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Home > Products > Optical Monitors > Optical Channel Monitor
Optical Channel Monitor  
 
Optoplex Optical Channel Monitor
Optoplex Optical Channel Monitor
Optoplex Optical Channel Monitor
   
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  • Description
  • Features
  • Applications
  • Specification
  • Typical Performance
  • Parameter Definition
Product Description - Optical Channel Monitor

Optoplex Optical channel monitor (OCM) uses proprietary thin-film interference filter technology combined with a micro-actuator and high-speed electronics. Optical channel monitor is used to measure critical information data on optical transmission signals in DWDM networks for monitoring signal dynamics, determining system functionality, identifying performance change, and providing feedback for controling network elements so as to optimize operational performance. In particular, Optoplex Optical channel monitor can automatically scan the C-, L- or C+L-band wavelength range and precisely measure channel wavelength, power, and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). See the following schematic diagram for OCM working principle.

Working principle of Optoplex optical channel monitor

Operating through a continuous wavelength scan and built-in wavelength reference with optical tunable filter technology, Optoplex's Optical channel monitor has a high wavelength accuracy and resolution with a low channel cross-talk. Built with Optoplex's high-isolation and wide passband thin-film filter and assembled together with high-grade single detector, Optoplex's Optical channel monitor increases channel power measurement accuracy and dynamic range. Using an innovative optical design and high-grade single-element InGaAs detector, channel OSNR measurement range is increased to >30 dB. Further, the Optical channel monitor includes a built-in filter driver and PCB to control and interface with all data-processing electronics. DPRAM, RS-232, or USB interfaces are available and can be customized to meet specific requirements. Optoplex's Optical channel monitor has passed Telcardia GR-468-CORE tests. Moreover, the Optical channel monitor device features compact size and low cost.

For Optical performance monitor, please visit OPM page.

Features and Benefits of Optical Channel Monitor
  • High Dynamic Range
  • Low Temperature Sensitivity
  • High Reliability and Repeatability
  • High Power and Wavelength Accuracy
  • Built-in Wavelength Reference
  • Compact Size
  • Firmware Upgradeable
  • 25 GHz and 33 GHz Channel Spacing Available
  • Copackaged 2-in-1 OCM available (2-port OCM)
  • Telcordia GR-468 Qualified
Applications of Optical Performance Monitor
Standard Specifications of Optical Channel Monitor1

Parameter

Unit

100 GHz

50 GHz

Wavelength Range  nm  C band or L band 
Channel Number  -  43  85 
Adjacent Channel Power Difference  dB  < 13 
Non-adjacent Channel Power Difference  dB  < 20 
Minimum Spacing Between Channels  GHz  75  40 
Channel Input Power Range  dBm  -40 to -10 
Absolute Channel Power Accuracy  dB  ± 0.5 
Relative Channel Power Accuracy  dB  ± 0.3 
Power Measurement Repeatability  dB  ± 0.1 
PDL  dB  < 0.3 
Absolute Wavelength Accuracy  pm  ± 50 
Relative Wavelength Accuracy  pm  ± 30 
Channel Wavelength Resolution  pm  40 
Noise Floor  dBm  - 55 
Response Time  ms  1000 
Power Consumption  W  < 2 
Electronics Interface  -  RS232/DPRAM 
Operating Temperature  °C  -5 to 65 
Storage Temperature  °C  -40 to 85 
Dimension3  mm  100x70x17.5 (Compact)  
220x110x22 (Custom) 

Notes:

  1. Certain parameter specs can be varied based on customer demands.
  2. Optional feature. Its values at lower input power level are limited by noise floor.
  3. Including PCB.
Typical Performance of Optical Performance Monitor

Typical performance of Optoplex optical channel monitor

Parameter Definition of Optical Channel Monitor

Parameter Definition

Example

Wavelength Range (nm) is defined as wavelength range over which the Optical Performance Monitor (OPM) or Optical Channel Monitor (OCM) can measure the power and wavelength of the optical channels.

