=== General Overview ===
Ver 1
[[NeoScan]]® real-time field measurement and scanning system is a turnkey, electric or magnetic field probe and measurement system. It can be configured as a near-field scanning system for mapping aperture-level field distributions with minimal invasiveness to the device or system under test. Or it can be used as a real-time field probe system for sensing or detecting electric and magnetic fields in a variety of media.
<br>
<b>LNA</b>: Low-Noise Amplifier
<br>
<b>LO</b>: Local Oscillator/The carrier input port of a mixer
<br>
<ul>
<li>
<p>The system operates from a 100V or 120V nominal AC power source having a line frequency of 50 or 60 Hz. Before connecting the power cord to a power source, verify that the AC input voltage value is correct. <br/p>
</li>
<li>
<p>[[NeoScan]] real-time field measurement and scanning system contains a 40 mW laser diode emitting Class 3B laser radiation at ~1550 nm. The direct output power from the fiber port of each probe channel on the front panel is less than 10 mW. The beam at 1550 nm is invisible to human being and the invisible beam can be hazardous if directed at the eye. Direct exposure of eye to the invisible laser beam must be avoided. <br/p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The fans in [[NeoScan]] optical mainframe are required to maintain proper operation. Do not block the vents in the frame box.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>In order to avoid EMC/EMI effect, keep the [[NeoScan]] box as far away from the DUT as possible.</p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Follow standard electrostatic-discharge precaution, including grounding yourself prior to making cable connections to the system. A ground strap provides the most effective grounding and minimizes the likelihood of electrostatic damage.</p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Handle the probes and the PM fibers with extreme care. </p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Gently clean and attach the appropriate fiber connectors to the correct fiber port of the [[NeoScan]] system. </p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Do not excessively pull or bend the fiber.</p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>The probe tip is extremely fragile. Do not strike the probe tip. Always keep the probes in a safe place. </p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Keep the cables and the fibers handy in safe positions, but out of the way and untangled.</p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Always use an SMA torque wrench when connecting the SMA connectors.</p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Do not over-torque the microwave SMA connectors.</p>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p>Do not over-tighten the optical connectors.</p>
</li>
</ul>
Unpack the [[NeoScan]] translation stage components. To install (see Appendix A-l):
<lool>
<li>
<p>Place the Y Linear Translation Stage on a stable flat table, preferably an optical table.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Mount the X Linear Translation Stage on the Y Linear Translation Stage using four screws as shown by red screws in Figure 2.2.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Mount the Plate on the X Linear Translation Stage. Fasten its four edges with screws as indicated by green arrows in Figure 2.2.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Place the X, Y, and Z Miniature Translation Stages on the front edge of the Optical Plate and fasten its four edges with screws as indicated by arrows in Figure 2.2.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Attach the Plastic Probe Fixture to the XYZ Miniature Translation Stage.</p>
</li>
</ulol>
<center>[[Image:neoscanfig_2_2.png|thumb|center|650px|<i><b>Figure 2.2</b>: Installing NeoScan Translation Stage.</i>]]</center>
<td>
</td>
<td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_4.png|thumb|center|500px|<i><b>Figure 2.4</b>: How to remove a probe from foam and holding an EO probe and the PM fiber.</i>]]
</td>
To remove a probe and the fiber from the box:
<uool>
<li>
<p>Carefully press the both sides of the foam near the probe head, carefully un-wedge the probe from its slot, and then lift the probe. Figure 2.4 shows a picture how to remove a probe.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Carefully remove the probe from the foam, making sure to grasp the probe glass tube and not the probe tip, as this may damage the EO probe.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>While holding the probe from its glass tube and keep the fiber sheath in your hand, avoid stretching the white plastic shield part of the fiber. Do not pull the plastic shield part hard.</p>
</li>
</uool>
=== Handling the Probes and the Fibers ===
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_5.png|thumb|right|500px|<i><b>Figure 2.5</b>: Cleaning a connector end face using a dry cleaning cloth reel-based cassette cleaner.</i>]] The Probes and the fibers are made of a very pure, sensitive, and expensive materials. Treat them with care. Unwind a fiber gently and work out any tangles carefully.
<ul>
Remove the protective cap on the optical fiber cable connector. Connectors should be cleaned before interconnection. Any dirt or contamination can damage the connector or degrade performance. In other words, fiber optic connectors should to be cleaned every time they are mated and unmated. Use a dry cleaning cloth (reel-based cassette cleaner) to remove dirt, dust, and oil from connector end faces (Figure 2.5). You can also carefully clean a dirty fiber connector with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and then dry with FIS fiber optic cleaner.
