This document provides an overview of the ECE 4124 Optical Communications course. It introduces fiber optic communication systems and their key components. A basic fiber optic system consists of a transmitter that converts an electrical signal to light, an optical fiber to carry the light, and a receiver to convert light back to electrical. The document discusses rapid growth in information systems driving demand for high-capacity optical transmission. Regenerative amplification and wavelength-division multiplexing are important technologies enabling long-distance, high-bandwidth networks. Benefits of optical communication include long signal transmission distances, large bandwidth capacity, non-conductivity, security, and suitability for future applications.
This document provides an overview of the ECE 4124 Optical Communications course. It introduces fiber optic communication systems and their key components. A basic fiber optic system consists of a transmitter that converts an electrical signal to light, an optical fiber to carry the light, and a receiver to convert light back to electrical. The document discusses rapid growth in information systems driving demand for high-capacity optical transmission. Regenerative amplification and wavelength-division multiplexing are important technologies enabling long-distance, high-bandwidth networks. Benefits of optical communication include long signal transmission distances, large bandwidth capacity, non-conductivity, security, and suitability for future applications.
This document provides an overview of the ECE 4124 Optical Communications course. It introduces fiber optic communication systems and their key components. A basic fiber optic system consists of a transmitter that converts an electrical signal to light, an optical fiber to carry the light, and a receiver to convert light back to electrical. The document discusses rapid growth in information systems driving demand for high-capacity optical transmission. Regenerative amplification and wavelength-division multiplexing are important technologies enabling long-distance, high-bandwidth networks. Benefits of optical communication include long signal transmission distances, large bandwidth capacity, non-conductivity, security, and suitability for future applications.
This document provides an overview of the ECE 4124 Optical Communications course. It introduces fiber optic communication systems and their key components. A basic fiber optic system consists of a transmitter that converts an electrical signal to light, an optical fiber to carry the light, and a receiver to convert light back to electrical. The document discusses rapid growth in information systems driving demand for high-capacity optical transmission. Regenerative amplification and wavelength-division multiplexing are important technologies enabling long-distance, high-bandwidth networks. Benefits of optical communication include long signal transmission distances, large bandwidth capacity, non-conductivity, security, and suitability for future applications.
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ECE 4124: OPTICAL
COMMUNICATIONS DR. NORAZLINA SAIDIN Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kulliyyah of Engineering, IIUM Tel: 03-61964388/ Room: E2-2-13.9 E-mail: [email protected]
Introduction Fiber optics is a medium for carrying information from one point
to another in the form of light.
A basic fiber optic system consists of a transmitting device that converts an electrical signal into a light signal, an optical fiber cable that carries the light, and a receiver that accepts the light signal and converts it back into an electrical signal. Rapidly expanding information systems - High speed internet, 3G, mobile communications systems, digital CATV Increasing demand requiring ultra-high capacity optical transmission systems DWDM system Regenerative amplification is the key component to effective optical transmission networks. A typical system used for long-distance, high-bandwidth telecommunication employs wavelength-division multiplexing, erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, external modulation using DFB lasers with temperature compensation, fiber Bragg gratings, and high-speed infrared photodetectors.
A single fiber cable can
carry as much information as 400 copper cables! Source: Fujitsu
Benefit of optical communication system
Long-distance signal transmission
The low attenuation and superior signal integrity found in optical systems allow much longer intervals of signal transmission than metallic-based systems. While single-line, voice-grade copper systems longer than a couple of kilometers (1.2miles) require in-line signal for satisfactory performance, it is not unusual for optical systems to go over 100kilometers (km), or about 62 miles, with no active or passive processing. Large bandwidth, light weight, and small diameter Todays applications require an ever-increasing amount of bandwidth. Consequently, it is important to consider the space constraints of many end users. It is commonplace to install new cabling within existing duct systems or conduit. The relatively small diameter and light weight of optical cable make such installations easy and practical, saving valuable conduit space in these environments.
Benefit of optical communication system
Non-conductivity Another advantage of optical fibers is their dielectric nature. Since optical fiber has no metallic components, it can be installed in areas with electromagnetic interference (EMI), including radio frequency interference (RFI). Areas with high EMI include utility lines, powercarrying lines, and railroad tracks. All-dielectric cables are also ideal for areas of high lightning-strike incidence. Security Unlike metallic-based systems, the dielectric nature of optical fiber makes it impossible to remotely detect the signal being transmitted within the cable. The only way to do so is by accessing the optical fiber. Accessing the fiber requires intervention that is easily detectable by security surveillance. These circumstances make fiber extremely attractive to governmental bodies, banks, and others with major security concerns.
Benefit of optical communication system
Designed for future application needs
Fiber optics is affordable today, as electronics prices fall and optical cable pricing remains low. In many cases, fiber solutions are less costly than copper. As bandwidth demands increase rapidly with technological advances, fiber will continue to play a vital role in the long-term success of telecommunication.
History notes Since earliest times, people has depended on light- mostly in the form of fire- to send message. In ancient middle east, for example people use fire to indicate the beginning of a month. John Tyndall demonstrated in 1870 that light used internal reflection to follow a specific path. He uses a jet of water that flowed from one container to another and a beam of light for demonstration. 1960s invention of laser The interest of scientist in optical communication perked up (Ruby laser by T. Maiman) 1966- Charles Kao invented optical waveguide with loss 1000dB/km. 1970- first fiber optic with attenuation 20dB/km was invented by Corning Glass Corporation. Today we can buy optical fiber with attenuation even less than 0.16dB/km. A Bell Labs group broke the terabit per second barrier in 1998 when they succesfully transmitted 100 simultaneous 10 Gb/s signals on one fiber over a distance of 400 km using DWDM technology.
History of attenuation
Transmission Window Optical fiber transmission uses wavelengths that are in the nearinfrared portion of the spectrum, just above the visible, and thus undetectable to the unaided eye.
The 850 nm region is initially attractive because the technology of LED
at this wavelength had already been perfected. Low cost silicon detector could also be used at the 850nm. As the technology progressed, the 1 st window become less attractive because its high 3dB/km loss limit. The 2nd window @1310nm offer lower attenuation of 0.5 dB/km Later the 3rd window @1550nm was developed. It offered the attenuation about 0.2dB/km. Lasers are usually used for 1310- or 1550-nm single-mode applications. LEDs are used for 850- or 1300-nm multimode applications.
Principle of fiber optic
transmission
The transmitter uses an electrical interface, either video, audio, data or
other forms of electrical input, to encode the users information
through modulation. Three forms of modulation are typically used: AM, FM and digital modulation. The electrical output of the modulator is usually transformed into light either by means of a LED or LD. The receiver decodes the light signal back into electrical signals. Typical light detectors: PIN photodiode or avalanche PD. These detectors are made from silicon (Si), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) or germanium (Ge). The detected and amplified electrical signal is sent through a data decoder or demodulator that converts the electrical signals back into video, audio, data, or other form of user input.
