LAB HANDOUT

OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Course Code: 09EC417 IV/IV B.Tech, I Semester

Team of Instructors
Dr. G .V. SUBBARAO (CC) D. S. RAM KIRAN M.V.D PRASAD K.SONY M. DIVYA S. SUSRUTHA BABU

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

KL UNIVERSITY
VADDESWARAM, GUNTUR 522 502 (A.P.) INDIA

2013-14

INDEX

1. LABORATORY PROFILE

2. LAB EVALUATION

3. PROPOSED LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

4. AIM OF SELECTING THE BASIC EXPERIMENTS

5. LAB MANUAL FOR BASIC EXPERIMENTS

a. EXPERIMENT 1

b. EXPERIMENT 2

c. EXPERIMENT 3

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6. LIST OF PROPOSED PROJECTS

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1. LABORATORY PROFILE
Name of the lab Course code Number of Basic Experiments Number of Mini Projects Team of Lab Instructors : OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS : 09EC417 : 3 : 1 out of proposed 20. : Dr. G .V. SUBBARAO (CC) D. S. RAM KIRAN VARA KUMARI M.V.D PRASAD S. SUSRUTHA BABU K.SONY Team of lab technicians Number of student for work bench :Padmasri and Satyavathi :3

2. LAB EVALUATION
Distribution of Weightage
S.No Component Marks Type of exam and Mode of assessment 1 Laboratory 60 End Lab examination (external evaluation) 60 marks are allotted for semester end laboratory/drawing examination. Midterm Lab Tests in lab experiments/drawing/Job works and Record 15 Internal evaluation 5 Continuous Viva Voce evaluation Attendance. Scheme of examination

20 Internal evaluation 40

3. PROPOSED LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

1. MEASUREMENT OF LOSSES WITH OPTICAL FIBER
a. Propagation ... b. Bending.

Page No 5 7

2. STUDY OF CHARACTERISTICS a. Sources i. LASER ii. LED b. Detectors i. Photo transistor. 3. STUDY OF MODULATION SCHEMES a. Frequency modulation.. b. Pulse width modulation c. Pulse Position modulation.. 17 19 20 14 8 13

4. AIM OF SELECTING BASIC EXPERIMENTS

1. From the first experiment the student can get exposure to different types of losses ahead during transmission of information over optical fiber link. 2. From the second experiment the student can able to analyze the data transmission using various intensity modulation techniques in optical fiber communications. 3. From the third experiment the student can assess the dynamic characteristics of the Sources and Detectors used in optical fiber communications.

5. LAB MANUAL FOR BASIC EXPERIMENTS

EXPERIMENT: 1 Date:

Measurement of Losses in Optical Transmission path

AIM: a. Measurement of fiber propagation loss. c. Measurement of bending loss. APPARATUS: 1.Laser / LED 2.Source coupler 3.Fibre spool THEORY: Power Loss in dB = 10 log (P1 /P2) dB Where, P1 and P2 represent the input and output light power. The losses of optical power in fibers are wavelength dependent. Therefore, light of different wavelengths launched into the same fiber will suffer different amount of losses. Attenuation coefficient is expressed in dB/km and is found by dividing the loss by the length of the fiber. JUMPER DIAGRAM FOR CONNECTIONS 4.Detector 5.Power measurement apparatus

a. PROPAGATION LOSS: PROCEDURE: 1. The optical power using a sinusoidal i/p voltage of 1V at 1kHz, is fed into a long length fiber using the experimental setup as shown in the diagram. 2. The optical power (P1) is then measured at the far end of the fiber using a detector and power meter. 3. Replace the fiber with another one of different length and estimate the o/p power (P2) and compute its dB value. 4. Measure the lengths of fibers (L1, L2). 5. Obtain their power loss per unit length.

OBSERVATIONS: = Ploss/Length (dB/m)

S.No

Length of fiber (m)

V in (V)

Vout (V)

Ploss=10 log(Vout/Vin) (dB)

# Fora best quality fibres these losses are of the order of 1 dB/ km or less.

b.

