Agilent Technologies Introduces the Only Turnkey Solution for Lightwave Component Analysis of Cable TV Electro-Optical Components

Lightwave Component Analyzer Offers Highly Accurate and Traceable S-Parameter Test for Electro-optical Components

SANTA CLARA, Calif, Aug. 2008

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced the fourth member of its lightwave component analyzer series. This new lightwave component analyzer is the only turn-key test solution in the industry for CATV or Radio over Fiber electro-optical component test. The LCA offers fast calibration and test setup, providing a time-saving, competitive edge to all design and manufacturing engineers.

The Agilent N4374B LCA offers accurate and traceable electro-optical S-parameter for transmitter and receiver test and is based on the widely used and well-known ENA-C series Agilent network analyzers. It replaces the industry-standard Agilent 8702 LCA.

In linear optical transmission systems, like CATV or in Radio over Fiber applications, the performance of the electro-optical components is a key contributor to the performance of the overall transmission system. The N4374B LCA enables design engineers to design electro-optical transmitters and receivers with lowest distortion by offering specified phase accuracy in addition to high-amplitude accuracy.

The Agilent N4374B LCA offers first-time relative and absolute responsivity specification traceable to international standards. This ensures that all test data are worldwide comparable within the specified uncertainty, thus helping R&D and manufacturing engineers to compare test results measured with two LCA at different locations.

“Fast and accurate electro-optical test with a turn-key solution are key contributors for developing high-quality products with a reduced design cycle,” said Juergen Beck, general manager of Agilent’s Digital Photonic Test business. “The lightwave component analyzer is the workhorse for designers and manufacturing engineers of electro-optical components because it offers the highest productivity, thanks to faster and easy calibration and test setup.”

Features of the Agilent N4374B lightwave component analyzer include:

* accurate responsivity test with less than 0.8 dB uncertainty;
* specified absolute accuracy of absolute responsivity;
* 75 Ohm support with minimum loss pad for CATV applications;
* specified phase uncertainty;
* integrated optical average power meter; and
* identical user interface and remote control across all new N437x LCA series.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Agilent N4374B lightwave component analyzer is available now with single or dual wavelength options at 1310 nm or 1550 nm. Pricing starts at $101,000.

Additional information about Agilent’s N4374B lightwave component analyzer is available at www.agilent.com/find/lca. High-resolution images are available at www.agilent.com/find/lca_images.