Optical Signal Parameters Converter
Convert between OMA, ER, and Sensitivity parameters for optical communication systems
Input Parameters
Quick Reference
OMA = P₁ - P₀
Where P₁ and P₀ are optical powers at "1" and "0" states
ER (dB) = 10 × log₁₀(P₁/P₀)
Extinction ratio in logarithmic form
Sensitivity = Minimum power required for specified BER
Typically measured in dBm
OMA
dBm--
Optical Modulation Amplitude
ER
dB--
Extinction Ratio
Sensitivity
dBm--
Receiver Sensitivity
Detailed Results
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enter values and click Calculate to see results | ||
Parameter Relationship Chart
This chart shows how the parameters relate to each other. The red point indicates your current input values.
Parameter Information
Optical Modulation Amplitude (OMA)
OMA is the difference between the optical power levels of a digital signal generated by an optical source, such as a laser diode.
OMA = P₁ - P₀
Where P₁ is the optical power when the light source is "on" and P₀ is the power when it is "off".
OMA can also be expressed in terms of average power (Pavg) and extinction ratio (ER):
OMA = 2 × Pavg × (ER - 1) / (ER + 1)
OMA is typically measured in dBm (decibels relative to one milliwatt).
Extinction Ratio (ER)
ER is the ratio of the optical power levels when the signal is sent at high level (P₁) and low level (P₀).
ER = P₁ / P₀
ER (dB) = 10 × log₁₀(ER)
ER is typically expressed in decibels (dB). A higher ER indicates better signal quality, as it means there's a larger difference between "1" and "0" states.
For most optical transceivers, ER values typically range from 4-10 dB, with higher values generally indicating better performance.
Receiver Sensitivity
Sensitivity is the minimum optical power required at the receiver to achieve a specified bit error rate (BER).
Sensitivity is typically measured in dBm and is specified for a particular BER, such as 10^-12.
Lower sensitivity values (more negative dBm) indicate better receiver performance, as they can detect weaker signals.
Sensitivity is affected by various factors including the receiver's electrical noise, the photodetector's quantum efficiency, and the signal's modulation format.