BENDING LOSS

PROCEDURE: 1. The optical power using a sinusoidal i/p voltage of 1V at 1kHz, is fed into a long length fiber formed into a loop using the experimental setup as shown in the diagram. 2. The optical power (P1) is then measured at the far end of the fiber using a detector and power meter. 3. Change the diameter of the loop and repeat the procedure for 3 to 4 diameters and measure the o/p power. 4. Compute bending loss corresponding to the curvature in each step and plot a graph.

OBSERVATIONS:

S.No

Diameter of fiber loop (cm)

V in (V)

Vout (V)

Ploss=10 log(Vout/Vin) (dB)

Model graph

EXPERIMENT: 2 Date:

LASER DIODE CHARACTERISTICS AIM: Measurement of VI Characteristics of Laser Diode

EQUIPMENT:

1. Fiber Link - E Kit

2. Glass Fiber Cable with ST connector 3. Patch cords 4. Voltmeter 5. Ammeter 6. Power Supply

EQUIPMENT SET UP:

Connection diagram

THEORY In Optical Fiber communication system, Electrical signal is first converted into optical signal with the help of EIO conversion device such as LED or LASER DIODE here. After this optical signal is transmitted through Optical Fiber, it is retrieved in its original electrical form with the help OlEconversion device such as photo detector. Different technologies employed in chip fabrication lead to significant variation in parameters for the various laser diodes. All the laser diodes distinguish themselves in offering high output power coupled into the important peak wavelength of emission, conversion efficiency (usually specified in terms of power launched in optical Fiber peak wavelength of emission, conversion efficiency (usually specified in terms of power launched in optical Fiber for specified forward current) optical rise and fall times which put the limitation on operating frequency, maximum forward current through laser diode and typical forward voltage across laser diode. An important feature of laser diodes is their ability to respond to direct, high-speed modulation. In pulse drive operation, if the DC bias current, Ib, is less than the threshold current, Ith, a time delay will result between the drive current pulse and the optical power output pulse. Therefore, the DC bias current is normally set just above the threshold current to obtain quick response. Photo detectors usually comes in variety of forms photoconductive, photovoltaic, transistor type output and diode type output. Here also characteristics to be taken into account are response time of the detector, which puts the limitation on the operating frequency, wavelength sensitivity and responsivity.

FORWARD CURRENT Vrs. FORWARD VOLTAGE: The current-voltage properties of the GaAIAs semiconductor laser are similar to that of silicon diodes. When a forward voltage is applied to the laser, current starts to pass at a certain threshold voltage. This is called the threshold voltage. The threshold voltage of the GaAIAs semiconductor laser is approx. 1 .2V, which is considerably higher than that of silicon diodes (approx. O.6V) in general. Since the reverse breakdown voltage is far lower (absolute maximum
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rating = 2V) than that of silicon diodes (more than 30V), care must be taken not to apply a reverse voltage exceeding this maximum rating. FIG. 2.1 compares forward current and forward voltage for different temperatures. The forward voltage of the GaAIAs semiconductor laser has a temperature coefficient of approx.1.5 mV/oC (MAX). Forward voltage drops by approx. 75 mV over a 50C temperature variation. BEFORE SWITCHING ON: Before powering up LlNK-E ensure that the knobs to control the DC bias current to the Laser Diode Transmitter are turned fully anti-clockwise. TABULAR FORM: FREQUENCY 1MHZ -1V 1310Nm S.NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I(mA) 0 0.1 0.5 1 2 3 4 5 10 15 V(Volt)

VI CHARACTERISTICS OF LASER DIODE MODEL GRAPH:

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PROCEDURE:

FORWARD CURRENT VS. FORWARD VOLTAGE 1. Confirm that the power switch is in OFF position and then connect it to the kit. 2. Make the jumper settings and connections as shown in the block diagram FIG.2.5.

