Automated OTDR And Chromatic Dispersion Test Station Slashes Testing Time And Expense

Anaheim, CA -- Photon Kinetics, the world's leading supplier of test solutions for optical fiber and cable manufactures, announced a major advancement in optical fiber production testing — an automated test station that is capable of measuring virtually every critical fiber transmission property in less than 60 sseconds. In 60 seconds, the new Long Length Automated Test Station (LLATS) prepares both fiber ends, couples them for test with low loss and low reflectance and performs bi-directional, multi-wavelength OTDR, spectral attenuation, mode field diameter and dual-window chromatic dispersion measurements.

At the heart of the LLATS are the 2800 Chromatic Dispersion Measurement System, and the 8000 Production and Laboratory OTDR, instruments that deliver the highest performance and fastest measurement speed in their class. Until now, manufacturers have not been able to take full advantage of the productivity offered by these instruments because fibers have had to be prepared and measured on one system, then transported, re-prepared and measured on the next. Some manufacturers have tried to reduce the redundant fiber handling and improve productivity by connecting the instruments with external optical switches. Howerver, the optical loss introduced by external switches typically doubles OTDR measurement time, negating much, if not all of the expected benefit.

The LLATS solves both the fiber preparation and fiber handling problems, enabling manufacturers to take full advantage of the 2800 and 8000 measurement speeds. It utilizes the 1200 Automated Fiber Handler to simultaneously strip, clean, cleave and couple both ends of the fiber under test to the OTDR in less than half the time of manual methods. And it employs the new, "zero loss" Integral Switching Option for the 8000 OTDR that couples the OTDR and CD testing instruments without affecting OTDR measurement time.

"The Long Length Test Station is the convergence of several PK innovations that will enable significant reduction in overal fiber measurement time" said Warren Hill, VP of Marketing and Sales. "We believe that this product will be of interest to most fieber manufacturers whoa re searching for every possible means to maximize operator productivity and reduce product cost. The LLATS does both, in most cases doubling or even tripling the output of a single test technician." Hill added, " Despite the substantial benefits, we recognize that fiber manufacturers are operating in a very tough market and most have extremely tight capital budgets. We've developed a variety of lease options for the LLATS in response to this reality, so that manufacturers who want to gain a competitive upper hand, have a route for implementing this importand cost saving technology".

About Photon Kinetics
Founded in 1979, Photon Kinetics is a leading supplier of measurement solutions for the optical fiber, cable and component manufacturing industry. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of optical fiber testing solutions ranging from fiber preform analyzers to charachterization systems for critical fiber geometry and transmission parameters. It also provides a complete line of tools and automated systems that reduce the cost of the optical fiber preparation and alignment activities that ar part of virtually every test process. These tools include both single and multiple fiber aligners as well as fully automated fiber preparatin and alignment systems. Photon Kinetics products are sold and supported in over 70 countries. For more information on Photon Kinetics or any of our products and services, please visit our website at www.pkinetics.com.

Source: Photon Kinetics