3/26/2017

Opto-Electronics
Project OET401
Zahidur Rahman

BTECH: Electronics Engineering

2017 Semester 1

Rahman Z
TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
 OPTO-ELECTRONICS PROJECT OET401

Chapter 1 - Abstract
Given the demands of todays communication needs, much development in the field of
electronics communication is active. To fully appreciate the complexity of these standards, it
can be advised to look into the transmission modes used.
In this project, we take a deeper look into signal transmission using optical means. Given
that light is faster than electrons conducting through a conductor, the difference between
their speeds is negligible. However, the comparative loss between the two means is
substantial depending on what medium is being used. For optimum efficiency in electrical
conduction, we may use wires and there is not much that can be done to improve the
efficiency from that point on. However, when we conduct light, we may experience a much
better transmission with a lot less losses than an electrical wire.
If we were to transmit light into the air and receive it from a specific distance, what would
we experience? If we were to add a more efficient medium, how well would we receive the
signal? How would the two compare? These are some of the questions explored in this
project.
In conclusion, through the process of this project, a better quantified understanding of light
transmission in different mediums will be obtained.

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Chapter 2 -Contents
Chapter 1 - Abstract ................................................................................................................ 1
Chapter 3 - Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3
Conclusion: ............................................................................................................................. 3
Chapter 4 - Purpose ................................................................................................................ 4
Problem Statement: ............................................................................................................... 4
Scope: ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Procedure: .............................................................................................................................. 4
Specifications.......................................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 5 - Methodology........................................................................................................ 6
Introduction............................................................................................................................ 6
Case Study: Optical Fiber Waveguides ................................................................................... 6
Case Study: Fiber Connectors ................................................................................................ 8
Case Study: Optical Sources ................................................................................................. 10
Case Study: Optical Detectors .............................................................................................. 12
Case Study: Driving Circuit ................................................................................................... 14
Case Study: Receiving Circuit ............................................................................................... 15
Chapter 6 - Design................................................................................................................. 17
Transmission circuit.............................................................................................................. 18
Receiving Circuit ................................................................................................................... 19
Chapter 7 - Experimentation Process ................................................................................... 20
Chapter 8 - Results ................................................................................................................ 22
Chapter 9 - Deductions Conclusions .................................................................................. 24
Chapter 10 - Bibliography ................................................................................................... 26
End of Document .............................................................................................................. 26

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Chapter 3 - Introduction
In optical electronics communications, there are multiple methods of signal transmissions
protocols, we could also see various methods of transmitting and receiving the signal itself,
although the process is fairly common. The block diagram below depicts a simple method of
transferring information.

Figure 3-1: The General Communication System [1]

In terms of an optical fiber system, the only change that is implemented is the expansion of
the transmission medium section as shown below.

Figure 3-2: The Optical Fiber Communication System [1]

Based on these principles, we will explore the properties of an optical communication

system and its advantages.

Conclusion:
The best way of discovering the properties of an optical fiber wire would be to set up an
apparatus of communication where we may test both condition and compare them. Further
in this project we will find out how they would compare and to also understand what the
benefits of using an optical fiber from a mathematical point of view are.

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Chapter 4 - Purpose
Problem Statement:
Given the above illustration, if we were to focus primarily on the block labelled Optical
fiber cable, what would be the effects of changing this medium to free air? Is an optical
fiber more efficient than free air? If so, how much more efficient?
How would we be able to quantify how much better or worse an optical fiber would
perform comparative to free air under the same conditions in both cases?

Scope:
The purpose of this project as explained in the problem statement is described as follows
[6]:
The aim of this project is to let students experience how to transmit light into a fiber or into
free air and compare the results by drawing their own conclusion.
The student must be able to build an LED transmitter and transmit light over free air without
any fibers attached.
The final setup will make use of the 1m fiber which was issued to the student to connect the
transmitter LED to the resistor photo transistor.