3. Insert the jumper connecting wires (provided along with the kit) in jumper JP1, JP2 and JP3 at positions shown in the diagram. 4. Connect the ammeter and voltmeter with the jumper wires connected to JP2 and JP3 with jumper at R16 as shown in the block diagram. 5. Keep switch SW1 in ANALOG position. 6. Keep the potentiometer P5 in anti-clockwise rotation. It is used to control intensity of laser diode. 7. Connect external signal generator to ANALOG IN post of Analog buffer and apply sine wave frequency of 1 MHz, 1V p-p signal precisely. 8. Then connect ANALOG OUT post to ANALOG IN post of transmitter. 9. Then Switch on the power supply. To get the IV characteristics of Laser diode, rotate P5 lowly and measure forward current and corresponding forward voltage at JP2 and JP3
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respectively. Take number of such readings for various current values and plot IV characteristics graph (FIG. 2.8) for the Laser diode.

BEFORE SWITCHING OFF:

When the experimental laboratory session has finished, first disable the waveform generator, then reduce the current for Laser Diode Transmitters (e.g. turn anticlockwise), disconnect all the fiber patch cords and replace their dust caps as well as those for the transmitter and the receiver. Finally remove all of the patch cords and switch off the mains power at the rear of the unit.

RESULT: IV Characteristics of laser diode is obtained.

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EXPERIMENT: 2 Date: CHARACTERISTICS OF 850nm LEDs AIM: To study the relationship between the LED dc forward current and the LED optical Power output and to determine the linearity of the device at 660nm as well as 850nm. APPARATUS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Optical Fiber Analog Transmitter Optical Fiber Analog Receiver Optical Fiber Probes Digital Multimeters 3

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THEORY: To be useful in fiber transmission applications an LED must have a high radiance output, a fast emission response time and a high quantum efficiency. Its radiance is a measure of the optical power radiated into a unit solid angle per unit area of the emitting surface. High radiances are necessary to couple sufficiently high optical power levels into a fiber. The emission response is the time delay between the application of a current pulse and the onset of optical emission. The quantum efficiency is related to the fraction of injected electron hole pairs that recombine radiantly.

Jumper diagram for I-V characteristics PROCEDURE: 1. Insert the jumper connecting wires in jumpers J 17 and J16 as shown in the above Figure. 2. Connect the current meter and voltmeter with jumper wires connected to J17 and J 16 as shown. 3. Keep the potentiometers Pr 10 in its maximum position and Pr 9 in its minimum position. Pr10 Controls the current flowing through LED, whereas Pr 9used to vary the amplitude of the received signal at photo transistor.

I-V Characteristics of LED

4. Rotate Pr10 slowly and measure forward current and corresponding voltage. Take the number of readings for various current values and plot I-V Characteristics for LED.
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5. For each reading, find out the power by taking the product of I and V. Plot the graph of optical power output to forward current.

OBSERVATIONS: For 660nm: S.NO 1 2 3 4 VOLTAGE (V) 0.101 0.156 0.218 0.277 IE1 (mA) . PO .

MODEL GRAPH:

PHOTO TRANSISTOR DETECTOR CHARACTERISTICS: 4. Pr9 in its minimum position provides 100 in series of emitter and ground of photo transistor, hence Pr9 is kept in its minimum position. 5. Connect a fiber cable b/w LED(SFH756V) and photo transistor (SFH350V). 6. Launch optical power onto fiber and measure output voltage at analog output terminal. Find out the current flowing through photo transistor. 7. Repeat steps step 8 for various power values and plot the graph for the responsivity of photo transistor.
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Forward Voltage of LED VF (Volts)

Forward current of LED IF (mA)

Electrical power Pi= Vf If (mW)

Optical power P0=1.15 Pi

V0

R=(0.8 mA) P0 / 10 W

MODEL GRAPH:

PRECAUTIONS:

1. 2. 3.

