Two new oscilloscopes, the single optical channel DCA-M and the dual optical channel DCA-M Sampling Oscilloscopes, were unveiled by Keysight Technologies for testing 1.6T optical transceivers.
The instruments are specifically made to meet the demanding requirements of 1.6T transceiver optical testing for research and development as well as the production of next-generation optical interconnects for data centers AI clusters.
They are designed to provide the highest optical measurement sensitivity and integrated clock recovery up to 120 GBaud.
Because of the high data rates and strict signal integrity requirements, the quick deployment of AI data center networks using 1.6T optical interconnects poses serious measurement issues.
Engineers must describe and verify transceivers’ performance in a variety of difficult operating circumstances, necessitating the use of precise test apparatus with remarkable bandwidth, low noise, and high sensitivity.
For automated testing in manufacturing to validate essential parameters across large volumes with high throughput and yield, while guaranteeing performance to data center needs and upholding industry standards, it must be effective, scalable, and precise.
The new DCA-M sampling oscilloscopes are a component of Keysight’s 1.6T end-to-end solution portfolio, which addresses the increased transmission rates needed for machine learning and artificial intelligence. High-speed optical signal analysis is possible with the DCA-M sampling oscilloscopes at up to 240 Gbps/lane, providing:
- Maximize measurement margin – High sensitivity, low jitter, wide precise bandwidth and leading-edge measurement science maximize measurement margin. Less than 15 µW optical channel noise and less than 90 fs of intrinsic time-based jitter preserve critical measurement margin at the very high data rates, and challenging signal conditions of 1.6T transceivers enable R&D and manufacturing engineers to meet tight specifications and ensure design reliability with greater throughput.
- Minimize test system complexity and ensure compliance – Integrated clock recovery supports baud rates up to 120 GBd, enabling the DCA-M to recover the clock at the full data rate, as prescribed by the standards, and eliminating the need to configure and route a separate sub-rate signal for clocking.
- Optimize production test efficiency and throughput – FlexOTO Optical Test Optimization software integrates seamlessly with DCA-M to maximize instrument utilization and test efficiency while reducing total cost-of-test. FlexOTO is built on the industry-leading FlexDCA measurement science platform ensuring the highest quality optical waveform analysis.
Leadership Comments
Osa Mok, CMO of TeraHop said: “Keysight is a long standing and reliable partner as a critical test technologies provider with high performance and quality. This new line of Keysight sampling oscilloscopes will help to accelerate 1.6 Tbps optical solutions deployment for a new generation of AI compute networking applications.”
Dr. Joachim Peerlings, Vice President of Network and Data Center Solutions at Keysight Technologies, said: “Enabling next-generation data centers and AI clusters, raises the bar for time-to-market and performance of R&D and manufacturing solutions. We are proud of our progress in supporting the industry as it advances AI infrastructure, laying the foundation for future generations to innovate in new and transformative ways.”
The DCA-M Sampling Oscilloscopes will be demonstrated in booth #1301 at the OFC 2025 conference, April 1-3, in the Moscone Center, San Francisco, California.
