Agilent Technologies 81610A, User Manual, Page: 16 / 118

The Return Loss Module Getting Started with Return Loss
Agilent 81610A/11A/12A/13A/14A Return Loss Module, Fifth Edition
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The Return Loss Module
What is a Return Loss Module? Agilent 8161xA series Return Loss modules are compact modules for
use with the Agilent 8163A Lightwave Multimeter, the Agilent 8164A
Lightwave Measurement System, and the Agilent 8166A Lightwave
Multichannel System. They are used for making return loss
measurements and, in conjunction with a power meter module,
insertion loss measurements.
A return loss module allows you to measure the light reflected and
scattered as light passes through an optical component. In many
applications, these affects are unwanted because thay can affect the
emission characteristecs of any laser in the system.
Agilent 81610A Return Loss module
The Agilent 81610A Return Loss Module includes a power sensor,
monitor diode and two couplers in one module.
Figure 1 The Agilent 81610A Return Loss module
The Agilent 81610A series Return Loss module does not include an
internal laser source. It is used in conjunction with an appropriate
external source to perform return loss measurements on both WDM
components and broadband devices.
Agilent 81611A and Agilent 81612A
Return Loss modules
Agilent 81611A and Agilent 81612A Return Loss modules include a
power sensor, monitor diode, two couplers, and an internal laser
source in one module. It is for use in the Agilent 8163A Lightwave
Multimeter, the Agilent 8164A Lightwave Measurement System, and
the Agilent 8166A Lightwave Multichannel System for making return
loss measurements.
Figure 2 The Contents of the Agilent 81611A and Agilent 81612A Return Loss modules
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dut
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External Laser
Source
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physical contact
M
dut
P
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External Laser
Source
Output 9/125
µ
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Internal Laser
Source
physical contact