Optical fiber cable should be handled with care. The readings should be taken without parallax errors. Connect the optical fiber cable to the ports with minimum force applied, tightly so that no path losses occur.

RESULT: From this experiment we observe that the LEDs at 660nm and 850nm have a linear response of P0 versus IF in a limited region

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EXPERIMENT-3: STUDY OF MODULATION SCHEMES WITH OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION LINK

a. Frequency modulation. b. Pulse width modulation. c. Pulse amplitude modulation.

Aim: To study the circuit action of frequency modulation and demodulation over the fibre cable link using 660 &950 nm LED. APPARATUS: 1. Powersupply 2 Optical Fiber trainer kit, 3. 20Mhz Dual Trace Oscilloscope, 4. 1Mhz Function Generator, 5. 1mtr Cable, 6. 3mtr Cable, 7. Scale, 8. Calculator. A. FREQUENCY MODULATION THEORY Frequency modulation conveys the information over message signal by varying its frequency according amplitude .Here the modulating signal is a sinusoidal signal orany speech signal .The frequency of the modulated signal varies with the amplitude of the carrier proportionally. For transmission of the FM signal, we use of cables.

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Procedure: 1.Connect the fiber and arrange all the remaining as shown in the block diagram.

2.Slightly unscrew the cap of LEDSFH 756v Tx1 (660nm), do not remove the cap from the connector. Once the cap is loosened, insert the fiber into the cap and ensure that the fiber is properly fixed. Now tighten cap by screwing it back. Keep intensity pot P3 at minimum position (fully anticlockwise). 3. Make connections and jumper settings as shown in figure. Connect the power supply cables with proper polarity to kit while connecting this ensure that the power supply is OFF. 4. Select frequency range of about 1KHZ from function generator with the help of range selection switch sw1.Frequency can be varied with pot2. 5. Connect sineport of function generator section to FM input port of FM modulation section. 6. Connect Fm out post section of FM modulator section to IN post of Fm modulator.

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7. Switch ON power supply and observe a signal on CRO at output port of analog buffer FM waveform from function generator ,could be observed. 8. Increase the time period of the CRO and you could obtain waveform as shown .keep your voltage level to 0.5vpp. 9. The frequency deviation f can be calculated as follows. From CRO, evaluate fm and fm detecting the periods of respective sine waves. 10. Value of the modulation index mf is calculated by the mf= f/f, where f is the frequeny of modulating signal. 11. Connect other end of fibre to detector SFH250v in kit very carefully as per instruction in step1. 12. Observe output signal from detector at analog outport on CRO by adjusting intensity pot p3.and you should get reproduction of original transmitted signal. 13. Observe demod.signal at fm demod. out pot and then observe output at filter out post which is named as output signal. 14. The fact that there is still same as high frequency ripple at output of FM.

Demodulation block we use the lowpass filter block to overcome this problem.

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PRECAUTIONS: 1. Optical fiber cable should be handled with care. 2. The readings should be taken without parallax errors. 3. Connect the optical fiber cable to the ports with minimum force applied, tightly so that no path losses occur.

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B. PULSE WIDTH MODULATION PROCEDURE: 1. Connect the power supply to the transmitter and the receiver kit. While doing this, ensure that the power supply is OFF. 2. Make the connection as per given in the block diagram shown below

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Apply 1KHz,1V peak-to-peak voltage sine wave from function generator at PWM input Switch on the power supply and function generator. Observe the PWM waveform at PWM O/P. Vary the frequency of input sine wave and measured the variation in PWM O/P. Slightly unscrew the cap of IR LED SFH 450V (950nm) on the transmitter kit and insert the fiber. After assuring that fiber is properly fixed, tighten the cap by screwing it back. Similarly, connect the other end of fiber to detector SFH 250V on receiver kit.

8.

Now connect the PWM output to amplifier AMP I/P and connect the AMP O/P to transmitter I/P.

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9.