<center>
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_5.png|thumb|center|600px|<i><b>Figure 2.5</b>: Cleaning a connector end face using a dry cleaning cloth reel-based cassette cleaner.</i>]]
</center>
=== Connecting the Probe to [[NeoScan]] Optical Mainframe ===
As a quick system test:
<lool>
<li>
<p>Plug in the [[NeoScan]] optical mainframe power cord into an electrical receptacle and turn it on. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Connect control computer AC power adapter and turn on the control computer.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Connect USB multi-port Hub AC power adapter to the power. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Connect the [[NeoScan]] Optical Mainframe USB Interface Port on the rear panel to a port on the USB Hub, then connect the control computer USB Interface Port to another port on the USB Hub. The USB Hub is a plug and play device.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Attach the appropriate fiber connectors to the correct fiber ports of the [[NeoScan]] system (Probe 1, Probe 2, or Probe 3), see section 2.6.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>[[Image:icon_OBM.png|right|]] Open the [[NeoScan]] Optical Bench Manager program. The [[NeoScan]] Optical Bench Manager program is a Labview-Based System Operation which monitors the system status and the total return and polarization optical powers (see section 3.1 for more details). It is accessible through the desktop or Windows Explorer by double clicking on NeoScanOBM icon [[Image:icon_OBMicon_OBM_small.png]] as shown in Figure 2.7. The program will start running as shown in Figure 2.8.</p>
</li>
</lool>
<center>[[Image:neoscanfig_2_7.png|thumb|rightcenter|500px|<i><b>Figure 2.7</b>: NeoScan Program Group in or Windows Explorer.</i>]] </center> When the program starts, the system should detect the total return power and polarization power and display their graphs over time and show their numerical values in mW, see Figure 2.8. The green “Probe Detected” indicator light will indicate that the probe is connected to the correct channel. Otherwise, if either the total return power or the polarization power is too low (less than 0.3 mW), the information panel will remind the users to correct the problem. This can be the case if the probe is not connected or is defective or there is a problem with the [[NeoScan]] system (Figure 2.9). Select the channel number you want to check using the dropdown list labeled “Select Channel.”
<center>
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_8.png|thumb|center|600px650px|<i><b>Figure 2.8</b>: The total return power and polarization power of delivered beam to optical probe.</i>]]
<br>
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_9.png|thumb|center|600px650px|<i><b>Figure 2.199</b>: NeoScan Optical Bench Manager indicating that the total return power is too low.</i>]]
</center>
During the scan or optimization process, the probe will be mounted on a plastic probe fixtures. The plastic probe fixtures has been mounted on translation stage by a single cap screw and holds the probe (Figure 2.10). The probe is positioned inside the gap located on probe holder and is secured by a cap which is fastened by screws as shown in Figure 2.11.
<center>
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_10.png|thumb|center|650px|<i><b>Figure 2.10</b>: Mounting the plastic probe fixtures on a moving translation stage.</i>]]
</center>
<ol><li> <p>Set up the 2-axis translation stage on a stable flat table, an optical table is preferred.</p></li><li> <p>Mount the plastic probe fixtures on the Z linear translation stage using the screw,.</p></li><li> <p>Loosen all screws of the cubic probe holder. Lift the cap and rest the probe holder on a flat horizontal flat surface. Gently insert the probe into the gap in the plastic probe holder in such a way that that about 0.6” (1.5cm) of the probe comes out from the either ends of the gap (Figure 2.11).</p></li><li> <p>While the probe is sitting inside the gap, place the cap on the probe holder and secure it by fastening the four plastic screws. Make sure it is tight is enough so that the probe does not slip out of the gap. Yet, do not tighten hard since it may break the probe glass. Tighten the screws until you feel that you are not able to rotate the probe by your fingers.</p></li><li> <p>Place the cube holder inside the probe fixture head in such a way that the probe passes through the existing hole (Figure 2.12). Make sure the probe does not hit the edges of the hole, otherwise, it may break and the crystal may fall off.</p></li><li> <p>To avoid bending the soft plastic shield of the fiber, pass the fiber through the top of the probe fixture using regular (Scotch) adhesive tapes as shown in Figure 2.13.</p> <p>Important: When pulling out the probe from the hole, make sure the probe is positioned vertically and the probe tip does not touch the edges of the hole.</p></li></ol> <center>[[Image:neoscanfig_2_11.png|thumb|center|650px|<i><b>Figure 2.11</b>: Placing the probe inside the probe holder.</i>]]<br>[[Image:neoscanfig_2_12.png|thumb|center|650px|<i><b>Figure 2.12</b>: Inserting the probe holder inside the probe fixture head.</i>]]</center>
Two black markers on the tangential probe indicate the E-field sensitivity direction (probes’ polarization direction). They should be oriented along the electric field in order to detect the maximum signal, see Figure 2.14.
<center>
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_13.png|thumb|center|650px|<i><b>Figure 2.13</b>: Securing the probe on the probe fixture.</i>]]
<br>
[[Image:neoscanfig_2_14.png|thumb|center|650px|<i><b>Figure 2.14</b>: Black markers on the tangential probe indicating the E-field sensitivity direction (probes’ polarization direction).</i>]]
</center>