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Paul Hale and Dylan Williams, EEEL researchers in the Optoelectronics and Electromagnetic Technology Divisions, have developed a novel transfer for calibrating high-speed instruments used to measure optical and electrical waveforms. Waveform measurements are required throughout the optical communications, computer, wireless communications, radar, and remote sensing industries. Waveform measurements verify signal fidelity and standard compliance for the design and qualification of components and systems.
The new transfer standard is a fast photoreceiver that generates electrical pulses with calibrated magnitude and phase to 110 GHz. Using this photoreceiver, engineers can calibrate their high-speed test equipment, such as oscilloscopes and lightwave component analyzers, in such a way that the equipment is traceable to fundamental SI units. When combined with the NIST Timebase Correction Software (http://www.boulder.nist.gov/div815/HSM_Project/Software.htm), engineers can overcome some of the bandwidth limitations of their test equipment. Finally, these new transfer standards can greatly improve confidence in high-speed measurements by enabling direct calibration of both magnitude and phase of a variety of high-speed instrumentation. With this technology, chip designers can define product specifications with known uncertainties rather than the current practice of placing upper limits on signal accuracy, leading to needlessly large tolerances in high-speed components and systems. These transfer standards are available for purchase by contacting either Paul Hale or Dylan Williams.
For more information contact: Paul Hale, phone 303-497-5367 and/or Dylan Williams, phone 303-497-3138
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