Short the both +9V by shorting link

10. Observe the received signal at DETECTOR O/P in receiver kit. Adjust the gain control pot P1 to obtain the same amplitude as the transmitted signal. 11. Connect the DETECTOR O/P to the input of pulse amplitude demodulator. Observed the original sine wave at PWM O/P.

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C. PULSE POSITION MODULATION

PROCEDURE:

1.

Connect the power supply to the transmitter and the receiver kit. While doing this, ensure that the power supply is OFF.

2.

Make the connection as per given in the block diagram in fig 2.1

3. 4. 5. 6.

Apply 1KHz,1V peak-to-peak voltage sine wave from function generator at PPM input Switch on the power supply and function generator. Observe the PPM waveform at PPM O/P Vary the Amplitude of input sine wave and measured the variation in PPM O/P

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7.

Slightly unscrew the cap of LED SFH 256V (660nm) on the transmitter kit and insert the fiber. After assuring that fiber is properly fixed, tighten the cap by screwing it back. Similarly, connect the other end of fiber to detector SFH 250V on receiver kit.

8.

Now connect the PPM output to amplifier AMP I/P and connect the AMP O/P to transmitter I/P.

9.

Short the both +9V by shorting link

10. Observe the received signal at detector O/P in receiver kit. Adjust the gain control pot P1 to obtain the same amplitude as the transmitted signal. 11. Connect the detector O/P to the input of pulse amplitude demodulator. 12. Observed the original sine wave at PPM O/P as shown below.

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RESOLVING STEPS FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECTS

1. FIBER OPTIC LINK DESIGN. a. Power estimation at the source. b. Measure the sensitivity of the receiver c. Estimate the power loss with fiber. d. Estimate the total link loss and realize it. e. Design the link with estimations obtained from the above steps. 2. FIBER BASED VOICE/DATA COMMUNICATIONS. a. Identifying requirement at various levels of designing the link. b. Voice/data to analog voltage conversion c. Modulation of source with the data and launching power onto fiber. d. Extraction of power at the receiver using fiber link. e. Demodulation of the information at the second end. 3. OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR DEVICE CONTROL a. Identifying requirement at various levels of designing the link. b. Design interface for connecting a stepper motor at the detector end. c. Generate PWM to reflect the required speed. d. Design a PWM generating fiber link and excite it. e. Study various factors influencing motor speed and design. 4. IR REMOTE CONTROL (SINGLE OBJECT / MULTIPLE OBJECTS). a. Design a source to generate coding signal corresponding to a device. b. Design corresponding detector circuit within the device to respond. c. Activate them and test. d. Study distance, direction and attenuation for various cases. 5. DISTANCE MEASUREMENT USING CHIRP BASED STIMULATION a. Generate chirp signal using FM modulator. b. Design a detector circuit for proper reception. c. Launch the generated chirp signal onto fiber and study spectral variations with fiber length at the fiber end.

