Abstract: A system and method for individually controlling channels of a multi-channel optical communications system are described. The optical communications system uses optical transmitters such as semi-conductor lasers for each channel. A drive circuit provides energizing energy to each laser in order to generate a modulated output. In the present invention a programmable memory such as an EPROM is used to individually control drive conditions for each laser in order to tailor the output.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring performance characteristics such as bit error rate (BER) in a multiple parallel-channel digital communications system. A transmitter such as a VCSEL array outputs multiple, high data rate, digital signals onto an appropriate media for reception at a receiving end. The test architecture uses a test pattern generator at the transmitter end and a data re-shaper connected to a receiver in each channel. The output of each re-shaper is serially connected back into the next channel transmitter until each channel has been tested. An error detector connected serially to the last receiver provides an evaluation of the characteristics of the multiple channels.