Optical Spectrum Analyzer Control Program
OSA program screenshot
The AQ-6315A Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA) brings advanced capabilities to a wide range of applications, from light source evaluation to measurement of loss wavelength characteristics in optical devices. The device features a high wavelength accuracy measurement that provides ±0.05 nm wavelength accuracy. It can also achieve the wavelength resolution of 0.05nm and the level accuracy to within ±0.3dB.
This program is written to control the Optical Spectrum Analyzer via GPIB connection. It replicates the control and the display of the OSA that features most of the useful functions that users normally use. There are three sweep modes that users can select. The single sweep mode is used to sweep the incoming light only one time. The repeat mode is used to repeat the sweep from the previous sweep within the sweep interval. The Auto sweep mode is used when we don’t know the range of the incoming light. This mode will auto detect the maximum wavelength of the incoming light. When using the single sweep and repeat sweep modes, you need to specify all of the the parameters.
- First you need to Select the Trace A/B/C and it’s chopping mode as Internal/External.
- Monochromator select mode: The monochromator mode can be set to single-pass or double -pass to match your measurement application needs.
- Select the light source as Pulse Mode or Continuous Wave (CW)
- If the Pulse Mode is selected, select the pulse mode detection as internal or external.
- Select the Sensitivity of the measurement.
- The center wavelength: is the center position on the graph that you want to display.
- The span indicates how wide the range of your sweep. For example, if you choose the center wavelength at 500 nm and the span at 100 nm, the OSA will sweep from 450 nm to 550 nm and display the results on the graph.
- The reference level and log scale: control the range of the level axis
- Resolution: indicates the resolution of the sweep
- Sampling points: indicates how many sampling points will be collected during the sweep
After finishing the sweep, user can switch to the search tab to search for the next peak or bottom wavelength, or user can search the spectral width of the incoming light using different methods such as envelop or threshold. Finally, the Analysis tab shows all the data points that is collected by the OSA during the sweep.
Assumptions Used in the Program
This program is written under the assumption that the OSA is connected to the computer via GPIB connection; and the computer must also have the labview runtime engine to be able to run the program.
Note: Please be advised that there may be bugs in the program, so you should use the program with caution.
Program Download
This file includes both the executable file and the labview source code. To run this program, you need to have the labview runtime engine. To view the source code, you need to have a complete copy of Labview.
File: OSA.zip 1.5 MB