a 1 x 4 switching card
is $5995. The 1 x 8 switching card sells for $7995. The product will begin shipping to customers in August, 2001.
About Keithley Instruments.
Keithley Instruments, Inc. provides electrical measurement
solutions to the telecommunications, semiconductor, optoelectronics and other related segments of the electronics industry. Engineers and scientists around the world use Keithley's advanced hardware and software for process monitoring, production test and basic research.
Products and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
