Product Portfolio
AMS Technologies provides low-cost and lightweight OTDR systems for telecom/datacom applications as well as high-definition systems based on scanning photon-counting OTDR technology and allowing for very precise location of reflections in an optical fiber.
Correlation optical time domain reflectometry is the technology behind our series of fiber optic fault locators. Like standard OTDR, these instruments are based on analyzing backscatter but use CW laser sources for spatially resolving and characterizing breaks and reflective faults in optical fibers. The requirements on test signals and detection complexity are low, leading to very affordable OEM modules.
A series of fully portable, stand-alone high-resolution OTDRs is available, based on patented scanning photon-counting technology. The instruments achieve a superior dynamic range and allow high-resolution fiber characterization up to a total distance range of 160 km. Optimized for telecom wavelengths, they distinguish events with 20 cm separation. Their unique dynamic range for short pulse lengths enables to see through optical splitters, even over very short distances. Fiber options include single mode (SM) and multi mode (MM) versions. In addition, a model designed for FTTx applications is available.
With the optical pulse width of only 1 ns, a further series of portable high-resolution OTDRs available from AMS Technologies is specially designed for short-range MM or SM fiber assemblies, found for example in airplanes, ships, automotive, defense, and similar applications. Also based on patented scanning photon-counting technology, these OTDRs feature industry-leading resolution and dead-zones. A large variety of wavelength options from 520 nm to 1650 nm, single- and dual-output versions as well as models designed for aviation applications are available.
Related Products
Complementing our range of OTDRs, we offer a broad portfolio of further devices for inspection and measurement of optical connectors and optical fibers like tools and systems for measuring passive optics and connectors, but also other fiber properties measurement devices like fiber analysers, tensile testers, or refractive index measurement services.
Equipment like light sources, optical power meters, an extensive range of fiber microscopes for every application and budget as well as a choice of interferometers allow tests of optical fibers or patch cables in the laboratory as well as in the field.
AMS Technologies’ further optical test and measurement offerings include beam profilers, integrating spheres, reflectance targets, spectrometers, spectrographs and spectroscopy cameras, as well as fiber sensing equipment.
Tools for fiber optics processing, dispensing and curing of optical adhesives and cleaning of optical connector surfaces round off the AMS Technologies range of solutions around optical test, tools and measurement.
Definition
With an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) one can localize reflective or loss inducing effects along a fiber optic link. Reflective losses arise for example from poorly matched optical connectors or at a transition from one fiber type to another. Attenuating losses can be introduced by the fiber itself, any interconnecting devices or by bending the optical fiber above a certain threshold or at faults along the fiber length.
In optical time domain reflectometry, a short laser pulse with a duration in the nanosecond to microsecond range is coupled into an optical fiber, and the light backscattered to the same fiber end is measured over time. Based on the logarithmically plotted backscatter intensity, OTDRs can then determine the losses of splices within the fiber’s length and reflections from connectors as well as the attenuation of the optical fiber in dB/km. The measured signal has a time dependency which can be converted into a location dependency via the group velocity. Thus, a spatially resolved attenuation measurement can be realized.
OTDR technology measures attenuation as well as (unwanted) back reflections along an installed fiber link. Photon-counting OTDR allows for very precise location of reflections (within centimeters) in an optical fiber link by using detection that is very sensitive in the time domain. OTDRs are available for many wavelengths, starting from the visible and going up to 1700 nm.
Alternative Terms: Optical Time Domain Reflectometer; Fiber Optic Fault Locator; Scanning Photon-Counting OTDR; High-Resolution OTDR
