PXIe Optical Test Modules
High-performance optical instrumentation for automated photonics testing
Turn the optical tests defined during product development into application-specific production test routines. APEX Technologies PXIe modules combine high performance, fast operation, and flexible system integration to help you build an automated test station optimized for your exact requirements.
Tailored to your application
A comprehensive selection of optical test and measurement functions
Open, industry-standard PXIe
Build on a proven, open ecosystem with full flexibility and no vendor lock-in
Ready for system integration
Python-ready drivers for easy integration into higher-level automated test environments
Characterise PICs at wafer level
PIC & wafer-level testing Characterise photonic integrated circuits at wafer, die or bar level, from multi-project wafers to volume production. You can run synchronised optical measurements across many channels and add them to automated probe-station workflows. This helps you test multiple designs efficiently and screen devices early, before packaging adds cost.
Test single devices and components
Devices & components Test single optical devices and components, from design validation to production. You can build compact, application-specific test stations sized to each part's port count, and control them from your own software. This helps you get repeatable results and confirm that every part meets spec before it moves on.
Validate assemblies and subsystems
Optical assemblies & subsystems Validate assemblies and subsystems built from multiple devices and components, from qualification to final test. You can scale the same modular platform to higher port counts and automate complete test sequences. This helps you verify combined performance before the next step, and adapt your test stations as designs change.
Build your test station, module by module
Optical Component Analyzer
Optical Powermeters
Fiber-coupled Polarimeters
Variable Optical Attenuators
OCA-API
OPM-API
POL-API
VOA-API
OCA-API – PXIe Optical Component Analyzer
Distribute a tunable laser to your DUTs and synchronise measurements throughout your PXIe testing platform. Includes a parallel-gain -70 to +10 dBm OPM channel.
| Parameters | Values |
| IL Dynamic Range | 70 dB (raw) / 80 dB (time averaging) |
| IL Repeatability @ 0 dB | 0.003 dB |
| IL Repeatability @ -60 dB | 0.05 dB (1) / 0.08 dB (2) |
(1) 15 measurements, 1s standard deviation from minimum value after quadratic fit
(2) 20 measurements, 1s noise value on residuals from quadratic fit (15 pts)
OPM-API – PXIe Optical Power Meter
Measure optical power at high speed over a wide dynamic range, without gain pre-selection.
| Parameters | Values |
| Power Dynamic Range | -70 to +10 dBm |
| Power Dynamic Range | -60 to +10 dBm |
| Wavelength Range | 1250 - 1640 nm |
| Maximum Safe Power | +18 dBm |
| Total Uncertainty | ± 3 % [-55 to +10 dBm] |
| Power Resolution | 0,001 dB |
| Linearity | ±0.015 % [-50 to +10 dBm] |
| Averaging Time | 0.1 µs to 10 s |
| Data Logging Capability | 20MB per channel |
POL-API – PXIe Polarimeter
Measure two independent states of polarisation with high speed, dynamic range and accuracy.
| Parameters | Values |
| Wavelength Range | 1260 nm to 1650 nm |
| Input Power Range (1) | -60 dBm to +10 dBm |
| SOP Accuracy (1) | < 2° |
| SOP Accuracy (2) | ±0.25° |
| Measurable SOP States | Full Poincaré Sphere |
| Azimuth Accuracy (2) | ±0.25° |
| Ellipticity Accuracy (2) | ±0.25° |
| DOP Accuracy (3) | Max: +/-0.5 % — Min: +/-2 % |
| Relative Power Measurement Accuracy (1) | ±0.2 dB |
| Absolute Power Measurement Accuracy (1) | ±1 dB |
| Optical Return Loss | > 50 dB |
| Connector Type | FC/APC (FC/PC on demand) |
| Maximum Sampling Rate | 10 MHz |
(1): Valid for power range from −60 dBm to +10 dBm.
(2): Valid for power range from −35 dBm to +4 dBm for C&L band and from −35 dBm to +2 dBm for O band.
(3): Valid when using user calibration data.
(4): Valid for factory calibration data.
VOA-API – PXIe Variable Optical Attenuator
Set and adjust optical power over a high attenuation range on two independent channels, with excellent reproducibility.
| Parameters | Values |
| Attenuation Range | ≥ 45 dB |
| Attenuation Step | 0.02 dB |
| Attenuation Type | Bright |
| Wavelength Range | 1260 - 1640 nm |
| PDL @ Att.≤10dB | ≤0.15 dB |
| PDL @ Att.10-40 dB | ≤0.5 dB |
| PDL @ Att.40-45 dB | ≤1.0 dB |
| Maximum Safe Power | dBm |
| Minimum Insertion loss | < 1 dB |
| Return Loss | > 50 dB |
| Response Speed | 3 ms |
| Total Uncertainty | % |
| Attenuation Backlash | dB |
| Temperature Dependent Loss | dB |
| Wavelength Dependant Loss | dB |
| Optical Connectors | FC/APC (Wide key) |
Optical Switches
Laser Sweep Reference
Polarization State Generator
PDL Emulator
OSW-API
SRC-API
PSG-API
PDL-API
OSW-API – PXIe Optical Switch
Route optical signals between test paths and reconfigure your setup without re-cabling.
-- 2x2 & 1x4 configurations --
COMING SOON !
SRC-API – PXIe Sweep Reference & Calibration
Reference every laser sweep for precise and repeatable wavelength measurements.
COMING SOON !
PSG-API – PXIe Polarization State Generator
Generate six accurate and repeatable states of polarisation for automated polarisation testing.
| Parameters | Values |
| Wavelength | 1260 to 1650 nm |
| Insertion Loss (typical value) | 1.0 dB – 1.5 dB |
| Wavelength Dependent Loss (at fixed SOP) | < 0.3 dB |
| State Dependent Loss (at fixed wavelength) | 0.1 dB |
| Return Loss | > 55 dB |
| SOP Repeatability | ±0.1° on Poincaré sphere |
| Wavelength Dependence of Rotation Angle | -0.068 deg./nm |
| Temperature Dependence of Rotation Angle | -0.1 deg./°C |
| SOP State Numbers | 6 (H, V, +45°, -45°, RHP, LHP) |
| Angle Between SOP States | 90 ± 1 deg. on Poincaré sphere |
| SOP Switching Time | 10 ms max (between two consecutive SOPs) |
| Optical Power Handling | < 300 mW |
PDL-API – PXIe PDL Emulator
Apply user-defined PDL to an optical signal for controlled device testing.
COMING SOON !
Coming soon...
High-Resolution
Optical Spectrum Analyzer
High-resolution
Optical Frequency-Domain Reflectometer
OSA-API
OFDR-API
Tools and documentation
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