Figure 4-1: The Transmitter on the Left will transmit 1 kHz to the Receiver over Free Air [6]

The receiver is placed at 10cm, 20cm up to 1m from the transmitter.

Given the aforementioned scope, a better outline of the requirements is understood.

Procedure:
The process of carrying out these experiments are further explained in the project
requirements document. These are the summarized requirements:
1) Free air test:

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In increments of 10cm, test the affectivity of the transmitter over various distances
up to a 1m length. Tabulate and graphically represent the results and form a
conclusion based on your results (consult project specs for more details).
2) 1m fiber test:
Discover the electrical power of your LED and compare the losses between using an
optical fiber of 1m versus using free air of 1m as a light medium (consult project
specs for more details).
As mentioned above, there will be an evaluation of these principles and how well the
project participator understands and discovers these properties in the form of a practical
evaluation.
However, in this document, the design and results of these experiments are going to be
recorded and evaluated rather than practically demonstrating the conclusions from these
procedures.

Specifications

A few rules are also mentioned in the project proposal, these are the guides and limits that
enclose the project. The specifications are quoted as follows [6]:
1) The carrier frequency must be 1 kHz
2) The receiver can be a photodiode or a phototransistor and it must be able to convert
the light into an analog voltage.
3) The use of a power supply will be evaluated.
4) The receiver is placed 10cm from the transmitter for the first reading.
5) Thereafter the receiver will be moved 10cm at a time until 1m from the transmitter.
a. For each distance, the voltage will be measured and the numerical ratio of the
optical power calculated.
b. The dB values shall also be calculated.
6) The last measurement shall be done with a 1m fiber and again the numerical ratio
and dB losses shall be indicated.
7) A graph shall be drawn and the results shown for the interpretation.
The project shall conform to the TUT standard project format.

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Chapter 5 - Methodology

Introduction
To understand the transmission of light through an optical fiber, there are a few case
studies that need to be conducted.

The study of optical fiber waveguides must be understood by means of total internal
reflection.
Along with waveguides, fiber connectors are also explored.
Optical sources are also explored, given the requirements of using a specific LED, we
will study its properties and set the parameters of the experiment.
Optical detectors are then discussed. Given the requirements of using a specific
phototransistor, we will study its properties and set the parameters of the
experiment.
The driving circuit for the LED is also explored as a form of optical amplification.
The receiving circuit is followed as a form of optical detection.
The experimentation process will then be devised and a table to be drawn such that
conclusions can be made.
As outlined above, the entire document will focus around these points such that the
problem statement can be discussed and a better understanding of optical fiber operations
can be understood.

Case Study: Optical Fiber Waveguides

To understand the theory of ray transmission through an optical waveguide, one must first
understand the concept of total internal reflection. If you consider the reflection generated
from objects when they are underwater. If you view the surface of water at an angle, you
will see objects below the surface as if they were cast on a mirror as shown in the image
below:

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Figure 5-1: The Surface of the Water Acts as a Mirror, Because of Total Internal Reflection [3]

This effect happens because light travelling from a medium into a denser medium refracts.
Refractions can be best described by imagining light as a toy car. If you drove a light ray as a
toy car from a hard floor (fast medium) to a carpet (slow medium) at an angle, the first front
wheel that hits the carpet would slow down resulting a slight tilt until the second front
wheel hits the carpet. This effect can be illustrated in the image below:

Figure 5-2: Waves Moving from One Medium to a Slower Medium Illustration [3]

In terms of light, if an incident ray (toy car equivalent) travels from one medium into
another medium at a steep angle, the light will pass through but if it is not perpendicular to
the medium, it will alter its course due to the effect explained in the above figure.
Now that the change in angle is understood, the concept of total internal reflection can be
described. Firstly, one must realize what a refractive index is. The refractive index is the best
described as the ability of light to propagate through a specific medium in comparison to

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how light travels through a vacuum. The refractive index of any material can be described
with the following formula:

=

Where n is the refractive index of the medium, c is the speed of light in a vacuum and v is
the phase velocity of light in the medium.
The design of a simple optical fiber consists of a core of a specific refractive index and a
cladding of a slightly lesser refractive index. This creates a waveguide like a mirror tube for
light to bounce in. as explained in the effect of total internal reflection.

