IEC 62803-3:2024

Transmitting and receiving equipment for radiocommunication - Frequency response of optical-to-electric conversion device in high-frequency radio-over-fibre systems - Part 3: Measurement method of non-linear response of optical-to-electric converter

IEC 62803-3:2024 specifies the measurement method of the non-linear response of optical­to­electric converters in both optical signal transport systems and RoF systems. The method applies for the following:
- frequency range: up to 170 GHz;
- wavelength band: 0,8 µm to 2,0 µm.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 22-Aug-2024
• ICS: 33.060.20 - Receiving and transmitting equipment
• Technical Committee: TC 103 - Transmitting and receiving equipment for radiocommunication
• Drafting Committee: WG 6 - TC 103/WG 6
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 23-Aug-2024
• Completion Date: 20-Sep-2024

Overview

IEC 62803-3:2024 specifies a standardized measurement method for the non-linear response of optical‑to‑electric (O/E) converters used in optical transport and high‑frequency radio‑over‑fibre (RoF) systems. The method covers O/E devices (e.g., photodiodes and difference‑frequency‑generation devices) operating in the frequency range up to 170 GHz and the wavelength band 0.8 µm to 2.0 µm. It defines test circuits, measurement conditions and result presentation to quantify non‑linear distortion that affects regenerated radio signals in mmWave and terahertz RoF links.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope and limits: Applies to O/E converters in RoF and optical transport systems, frequency ≤ 170 GHz, wavelength 0.8–2.0 µm.
• Device types: Photodiodes (PD) and DFG devices are described with component and structural considerations.
• Non‑linear metrics: Measurement and calculation of third‑order intermodulation distortion (IMD3), input/output third‑order intercept points (IIP3, OIP3) and related frequency response characterization.
• Measurement principle: Two‑tone/DWB excitation and mathematical expressions for extracting IIP3/OIP3 and IMD3 behavior across frequency.
• Test set‑up: Defined circuit diagrams, DUT interface requirements, and recommended RF/optical connections.
• Measurement conditions: Environmental and equipment warm‑up procedures, temperature control and sampling practices for quality control.
• Data presentation: Guidance on presenting frequency response plots (IIP3/OIP3 spectra), examples (informative annex) and sampling frequency for production testing.

Applications and Who Uses This Standard

This standard is essential for professionals involved in:

• Photonic device and photodiode manufacturers validating O/E linearity for high‑frequency RoF products.
• Test laboratories and calibration houses performing conformity and performance testing up to millimetre‑wave/terahertz bands.
• System integrators and RF/optical engineers designing RoF links for 5G/6G, backhaul/fronthaul, and wireless access systems.
• Regulatory and compliance engineers assessing interference and radio‑signal quality affected by O/E non‑linearities.
• R&D teams developing high‑spectral‑efficiency modulation schemes where device linearity is critical.

Related Standards

• Part of the IEC 62803 series (see IEC website for other parts on frequency response of O/E conversion devices).
• Complements RF and optical measurement standards used by test labs and telecommunications bodies.

IEC 62803-3:2024 provides a practical, internationally aligned procedure for measuring and reporting O/E converter non‑linearities-critical for reliable high‑frequency RoF performance and compliance.

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 62803-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2024-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Transmitting and receiving equipment for radiocommunication – Frequency
response of optical-to-electric conversion device in high-frequency radio-over-
fibre systems –
Part 3: Measurement method of non-linear response of optical-to-electric
converter
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IEC 62803-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2024-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Transmitting and receiving equipment for radiocommunication – Frequency

response of optical-to-electric conversion device in high-frequency radio-over-

fibre systems –
Part 3: Measurement method of non-linear response of optical-to-electric

converter
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.060.20  ISBN 978-2-8322-9570-0

