Agilent 8162 Series Optical Power Heads

All optical power heads in the Agilent 8162 family require a connection to an external mainframe, such as the 8163A, 8163B, 8164A, 8164B, 8166A, or 8166B. Because these optical heads do not have integrated displays or local power supplies, they operate entirely under mainframe control. Power and data transmission are routed through a proprietary interface cable connected to either the 81618A single-channel or 81619A dual-channel interface module installed in the mainframe. Both the Agilent 81624A and Agilent 81624B share similar physical properties, weighing 0.25 kg and operating within a temperature range of 0 °C to +40 °C.

The main differentiator within the Agilent 8162 Series is the sensor material, which defines the wavelength compatibility and optical power capabilities. The InGaAs models, which include the Agilent 81624A and Agilent 81624B, operate from 800 nm to 1700 nm. They are built for low-power, high-sensitivity measurements, covering a power range of -90 dBm to +10 dBm with a maximum safe input limit of +16 dBm. For high-power testing of optical transmitters and amplifiers, the Germanium-based Agilent 81626B covers 850 nm to 1650 nm and handles power levels from -50 dBm to +27 dBm. The Agilent 81623B offers standard Germanium coverage from 750 nm to 1800 nm (recommended at 850 nm) or can be configured with an optional Silicon detector for a 450 nm to 1020 nm range.

For high-stability optical measurements, polarization characteristics are critical. The Agilent 81624B features exceptionally low polarization dependence (PDL) of less than ±0.005 dB (typically under ±0.002 dB) from 1250 nm to 1600 nm, and a spectral ripple of less than ±0.005 dB. In comparison, the Agilent 81624A has a polarization dependence of less than ±0.01 dB. To support diverse fiber interfaces, the Agilent 81623B uses magnetic D-shaped adapters and a removable 81624DD ring for threaded adapters, enabling quick installation of MT ribbon and bare-fiber clamps.