Figure 5-3: Optical Fiber Waveguide Showing the Core of Refractive Index n1, Surrounded by
the Cladding of Slightly Lower Refractive Index n2 [1]

With a wave guide in place, given that light is shined into the core at a specific angle, we are
able to propagate rays of light through a waveguide such as an optical fiber across great
distances with great efficiency.
For the purposes of this project, it is absolutely paramount that we compare the differences
when using and not using an optical waveguide to transmit optical signals across a specific
distance.

Case Study: Fiber Connectors

In terms of optical fibers, joining fibers are the greatest obstacles in fiber communication.
Fiber joining is a delicate and critical process and requires much skills as well as sleight of
hand. There are two major categories of joining fiber (fiber splices and fiber connectors).
For the purpose of this document, we will only explore the theory of fiber connectors and
not the actual practical usage of a fiber joint by experimentation. Since the scope of the
project does not require us to join multiple fibers, we will focus on using one uninterrupted
length of fiber as an example. But however, this document will briefly discuss the usage of
fiber connectors and how they could impact your fiber connection.
In the world of fiber joints, there are several villains for the case of signal loss.
One of the most common losses in fiber joining is the losses caused by the Fresnel effect.
This effect is due to light propagating through multiple mediums when joining fibers. The

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effects can be decreased moderately by using index matching liquid as a medium for rays to
pass through when jumping from one fiber into another.
Other losses are mainly credited to misalignment losses. Forms of misalignments can be
categorized as
a. Longitudinal misalignment
b. Lateral misalignment
c. Angular misalignment

Figure 5-4: (a) Longitudinal Misalignment; (b) Lateral Misalignment; (c) Angular
Misalignment [1]

Besides the above mentioned causes of losses, there are several other losses that can also
be explored. These are losses related to the differences between core/cladding diameters,
numerical apertures and/or relative refractive indices, different refractive index profiles and
fiber faults such as core ellipticity or concentricity [1].
Besides different splices, one of the more efficient ways of joining fibers would be through
the use of connectors. An example of a fiber connector is illustrated in the image below:

Figure 5-5: ST Series Multimode Fiber Connector Using Ceramic Capillary Ferrules [1]

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Connectors like the aforementioned device are crimped onto optical fibers are great at
aligning fibers, helping it to decrease losses as rays propagate from fiber to fiber.
In conclusion, fiber joining is a critical and delicate process with various factors to consider.
Though just one solution to joining fibers is explained in this document, there are various
other methods that have been left out and could be of interest to the reader of this
document.

Case Study: Optical Sources

When considering optical fiber communications, one of the primary components of this
process is the light transmitter that is controlled by the transmission part of the apparatus.
There are many ways of transmitting light, some of the common practices can range from
using a general purpose LED to using a high wattage focused laser. Regarding the
application, an optical source should always be studied before considered for application.
In the scope of this project, we are told that we should transmit our signal at a frequency of
1 kHz, upon further attendance of classes, we were also issued a common LED that would
unify results obtained by all attendees. The LED issued is as follows:

Brand: Lumex
Manufacturer Part Nr.: SSL-LX5093SRC/E
Package: T-1 (5mm)
Illumination Colour: Red
LED size: 5mm
Operating Voltage: 1.7 V
A more detailed page is extracted from the datasheet in the page to follow [5].

