EE 454 : Optical Communications System Design

Module Co-ordinator/Lecturer

Prof. Liam Barry (liam.barry@dcu.ie),

Ph: 7005431
Room: S353

Lecturer

Dr. Prince Anandarajah (prince.anandarajah@dcu.ie)

Ph: 7007537
Room: S329

Module Aims:

To introduce the student to the main components of an optical communications system and to describe typical communication systems which employ optical techniques.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to…

Identify the main parameters of laser diodes, optical fibre, and optical receivers that effect the
performance of optical communications systems
Analyse the equations that explain the modulation of an optical carrier with electrical data signals and
apply these equations to determine the maximum modulation rate that can be attained
Derive solutions for how non-linearity and dispersion affect the propagation of data signals in optical
fibre, and apply these solutions to analyse the maximum data rate and transmission distance of optical
transmission links
Determine the various parameters of an optical receiver that affect Bit-Error-Rate and eye diagrams,
and identify how an eye-diagram may be used in quantifying system performance
Identify the different type of networking configurations that may be used in an optical network and
analyse how component selection effects network design
Design a basic optical communication systems and analyse how it performance would be effected by the
various components used in the system design
Implement a wavelength division multiplexed systems and formulate how altering the parameters of
the components used would change system capacity
Operate all the main components required to develop a basic optical communication systems, and
conduct experiments to develop and analyse an optical transmission system

To access the full module specifications, click here

Course Structure:

The course consists of 12 three hour classes. In addition to the classes, the students will also carry out some practical work in the area of optical communications, to give them a better feel for the theoretical material being covered in the lectures.

12 weeks in Semester
1 week allocated for lab session
1 week for tutorial / exam questions
9/10 weeks of lectures
3 hours: 10-11.15; 11.30-12.45

Brief Description Of The Course:

This course covers a wide range of topics related to Optical Communications System Design. These include: Properties of Optical Fibres: fibre types; step-index and graded-index; monomode and multimode;. Lasers and Modulation Techniques: the laser diode; power spectrum; single-mode lasers; direct modulation; intensity modulation; frequency modulation; linearity; pulse modulation; coding an optical carrier. Signal Degradation and Coupling Efficiency: absorption; scattering; radiative losses; core and cladding losses; material dispersion; waveguide dispersion; intermodal dispersion; nonlinear effects; mode coupling; source-to-fibre power launching. Demodulation: photodiodes; construction; temperature effects; response time; direct detection; signal-to-noise ratio with direct detection of intensity modulated waves.
Multiplexing: time-division multiplexing; limitations of TDM; wavelength division multiplexing; WDM using optical filters; cross-talk; radio-frequency subcarrier multiplexing. Fibre-Optic Networks: WDM networking, structure. Evolution to All-Optical Networks.

Mailing List (ee454@list.dcu.ie):

The mailing list is to be used as a forum to ask questions regarding the information delivered in this module and to convey important information to students undertaking this module. Students who have already registered for this module are automatically added to the mailing list. Change of mind students should subscribe separately (http://list.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo.cgi/ee454) as it may take a number of weeks for their forms to be processed by the registry.

Lecture Material:

The course material including lecture note and slides can be found here

Component Data Sheets:

Examples of optical component data sheets can be found here

Module Assessment:

Information regarding assessment within the course can be found here

Past Exam Papers

Since this is only the second year this module is being run, there is only one previous exam papers. However, an idea of the questions that will be asked can be found by viewing previous papers for EE555 and EE409. This can be found here http://www.dcu.ie/internal/examinations/papers.php3 if you search by module.