MAX3865

The MAX3865 evaluation kit (EV kit) has one circuit for electrical evaluation and a second circuit for optical evaluation. The electrical EV board is designed to familiarize the user with the behavior of the automatic power control (APC) and automatic modulation control (AMC) features of the MAX3865 in an environment that is easy to instrument using the many test points provided. The optical EV board closely resembles what might be found in an actual communications environment.

The electrical part of the EV kit is designed to familiarize the user with the controlling action of the MAX3865. The kit contains a synthetic laser plus monitor diode, for which threshold current and gain can be varied through jumper connections. The user can program values for the bias (average) and modulation (peak-to-peak) currents in the monitor diode for a desired extinction ratio. The synthetic laser can be changed to simulate variation of temperature or approaching end of life, and the extinction ratio is held constant. Parameters such as loop settling time or the restrictions imposed on the maximum currents in the laser can also be observed.