The simplest lab experiment might look like this: laser → device under test → power meter. The operator sets the laser wavelength, reads the power, records the result, changes the wavelength and repeats the procedure. With a handful of measurement points this can be done by hand — but if the characteristic needs to cover hundreds of wavelengths, or the measurement has to be repeated across many temperatures and samples, the manual approach quickly becomes impractical. OptiInstrument from Optiwave turns that procedure into an automated sequence of SCPI commands, loops and logic — with optional Python support.
From a manual measurement to an automated test bench
Automation turns a manual measurement procedure into a repeatable sequence of steps:
- set the source wavelength;
- wait for it to stabilize;
- read the value from the meter;
- record the result;
- change the parameter;
- repeat the measurement.
OptiInstrument lets you run single SCPI commands or entire sequences, build loops and logic, and generate a Python script from a sequence.
What can be automated?
A typical use of OptiInstrument is automated characterization of photonic components. This can include, for example, measuring:
- an element's transmission as a function of wavelength;
- insertion loss;
- an optical filter's characteristic;
- parameters of passive fiber-optic components;
- a source's spectrum;
- the response of a device under test at different VOA settings;
- how a characteristic changes during environmental testing.
Optiwave directly lists automated testing and characterization, testing of passive components, environmental testing, and saving acquired signals for further processing among OptiInstrument's applications.
SCPI — the common language of lab equipment
One of the foundations of instrument automation is SCPI. Instead of operating every device only from its front panel, the computer sends it the appropriate commands — they can set the device's parameters or read out measurement results. This lets a single computer coordinate the work of an entire test bench.
A practical setup might involve, for example: tunable laser → VOA → device under test → OSA or power meter. The controlling program sets successive measurement points, collects data and stores the results.
OptiInstrument supports both single commands and fully ordered sequences. The order of commands can be changed, delays can be applied, and while, if, else, elif and for statements can be used.
Python in measurement automation
An important part of OptiInstrument is its Python integration. A sequence of commands can be turned into a Python script, and the program also includes an editor for modifying and running that code. Python functions can also be plugged into test procedures.
This matters once a simple set → measure → save flow is no longer enough. You can then add your own calculations, data analysis, experiment stop conditions, or more elaborate calibration procedures.
Automating OSA, OTDR and VOA
Optiwave's materials describe, among other things, ready-made procedures for communicating with instruments such as:
- OSA — Optical Spectrum Analyzer;
- OTDR — Optical Time Domain Reflectometer;
- VOA — Variable Optical Attenuator;
- EXFO CTP10 measurement platforms.
OptiInstrument was developed by Optiwave in cooperation with EXFO, and one of its features is a set of ready-made scripts for automating measurements with EXFO equipment.
Why does automation improve measurement quality?
Automation is not only about saving time. With manual measurements, an operator can:
- set parameters slightly differently for successive samples;
- mix up the order of measurements;
- save a result in the wrong place;
- fail to keep the same stabilization time;
- accidentally skip a point on the characteristic.
An automated procedure runs the exact same sequence every time. This matters in particular when validating numerical models — if experimental results are to be compared against a simulation, the measurement procedure should be as controlled and repeatable as possible.
Automated wavelength sweeps
A good example is measuring a component's spectral characteristic. The program can run the procedure λ₁ → measure, λ₂ → measure, λ₃ → measure, … up to λₙ → measure. The results form the transmission-vs-wavelength characteristic, T(λ). In the same way you can study other dependencies, e.g. Pout(Pin), T(T), I(V) or BER(P). Automation makes it possible to run multi-dimensional experiments in which several parameters are varied according to a defined procedure.
Recording and analysing results
OptiInstrument can present data as charts and tables, and command results can be saved in formats including CSV and JSON. The program can also display multiple traces on a single chart. This means the measure → save → analyse procedure can all happen within one environment, and the data can then be handed off to other computational tools or used to compare against simulation results.
Simulation and experiment in one design process
Measurement automation is especially interesting when combined with simulation software. A typical cycle might look like: model → simulation → prototype → automated measurement → comparison → model correction. Optiwave lists integration of test equipment with photonic and system-simulation tools as one of OptiInstrument's applications — in practice, a natural extension of environments such as OptiSystem, OptiFiber or OptiSPICE. Simulation predicts how the device will behave, while an automated test bench lets you check whether the real component actually behaves according to the model.
Automation during production
Automated tests matter not only in R&D labs. In photonics manufacturing they can be used for:
- quality control;
- final testing;
- component selection;
- determining the parameters of every unit produced;
- aging tests;
- temperature tests;
- comparing successive production batches.
In this kind of application, repeatability of the procedure matters just as much as speed.
Where does OptiInstrument sit in the overall design process?
Photonics design can be broken down into several levels of tooling: component → circuit → system → experiment. OptiMode, OptiBPM, OptiFDTD or OptiFiber model structures and components. OptiSystem lets you analyse whole systems. OptiSPICE links the photonic and electronic domains at the circuit level. OptiInstrument sits on the side of the real experimental setup — it enables instrument control and automated data acquisition. This lets the digital design process be connected directly to measurement. We covered the earlier stage of picking a package in the guide How to choose optical simulation software?
Summary
OptiInstrument is not an optical-circuit simulator — its job is to automate real measurements. The program lets you control instruments, run SCPI sequences, use logic and loops, use Python, collect results and save data for further analysis. In a modern photonics lab this matters fundamentally, because it lets you move from a single manual experiment to a controlled process: simulation → prototype → automated test → validation.
Manufacturer materials and illustrations
The OptiInstrument product page includes interface screenshots, materials on integration with EXFO equipment, and application examples: Optiwave – OptiInstrument
The OptiInstrument 4.0 release description includes a screenshot of the program's single window plus photos of the LTB-12 and CTP10 measurement platforms: Optiwave – OptiInstrument 4.0 Release Announcement
A detailed description of SCPI communication and instrument interfaces: Optiwave – OptiInstrument Overview