Patent ID: 6580531
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
A system for testing an optical transmitter, said optical transmitter having an input, said optical transmitter being operative to generate an optically modulated data signal, said system comprising:an adjustable optical signal to noise ratio generated coupled to said optically modulated data signal; a reference optical receiver coupled to an output of said adjustable optical signal to noise ratio generator and having an output; a bit error rate tester operative to measure bit error rates based on said input of said optical transmitter and said output of said reference optical receiver; and a test controller communicably coupled to said bit error rate tester and said optical signal to noise generator, said test controller being operative to (i) cause said optical signal to noise generator to generate a plurality of generated signal to noise ratios, (ii) access a plurality of bit error rates measured by said bit error rate tester and corresponding to respective ones of said generated signal to noise ratios, (iii) calculate a projected optical signal to noise ratio corresponding to a predetermined bit error rate lower than said measured bit error rates, said projected optical signal to noise ratio being calculated by extrapolation from the measured bit error rates and the corresponding generated optical signal to noise ratios, and (iv) determine that said transmitter is acceptable if said projected optical signal to noise ratio at said lower bit error rate is no greater than a predetermined maximum optical signal to noise ratio.