1530.33 - 1563.05 nm

Channel Number is the total number of channels defined in a channel plan that the OPM / OCM can identify.

42

Channel Spacing (GHz) is the equal frequency separation between two neighboring channels in DWDM system.

100 GHz

Input Wavelength Tolerance (GHz) defines the maximally allowed deviation of input laser away from ITU grid or channel plan. This parameter defines the minimum channel spacing. For example, for Input wavelength tolerance = ±5 GHz, channel spacing = 50 GHz, the minimum channel spacing will be 40 GHz in the worst case.

±5 GHz

Adjacent Channel Power Difference (dB) is maximum power difference between any two adjacent channels

12 dB

Non-adjacent Channel Power Difference (dB) is maximum power difference between any two non-adjacent channels

20 dB

Maximum Input Power (dBm) is total input optical power of all channels that is allowed to the OPM.

23 dBm

Channel Input Power Range (dBm) is the measurement power range of each channel when power and wavelength can be correctly reported.

-40 to -10 dBm

Absolute Channel Power Accuracy (dB) is defined as ±Max (|DPi|) over all the channels and operating temperature range, where DPi is the power measurement error against a calibrated power meter for the channel i.

± 0.5 dB

Relative Channel Power Accuracy (dB) is defined as the difference between the maximum and the minimum values of the power measurement error data across Spectral Range (all channels) at a measurement temperature. The worst-case value over all temperatures is used to specify Relative Channel Power Accuracy.

0.6 dB

Power Measurement Repeatability (dB) is the variation of a channel power measurement on a 1-minute interval at fixed peak power and polarization and at a constant temperature.

± 0.1 dB

PDL (dB) is the power difference between the two extreme polarization states.

0.3 dB

Absolute Wavelength Accuracy (pm) is defined as ±Max (|Dli|) over all the channels and operating temperature range, where Dli is the wavelength measurement error against a calibrated wavelength meter for the channel i.

± 50 pm

Relative Wavelength Accuracy (pm) is defined as the difference between the maximum and the minimum values of the wavelength measurement error data across Spectral Range (all channels) at a measurement temperature. The worst-case value over all temperatures is used to specify Relative Wavelength Accuracy.

60 pm

OSNR (dB) is measured as the ratio of a coherent signal power to a band-limited broadband noise source, normalized to 0.1-nm spectral window.

28 dB

Maximum OSNR (dB) is the highest OSNR that can be measured and still meet the OSNR accuracy and repeatability requirements. Its value depends on the input channel power level, noise floor, and filter isolation. See a typical example in the graph.

28 dB

OSNR Range is the maximum and minimum OSNR values, within which OPM can report OSNR with OSNR error < OSNR Accuracy.

10 ~ 25 dB

OSNR Accuracy (dB) is defined as ±Max (|DOSNRi|) over all the channels and operating temperature range, where DOSNRi is the OSNR measurement error against a calibrated Optical Spectrum Analyzer for the channel i.

± 1.5 dB

Noise Floor (dBm) is defined as electronics noise without light input.

-60 dBm

Optical Return Loss (dB) is the ratio between the input power and the reflected power over all polarization states at each port, RL = -10×log10(Pr/Pin).

40 dB

Response Time (ms) is the time required to perform the measurements of OSNR, power, and wavelength for all channels and transfer these values over the communications interface to the central controller.

500 ms

Power Consumption (W) is defined as peak electrical power when the OPM operates.

2 W

Operating Temperature (°C) is the ambient temperature range over which the device can be operated and maintain its specifications.

-5 to 65 °C

Storage Temperature (°C) is the ambient temperature range over which the device can be stored without damage and can be operated over operating temperature according to its specifications.

-40 to 85 °C

Product Request and Ordering Information
Please speak to Optoplex Sales persons. If you request custom-designed OCM product, please provide the following parameters:
  • Wavelength range
  • Channel spacing
  • Wavelength accuracy
  • Power accuracy
  • Fiber length
  • Optical connector type
  • Electrical interface