– 2 – IEC 62803-3:2024 © IEC 2024
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 7
3.1 Terms and definitions . 7
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 8
4 Optical-to-electric converters . 8
4.1 Photodiode (PD) . 8
4.1.1 General . 8
4.1.2 Component parts . 8
4.1.3 Structure . 8
4.1.4 Specification of PD . 9
4.2 DFG device . 9
4.2.1 General . 9
4.2.2 Component parts . 9
4.2.3 Structure . 9
4.2.4 Specification of DFG device . 9
5 Sampling for quality control . 10
5.1 Sampling. 10
5.2 Sampling frequency . 10
6 Measurement method of non-linear response . 10
6.1 Circuit diagram . 10
6.2 Circuit description and requirements . 11
6.3 Measurement conditions . 12
6.3.1 Temperature and environment . 12
6.3.2 Warming-up of measurement equipment . 12
6.4 Principle of measurement method . 12
6.4.1 General . 12
6.4.2 Mathematical expressions of basic measurement principle . 12
6.4.3 Principle of non-linear response in optical-to-electric converters . 14
6.5 Measurement procedure . 15
6.6 Presentation of the results . 16
Annex A (informative) Example of measurement results in a photodiode . 17
A.1 Overview. 17
A.2 Example of results in the measurement procedure . 17
Bibliography . 19

Figure 1 – Optical-to-electrical conversion by photo diode . 9
Figure 2 – DFG device . 9
Figure 3 – Circuit diagram . 11
Figure 4 – Schematic illustrations of optical input, electrical output, and their
relationships to determine IIP3 and OIP3 . 15

Figure 5 – Example of frequency response of IIP3 (black) and OIP3 (red) . 16
Figure A.1 – Optical spectrum of optical signals input into the photodiode . 17
Figure A.2 – IIP3 spectrum obtained at a frequency of 6 GHz . 18
Figure A.3 – Frequency response of IIP3 . 18

– 4 – IEC 62803-3:2024 © IEC 2024
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING EQUIPMENT FOR
RADIOCOMMUNICATION – FREQUENCY RESPONSE OF
OPTICAL‑TO‑ELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE IN
HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO-OVER-FIBRE SYSTEMS –

Part 3: Measurement method of non-linear response
of optical-to-electric converter

FOREWORD
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IEC 62803-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 103: Transmitting and receiving
equipment for radiocommunication. It is an International Standard.

The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
103/270/FDIS 103/273/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
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A list of all parts in the IEC 62803 series, published under the general title Transmitting and
receiving equipment for radiocommunication – Frequency response of optical‑to‑electric
conversion device in high-frequency radio-over-fibre systems, can be found on the IEC website.
Future documents in this series will carry the new general title as cited above. Titles of existing
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– 6 – IEC 62803-3:2024 © IEC 2024
INTRODUCTION
A variety of photonic devices operated in microwave, millimetre-wave, and terahertz-wave
bands are useful for an optical fibre transport system as well as for wireless communication and
broadcasting systems. An optical-to-electric conversion device plays as an interface, which
converts an optical signal into an electrical signal directly.
Microwave, millimetre-wave and terahertz-wave radio-over-fibre (RoF) systems are comprised
of two parts: an electric-to-optical converter (E/O), and an optical-to-electric converter (O/E).
Radio waves are converted into an optical signal at the E/O, and the signal is transferred
through the optical fibre, and then the radio waves are regenerated at the O/E.
A variety of photonic devices which carry microwave, millimetre-wave, and terahertz-wave
signals at subcarrier frequencies are used for high-frequency RoF systems. In advanced radio
wireless communication systems, orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing and multi-level
modulation techniques have been implemented for the enhancement of spectral efficiency.
Even in high-frequency wireless systems in the millimetre-wave and terahertz-wave bands, high
spectral efficiency modulation and demodulation formats are indispensable. These advanced
modulation formats require a high linearity in devices and transmission lines, and therefore, the
high-frequency RoF system should also have high linearity to transfer these radio signals.
Particularly in optical-to-electric converters, non-linear distortions directly affect the quality of
regenerated radio signals, to be compliant with radio regulations. Therefore, the non-linear
response of the optical-to-electric converter is a key characteristic to specify result signal quality.
This document defines the measurement method of a non-linear response, which has a
significant impact on the performance of RoF systems.

TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING EQUIPMENT FOR
RADIOCOMMUNICATION – FREQUENCY RESPONSE OF
OPTICAL‑TO‑ELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE IN
HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO-OVER-FIBRE SYSTEMS –

Part 3: Measurement method of non-linear response
of optical-to-electric converter

1 Scope
This part of IEC 62803 specifies the measurement method of the non-linear response of
optical-to-electric converters in both optical signal transport systems and RoF systems. The
method applies for the following:
– frequency range: up to 170 GHz;
– wavelength band: 0,8 µm to 2,0 µm.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform
...