What is BS EN 61300-3-14 - Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components about?
BS EN 61300 is a series on fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components. Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components ensure an optical function necessary for the proper functioning of the network. BS EN 61300-3-14 provides a method to measure the error and repeatability of the attenuation value settings of a variable optical attenuator (VOA). There are two control technologies for VOAs, manually controlled and electrically controlled. BS EN 61300-3-14 covers both control technologies of VOAs and also covers both single-mode and multimode fibre VOAs.
Who is BS EN 61300-3-14 - Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components for?
BS EN 61300-3-14 on fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components is useful for:
- Telecommunication component manufacturers
- Telecommunication equipment manufacturers
- Design engineers
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use BS EN 61300-3-14 - Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components?
Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components do not require external energy input because they operate on the optical signal. BS EN 61300-3-14 introduces a variable optical attenuator that is adjusted sequentially through a series of nominal attenuation settings prescribed in the relevant specification. For an electrically controlled variable optical attenuator, the attenuation is set by applying electrical voltage or current to the device. There are two categories of variable optical attenuators those that can be adjusted to nominal attenuation levels and those that have no information on the nominal attenuation levels. Some manually controlled variable optical attenuators have a scaled dial to indicate the nominal attenuation levels. Some electrically controlled variable optical attenuators have a table (or equation) indicating the applied voltage (or current) corresponding to nominal attenuation levels.
This measurement method of attenuation error and repeatability can only be applied to variable optical attenuators which can be adjusted to nominal attenuation levels. In this type of measurement, the attenuation value is measured at each setting. This sequence of measurements is repeated a number of times as prescribed in BS EN 61300-3-14. The error of the attenuator at each setting is then given by the difference between the mean of the measured values and the nominal value. The repeatability at each setting is given by a value of plus and minus three times the standard deviation of the measurements. Generally, the nominal attenuation levels are provided in different two ways, i.e., absolute, or relative attenuation calibration levels. BS EN 61300-3-14 characterizes an attenuator that is calibrated to read the actual or measured attenuation. BS EN 61300-3-14 characterizes an attenuator for which the manufacturer provides the calibration results relative to a zero-point setting. When the attenuator is adjusted to read zero, the actual or measured attenuation will be some value greater than zero. Using BS EN 61300-3-14 you can provide a method to measure the error and repeatability of the attenuation value settings of a variable optical attenuator.
