Average Power
The average over time of a modulated signal. The average power (often simply called "power" when the context makes it clear) is the average amount of work done or energy transferred per unit time. Fiber optic power meters are instruments that measure the average power of a continuous light beam. They are used to test signal power in fiber optic networks.
Fiber optic transmission systems transmit information from one location to another by sending optical energy through glass fiber. Fiber optic cables are used in telephony, cable television, local area networks, industry and medicine. Information is encoded on the energy by modulating either its power or spectrum. In these systems it is often necessary to monitor the average optical power being carried by a transmission fiber. Average optical power is a useful indicator of system performance, and thus is often used for maintenance and control purposes. The proper utilization of fiber optic systems requires precise instruments for measuring optical power and testing the integrity of optical circuits. Optical power meters may comprise a photodiode which outputs an electrical current proportional to the optical power of an input optical beam, an I/V amplifier which converts the output current of this photodiode to a voltage, a variable-gain amplifier which amplifies the output voltage of this I/V amplifier, and an A/D converter which converts the output voltage of this variable gain amplifier to a digital signal.
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Related glossary terms:
Saturation Power Power Meter Fiber Optic Power Density Power Spectral Density Power Flow Equation Power Over Fiber Automatic Power Control Circuit Attenuation Limited Power Output Power
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