IEC 61300-3-34:2001

Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components - Basic test and measurement procedures - Part 3-34: Examinations and measurements - Attenuation of random mated connectors

Describes the procedure required to measure the statistical distribution and mean insertion loss for random mated opticalconnectors.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 05-Dec-2001
• ICS: 33.180.20 - Fibre optic interconnecting devices
• Technical Committee: SC 86B - Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components
• Drafting Committee: WG 4 - TC 86/SC 86B/WG 4
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 12-Jan-2009

Relations

• Revised: IEC 61300-3-34:2009 - Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components - Basic test and measurement procedures - Part 3-34: Examinations and measurements - Attenuation of random mated connectors
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 61300-3-34:1997 - Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components - Basic test and measurement procedures - Part 3-34: Examinations and measurements - Attenuation of random mated connectors
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
61300-3-34
Second edition
2001-12
Fibre optic interconnecting devices
and passive components –
Basic test and measurement procedures –
Part 3-34:
Examinations and measurements –
Attenuation of random mated connectors
Dispositifs d'interconnexion et composants passifs
à fibres optiques –
Méthodes fondamentales d'essais et de mesures –
Partie 3-34:
Examens et mesures –
Affaiblissement dû à l'accouplement
de connecteurs quelconques
Reference number
Publication numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the
60000 series. For example, IEC 34-1 is now referred to as IEC 60034-1.

Consolidated editions
The IEC is now publishing consolidated versions of its publications. For example,

edition numbers 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 refer, respectively, to the base publication, the
base publication incorporating amendment 1 and the base publication incorporating
amendments 1 and 2.
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
61300-3-34
Second edition
2001-12
Fibre optic interconnecting devices
and passive components –
Basic test and measurement procedures –
Part 3-34:
Examinations and measurements –
Attenuation of random mated connectors
Dispositifs d'interconnexion et composants passifs
à fibres optiques –
Méthodes fondamentales d'essais et de mesures –
Partie 3-34:
Examens et mesures –
Affaiblissement dû à l'accouplement
de connecteurs quelconques
 IEC 2001  Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission 3, rue de Varembé Geneva, Switzerland
Telefax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] IEC web site http://www.iec.ch
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
PRICE CODE
M
International Electrotechnical Commission
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 61300-3-34  IEC:2001(E)

CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3

1 Scope.5

2 Normative references .5

3 General description .5

3.1 Test methods .5

3.2 Precautions .6

4 Apparatus.6
4.1 Source (S).6
4.2 Launch conditions (E).7
4.3 Detector (D) .7
5 Procedure.8
5.1 Method 1 .8
5.2 Method 2 .10
5.3 Analysis of results .13
6 Details to be specified .13

61300-3-34 © IEC:2001(E) – 3 –

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
FIBRE OPTIC INTERCONNECTING DEVICES

AND PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
BASIC TEST AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES –

Part 3-34: Examinations and measurements –

Attenuation of random mated connectors

FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their preparation is
entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may
participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the
two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation
from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the form
of standards, technical specifications, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National
Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject
of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61300-3-34 has been prepared by subcommittee 86B: Fibre optic
interconnecting devices and passive components, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1997 and constitutes a
technical revision.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:

FDIS Report on voting
86B/1596/FDIS 86B/1635/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
IEC 61300 consists of the following parts, under the general title: Fibre optic interconnecting
devices and passive components – Basic test and measurement procedures:
− Part 1: General and guidance
− Part 2: Tests
− Part 3: Examinations and measurements

– 4 – 61300-3-34  IEC:2001(E)

The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
2005. At this date, the publication will be

• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or

• amended.
61300-3-34 © IEC:2001(E) – 5 –

FIBRE OPTIC INTERCONNECTING DEVICES

AND PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
BASIC TEST AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES –