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Figure 5-6: Extract From Official Lumex Datasheet [5]

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As explored in the datasheet, there are a host of parameters that one should consider when
designing the transmitting circuit.
Primarily, the operating voltage of the LED is 1.7V, therefore the designer must drive the
LED with a resistor able to handle the remaining voltage from the supply.
The maximum operating current of the LED is also stated as 150 mA. The remaining voltage
of the power supply should encompass a resistor that would allow for the maximum
possible amperage through the LED. This also means that the resistor should be able to
handle such power as well as the regulator should be able to deliver such power
(considering other circuitry that connects to the power source).
The viewing angle is another property that should be considered when exploring methods of
connecting the optical fiber to the LED during transmission. The viewing angle is also an
important factor to consider when transmitting light through free air since a slight angular
misalignment could disrupt the accuracy of the readings when testing the apparatus.
On a design note, we should consider driving the maximum allowable current into the LED
such that we would be able to receive optimally. Through suggestions from lectures, hints of
overdriving current into the LED was suggested and so we should experiment with driving
excess current into the LED and record their responses. The LED should be driven at a
frequency of 1kHz, for this, the LEDs switching frequency should be more than capable of
handling such low frequencies.
In conclusion, the suggested LED is sufficient for operation in this experiment. The Lumex
LED has proven to provide a decent range of properties that would allow us to obtain
results. For the purpose of this experiment, the LED will remain constant.

Case Study: Optical Detectors

As an apparatus that transmits optical energy, we have to understand how to read such
transmissions, in this regard, there are many methods of optical detection. Optical detection
can range from simple Light Dependant Resistors (LDRs) to slightly more reliable
phototransistors. All these devices have properties that change depending on exposure to
light.
As outlined in the scope of this project, a phototransistor as an optical detector had been
issued by the instructors in the beginning of the semester. The TEPT5600 Ambient Light
Sensor was the chosen phototransistor for this project.
TEPT5600 ambient light sensor is a silicon NPN epitaxial planar phototransistor in a T-1
package. It is sensitive to visible light much like the human eye and has a peak sensitivity at
570nm extract from Vishay TEPT5600 datasheet [7]
Some of the interesting characteristics of this product is extracted from the datasheet in the
following tables:

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Figure 5-7: Absolute maximum ratings (Tamb = 25C, unless otherwise specified) [7]

Using these specifications, we can now consider outlines for our designs. From a design and
project perspective, our main concern would be the properties of photo current. These
parameters can be found by exploring the datasheet further.

Figure 5-8: Basic Characteristics (Tamb = 25C, unless otherwise specified) [7]

As shown in the absolute maximums ratings, the collector current should not go above 10
mA, in the suggested VCE, we are suggested to use a 5V as a collector-emitter voltage, since
we have a range now, we can use this as a voltage level for our experimentation.
In note of the design process, it would be advisable to experiment with multiple resistors
when connecting to the collector. A general design suggestion is given to us from the forum
in Arduino [2] as shown in the image below:

Figure 5-9: IR diode and phototransistor [5]

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This image provides a rather basic guideline on how to encounter this project and will be
more thoroughly discussed in the following case studies as this document progresses.
In conclusion, the theory on phototransistors are not as well discussed as the optical source
in this document, thus this element of the communication block diagram remains rather
unclear. This allows us to experiment with multiple resistors and vary results.

Case Study: Driving Circuit

The transmitting requirements of this project states that we should be transmitting a 1 kHz
signal from an optical source and be eventually able to receive this signal from a distance of
approximately 1m. During classes, we were also encouraged to demonstrate the maximum
possible distance that we could obtain a successful detection of the transmission signal.
Given the scope, there are multiple sections of the transmitter that should be considered.
Since we determined that the receiver would operate at a 5V source, to save on
components costs, I decided to use a 5V regulator (ti LM1117-5.0) to drive the transmission
circuit as well (1.5A max current which is sufficient for the project application).
As issued by the instructors in the beginning of the semester, we were given NE555 timers
as a form of frequency generator. Given the requirements of 1 kHz, the circuit of the
frequency generated was generated as follows:

