Cleaning Instructions
How to clean instruments with an optical glass plate
278
Agilent 8163A Lightwave Multimeter, Agilent 8164A Lightwave Measurement
System, & Agilent 8166A Lightwave Multichannel System, Fourth Edition
How to clean instruments with
an optical glass plate
Some instruments, for example, the optical heads from Agilent Technologies
have an optical glass plate to protect the sensor. Clean this glass plate in the same
way as optical lenses (see
“How to clean lenses” on page 276
How to clean instruments with
a physical contact interface
Remove any connector interfaces from the optical output of the instrument before
you start the cleaning procedure.
Cleaning interfaces is difficult as the core diameter of a single-mode fiber is only
about 9
µ
m. This generally means you cannot see streaks or scratches on the
surface. To be certain of the degree of pollution on the surface of your interface
and to check whether it has been removed after cleaning, you need a microscope.
WA R N I N G
Never look into an optical output, because this can seriously damage your
eyesight.
To assess the projection of the emitted light beam you can use an infrared sensor
card. Hold the card approximately 5 cm from the interface. The invisible emitted
light is project onto the card and becomes visible as a small circular spot.
Preferred Procedure
Use the following procedure on most occasions.
1
Clean the interface by rubbing a new, dry cotton-swab over the surface using a
small circular movement.
2
Blow away any remaining lint with compressed air.
Procedure for Stubborn Dirt
Use this procedure particularly when there is greasy dirt on the interface:
1
Moisten a new cotton-swab with isopropyl alcohol.
2
Clean the interface by rubbing the cotton-swab over the surface using a small
circular movement.
3
Take a new, dry soft-tissue and remove the alcohol, dissolved sediment and
dust, by rubbing gently over the surface using a small circular movement.
4
Blow away any remaining lint with compressed air.