Part 3-34: Examinations and measurements –

Attenuation of random mated connectors

1 Scope
The purpose of this part of IEC 61300 is to describe the procedure required to measure the
statistical distribution and mean attenuation for random mated optical connectors. In this
context the term attenuation can also be referred to as insertion loss.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this part of IEC 61300. For dated references, subsequent amend-
ments to, or revisions of, any of these publications do not apply. However, parties to
agreements based on this part of IEC 61300 are encouraged to investigate the possibility of
applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated
references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of IEC
and ISO maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
IEC 61300-1, Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components – Basic test and
measurement procedures – Part 1: General and guidance
IEC 61300-3-1, Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components – Basic test and
measurement procedures – Part 3-1: Examinations and measurements – Visual examination
3 General description
3.1 Test methods
Two test methods are described for measuring the attenuation of random mated optical
connectors. Both provide an estimate of the expected average performance that a group of
patchcords (including adaptor, if applicable) selected from a batch will exhibit when utilised in

an optical system. The patchcords, and any adaptors, must be chosen at random to ensure
that the measurements provide a statistically unbiased estimate.
Method 1 describes the procedure based on the use of 10 patchcords (20 optical connectors)
and 10 adaptors. In this case all of the plugs are sequentially used as “reference” plugs and
all of the remaining plugs are tested against them. The result is based on 360 measurements
as indicated in the test matrix shown in figure 3.
Method 1 is intended to be part of a design approval exercise that may involve one or more
suppliers. Once approval is achieved, Method 2 would be relied on to maintain process
control. However, in the event of a dispute, Method 1 shall act as the reference measurement
method.
Method 2 describes a procedure based on the measurement of 15 patchcords.

– 6 – 61300-3-34  IEC:2001(E)

Five patchcords are selected as “reference” patchcords, with one plug on each of the
patchcords being nominated as a “reference” plug. All plugs of the remaining 10 patchcords

are then tested against each of the five “reference” plugs. This produces 100 measurements

as indicated in the test matrix shown in figure 6.

It is recognised that the number of measurements required by Method 1 may be excessive for

day-to-day routine checking of either in-house or supplier produced products. In this case, as

indicated above, Method 2 may be used as an alternative option.

NOTE In this measurement method, the terms “reference” plug or “reference” patchcord are used to define those
components chosen at random from a batch, against which a number of comparative measurements are made. It is

not intended that the terms should imply specially chosen or manufactured components, such as those used, for

example, in screen testing.
3.2 Precautions
The following test requirements shall be met:
3.2.1
Precautions shall be taken to ensure that the cladding modes do not affect the measurement.
Cladding modes shall be stripped as a function of the fibre coating.
3.2.2
Precautions shall be taken to ensure the position of the fibres in the test remains fixed
between the measurement of P and P to avoid changes in attenuation due to bending
1 2
losses.
3.2.3
The stability performance of the test equipment shall be ≤0,05 dB or 10 % of the attenuation
to be measured, whichever is the lower value. The stability shall be maintained over the
measurement time and operational temperature range. The required measurement resolution
shall be 0,01 dB for both multimode and singlemode.
3.2.4
To achieve consistent results, clean and inspect all connectors and adaptors prior to
measurement. Visual examination shall be undertaken in accordance with IEC 61300-3-1.
3.2.5
The power in the fibre shall be at a level that does not generate non-linear scattering effects.
4 Apparatus
4.1 Source (S)
The source consists of an optical emitter, the means to connect to it and associated drive
electronics. In addition to meeting the stability and power level requirements, the source shall
have the following characteristics:
Centre wavelength: As detailed in the performance and product standard.
Spectral width Filtered LED ≤150 nm FWHM
Spectral width: LD <10 nm FWHM
For multimode fibres, broadband sources such as an LED shall be used.

61300-3-34 © IEC:2001(E) – 7 –

For singlemode fibres either an LED or LD may be used.

NOTE The interference of modes from a coherent source will create speckle patterns in multimode fibres. These

speckle patterns give rise to speckle or modal noise and are observed as power fluctuations, since their
characteristic times are longer than the resolution time of the detector. As a result, it may be impossible to achieve
stable launch conditions using coherent sources f
...