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d. Record the data using digital CRO and cross correlate the data. e. Estimate the time delay between auto correlation of generated signal and cross correlated signal for fiber and free space gaps. f. Estimate the distance. 6. ESTIMATION OF ATTENUATION USING PULSE COMPRESSION. a. Generate chirp signal using FM modulator. b. Design a detector circuit for proper reception. c. Launch the generated chirp signal onto fiber and study spectral variations with fiber length at the fiber end. d. Record the data using digital CRO and cross correlate the data. e. Estimate the correlation coefficient for various lengths of the fiber and bring a relation for this method. Compare it with OTDR. 7. ESTIMATION SPECTRAL DISTORTION IN OPTICAL FIBER TRANSMISSION. a. Generate various signals using FM modulator and study their spectral distributions. b. Launch them onto fiber and compare the spectral variations between i/p and o/p signals. c. Repeat them for various fiber lengths. 8. DESITY OF FLUID USING OPTICAL COMMUNICATION a. Construct a fiber link putting an empty glass tube in its transmitting path. b. Study of attenuation property of the link by pouring a liquid of interest and measure the reading of receiver. c. Do the same for variety of liquids and calibrate the apparatus. d. Measure the unknown density of any liquid. 9. EVENT COUNTER/ SPEEDO METER DESIGN USING OPTICAL METHODS. a. Generate electro-optic equivalent of fiber using Simulink. b. Study of attenuation and spectral distortion for various lengths of fiber c. Estimate the time delay between auto correlation of generated signal and cross correlated signal for fiber and free space gaps. d. Estimate the distance.
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10. SPECTRAL RESPONSE OF OPTICAL FILTERS. a. Generate polychromatic radiation from source. b. Insert various filters in the path of propagation of light (b/w source and detector). c. Estimate intensity distribution at the receiver end and decide. d. Decide the photo response range of the detector. e. Study various possible detectors ranges and characteristics. 11. VELOCITY MEASUREMENT OF FLUIDS (VELOCIMETRY). a. Sending the fluid through a transparent tube and measure the velocity. b. Designing link for estimation of intensity variation using fiber link. c. Testing it for various speeds of fluid. d. Calibration and bringing relation b/w intensity variation and speed. 12. MAXIMUM DIGITAL DATA RATE ESTIMATION USING EYE DIAGRAM. a. Design of digital link. b. Transmitting pulse train through the link and detection. c. Generation of eye diagram and estimating its opening. d. Obtaining optimum data rate from maximum opening of Eye pattern. 13. OBTAIN THE GAIN FLATTENING USING SERIES EDFA a. Design the series EDFA b. Increase the no of i/p channels c. Increase the transmission capacity d. Modify Material Composition e. Obtain the gain flattening 14. EVALUATE CHARACTERISTICS OF MULTIMODE FIBER USING OPTIWAVE. a. Design the fiber for various core radius b. Estimate the RI of core and cladding c. Obtain the fiber profile d. Measure the MFD and Zero dispersion slope e. Compare the dispersion

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15. OBTAIN THE GAIN FLATTENING USING PARALLEL EDFA a. Design the parallel EDFA b. Increase the no of i/p channels c. Increase the transmission capacity d. Material Composition

e. Obtain the Gain Flattening 16. COMPARE SINGLE MODE AND MULTIMODE OPTICAL FIBERS. a. Design the fibers for various core radius b. Estimate the RI of core and cladding c. Obtain the fiber profile d. Measure the different losses e. Evaluate the dispersion 17. DESIGN THE BASIC OPTICAL FIBER COMPONENT MODEL USED FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS a. Creating a model b. design a layout using the component c. measure the i/p and o/p efficiency d. Obtain the Optical Spectrum e. Estimate the parameters power, gain 18. EVALUATE CHARACTERISTICS OF SINGLE MODE FIBER USING OPTIWAVE a. Design the fiber for various core radius b. Estimate the RI of core and cladding c. Obtain the fiber profile d. Measure the MFD and Zero dispersion slope e. Compare the dispersion 19. DERIVE THE COUPLING EFFICIENCY BETWEEN SINGLE MODE FIBER TO PHOTONICS CRYSTAL FIBER USING FDTD METHOD. a. Design a single and photonic crystal fiber b. Obtain the fiber profiles c. Evaluate the optical spectrum of the fibers
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d. Obtain the layout comprising the components e. Evaluate the coupling Efficiency 20. EVALUATE THE GROUP DELAY, EFFECTIVE AREA FOR NEGATIVE DISPERSION FIBER a. Design the fiber parameter for two different wavelengths b. Estimate the Group Delay, Effective Area c. Compare for two wavelengths d. Evaluate for 3 different core widths e. Obtain the fiber profile

After completion of the basic experiments in the lab lab one should develop a project either selected from the above list or on his/her own with the guidance of the instructor related to the course. From this lab course one can analyze and able to develop various tasks related to optical communications.

Course coordinator Dr. G V Subbarao

Administrative incharge Dr. M S G Prasad

Head of the Department Dr. Habibullah Khan

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