IEC 61280-1-1:2013

IEC 61280-1-1 ®
Edition 2.0 2013-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Fibre optic communication subsystem basic test procedures –
Part 1-1: Test procedures for general communication subsystems – Transmitter
output optical power measurement for single-mode optical fibre cable

Procédures d'essai de base des sous-systèmes de télécommunication à fibres
optiques –
Partie 1-1: Procédures d'essai des sous-systèmes généraux de
télécommunication – Mesure de la puissance optique des émetteurs couplés à
des câbles à fibres optiques unimodales

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IEC 61280-1-1 ®
Edition 2.0 2013-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Fibre optic communication subsystem basic test procedures –

Part 1-1: Test procedures for general communication subsystems – Transmitter

output optical power measurement for single-mode optical fibre cable

Procédures d'essai de base des sous-systèmes de télécommunication à fibres

optiques –
Partie 1-1: Procédures d'essai des sous-systèmes généraux de

télécommunication – Mesure de la puissance optique des émetteurs couplés à

des câbles à fibres optiques unimodales

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX J
ICS 33.180.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-1461-9

– 2 – IEC 61280-1-1:2013 © IEC 2013
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope and object . 5
2 Normative references. 5
3 Apparatus . 5
3.1 Optical power meter . 5
3.2 Input signal source . 5
3.3 Test cord . 5
3.4 Calibration . 6
4 Test sample . 6
5 Procedure . 6
6 Calculation . 7
7 Test results . 7
7.1 Required information . 7
7.2 Available information . 7
Annex A (informative) Taking into account uncertainties . 8
Bibliography . 9

Figure 1 – Transmitter output power measurement configuration . 6

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
FIBRE OPTIC COMMUNICATION SUBSYSTEM
BASIC TEST PROCEDURES –
Part 1-1: Test procedures for general communication subsystems –
Transmitter output optical power measurement
for single-mode optical fibre cable

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61280-1-1 has been prepared by subcommittee 86C: Fibre optic
systems and active devices, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1998. This second
edition constitutes a technical revision. The significant technical change with respect to the
previous edition is the inclusion of Annex A on how to account for uncertainties. There are
editorial corrections throughout the document and updates to references.
This bilingual version (2014-03) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in
2013-05.
– 4 – IEC 61280-1-1:2013 © IEC 2013
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
86C/1065/CDV 86C/1098/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61280 series, published under the general title Fibre optic
communication subsystem basic test procedures, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
FIBRE OPTIC COMMUNICATION SUBSYSTEM
BASIC TEST PROCEDURES –
Part 1-1: Test procedures for general communication subsystems –
Transmitter output optical power measurement
for single-mode optical fibre cable

1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 61280 applies to fibre optic general communication subsystems. The object of
this part is to measure the optical power coupled from the output of a transmitter under test
into single-mode optical fibre cable containing dispersion-unshifted fibre or dispersion-shifted
fibre.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
IEC 61300-3-35, Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components – Basic test and
measurement procedures – Part 3-35: Examinations and measurements – Fibre optic
connector endface visual and automated inspection
IEC 61315, Calibration of fibre-optic power meters
3 Apparatus
3.1 Optical power meter
The optical power meter shall be capable of measuring the range of power at wavelengths
provided by the transmitter. The optical power meter shall have a resolution of at least 0,1 dB.
The meter shall have a detecting surface of sufficient size to capture all the power coming from
the fibre that is put into it.
3.2 Input signal source
The input signal source is a signal generator at the appropriate signal rate of the system
interface.
3.3 Test cord
A length of single-mode optical fibre cable, which is known to remove cladding modes, shall be
used. The optical fibre (cable) shall be terminated at both ends with appropriate connectors.
The ends for connection to the fibre optic transmitter and to the optical power meter shall be
terminated with appropriate connector plugs. These plugs and any adapters necessary to
produce the connections shall be such that the performance can be specified by the
manufacturer of the equipment or the connectors. Values for the insertion loss repeatability
shall be known.
– 6 – IEC 61280-1-1:2013 © IEC 2013
3.4 Calibration
The optical power meter shall be configured and calibrated for the test wavelength. The optical
power meters shall be calibrated in accordance with IEC 61315.
The equipment used shall have a valid calibration certificate in accordance with the applicable
quality system for the period over which the testing is done.

Terminal
under test
80 mm
diameter loop
Optical
Signal
power
Tx
source
meter
2 m-10 m
Test cord
Sensor
head
IEC  1090/13
Figure 1 – Transmitter output power measurement configuration
4 Test sample
The test sample shall be a specified single-mode fibre optic transmitter, including all signal
conditioning and multiplexing equipment used in the system in normal operation. The electrical
inputs and outputs shall be those normally available to the user for interfacing with other
transmission equipment.
5 Procedure
5.1 Unless otherwise specified, standard operating conditions apply. The ambient or
reference point temperature shall be specified.
5.2 Apply appropriate terminal input voltage to the system under test. Apply standard (or
extended) operating conditions. Allow sufficient time (30 min, unless otherwise specified in the
detail specification) for the system under test to reach a steady-state temperature and
performance condition.
5.3 Turn the optical power meter on, and allow the manufacturer’s recommended warm-up
and settling time to achieve the rated measurement performance level.
5.4 All connector end faces shall be inspected to verify that they are clean and essentially
free of defects in accordance with IEC 61300-3-35. If necessary, connectors should be cleaned
in accordance with IEC/TR 62627-01 and re-inspected to verify that the cleaning has been
effective. The appropriate performance selection must be selected.
5.5 Remove higher order modes. For example, use a test cord between 2 m and 10 m long
and with an 80 mm diameter loop, as shown in Figure 1.

5.6 Connect one end of the test cord to the transmitter connector and the other end to the
sensor head of the optical power meter, as shown in Figure 1.
5.7 Observe the optical power reading.
If the meter reading fluctuates more than 0,4 dB, the transmitter power output power is not
stable, and the reading should be disregarded. When the meter reading indication is stable,
record the reading.
5.8 Disconnect the fibre test cord from the transmitter connector, clean the test cord
connector again, and reconnect to the transmitter.
5.9 Repeat steps 5.7 and 5.8 until five stable readings are obtained. If it is impossible to
obtain five stable readings, or five readings with a maximum deviation less than the stated
repeatability for the transmitter connector, from 10 attempted measurements, then the fibre
optic transmitter and the test cord shall be rejected.
6 Calculation
Calculate the average of the five readings, and record as the average effective transmitter
output power.
7 Test results
7.1 Required information
– Date and title of the test
– Transmitter identifications
– Identification of test methods, specific operating conditions (standard or extended) and
proce
...