Overview
EN 62496-2-1:2011 (IEC 62496-2-1:2011) provides standardized procedures to measure optical attenuation and optical isolation of optical circuit boards (OCBs). Published by CLC/CENELEC and identical to the IEC edition, this part of the Optical Circuit Boards series defines measurement objectives, required apparatus and a set of accepted measurement methods to ensure repeatable, comparable test results for OCBs used in fibre‑optic systems.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Measurement methods for optical attenuation and isolation of OCBs.
- Measurement methods: Includes the cut‑back method and several insertion methods (labelled A, B for attenuation; C, D for isolation), plus mirror loss measurement. Diagrams and configuration options are provided for different OCB layouts.
- Apparatus & launch conditions: Specifies key test equipment and conditions such as source and launch conditions, power‑meter (detector), optical fibres for launch/receive, mode filters, optical direction changing devices, and temporary joints.
- Procedures: Covers pre‑conditioning, visual and connectivity inspection, detailed step‑by‑step measurement procedures, and figures/tables to select preferred sources and fibres.
- Precautions & safety: Refers to IEC 60825‑1 for laser safety. Emphasises fixing fibre positions during measurement to avoid bending‑loss artefacts.
- Normative references: Relies on related IEC/ISO documents such as IEC 60793‑2‑10, IEC 60793‑2‑50, IEC 61300 series, IEC 62496‑1 and IEC 62614, among others.
Practical applications and users
Who uses EN 62496-2-1:
- Test laboratories performing qualification and acceptance testing of OCBs.
- Manufacturers of optical circuit boards and hybrid photonic assemblies for process control and QA.
- Design and verification engineers validating channel attenuation and inter‑channel isolation.
- Procurement and compliance teams verifying supplier performance against standardized test methods.
Practical benefits:
- Ensures consistent, repeatable attenuation and isolation measurements across suppliers and labs.
- Supports quality control, failure analysis and performance validation of OCB interconnects in fibre‑optic systems.
- Aids in specifying OCBs for applications where low loss and high isolation are critical.
Related standards
Important normative references cited in EN 62496-2-1:
Keywords: optical circuit boards, OCB, optical attenuation, optical isolation, measurement methods, EN 62496-2-1, IEC 62496-2-1, fibre optics, test procedures.