Figure 5-10 : Astable Mode NE555 circuit as generated by ElectroDroid (Android app) [8]

Now that we have our frequency generation, we need a switching device that will enable us
to toggle our LED at 1 kHz. From previous experience and past projects, I had come across a

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surface mount N-FET transistor IRLML6344TRPBF. This is a robust transistor capable of

handling currents and voltages ranging up to 5A and 30V respectively. As a switching
mechanism, this device proves itself well qualified for the applications of this project.
Now that the source voltage, frequency generator and switching mechanism has been
determined, the current limitation on the LED can be determined. As hinted during practical
classes, we were advised that resistors such as 10 would prove sufficient to drive the LED
such that good transmission can be achieved. Given this advice, since the LED has a
maximum current rating of 150 mA and it operates at 1.7 V, it is risky to connect the LED
Cathode to a 10 resistor since it will cause the resistor to operate at the remaining 4.3V
which in turn will drive the LED at 430 mA which is significantly larger than the maximum
rating of the LED. Considering these concerns, the designer of this project has taken a
conscious decision to increase the resistor value to 12 which still yields an operating
current of 358 mA. Using a 12 resistor still drives the LED to a large current over double its
maximum rating and thus for operations, a combination of resistors should be added to give
a total resistance of around 28 which yields a 150 mA operating current for the LED. We as
the operator should be able to switch back and forth between the 28 and 12 resistors by
the implementation of a selection mechanism. However, we should still use a 10 to
experiment with to see its effects on the LED.
Lastly, one more extra feature can be implemented. As a testing mechanism, we can add an
additional selection implementation to jump from a switch or a direct connection linking the
LED to the source voltage. This should allow us to be able to easily see if there is some form
of received signal on the receiving circuit as we strobe the transmission LED on and off by
use of the switch. Adding this feature is fairly simple and it would allow us to calibrate
distance much easier.

Case Study: Receiving Circuit

In the form of receiver circuits. There are two main limitations to this section. The operating
current should be below 10 mA as outlined by the datasheet and we as the operator should
be able to range the receiver resistance while we operate it.
Given that the maximum emitter-collector voltage can go to 1.5V, and the suggested
minimum resistance to be 10 k as suggested in Figure 5-9, this would make the resistor
operate at a voltage of 3.5V in extreme conditions which would yield a 0.35mA operating
current which is well below the maximum ratings.
Though we are well below the maximum operating current ratings, we should also be able
to receive at variable values. This requires a range of resistors that would change the
operating current of the receiver circuit.

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Figure 5-11: IR diode and phototransistor [5]

In conclusion, I am still not well versed in the operation of this receiver, but given the
variables, the design should allow for experimentation. The results should indicate how the
changing resistor affects the outcome.

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Chapter 6 - Design
As the case studies outline, there are multiple design constraints to consider. Firstly we
should construct a transmission circuit and then deal with the receiving circuit. The
following pages illustrate the constraints and how they work together. The designs had been
conducted through the use of Altium circuit designer.

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Transmission circuit
There are a few sectors to the transmission circuit that should be considered as discussed in
the case studies before.
A 555 timer circuit will drive the NFET switch which in turn will toggle the LED on and off at a
frequency of 1 kHz. The concept circuit design looks as follows:

Figure 6-1: OET401 Project Optical Transmitter Circuit

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Receiving Circuit
On the same note, as the case study suggested, an optical receiver circuit was to be
designed. Given the constraints in the case study, the following circuit was designed:

Figure 6-2: OET401 Project Optical Receiver Circuit

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Chapter 7 - Experimentation Process

The purpose of this project is to compare the effects of using an optical fiber versus
transmitting optical signals over free air. There are several unknown factors that must be
tabulated and conclusions must be drawn to set up the optimal configuration in terms of
receiving, transmitting and overall distance performance.
Given that we need to experiment with the series resistor used with the transmitting LED.
We should tabulate the effects on a time based experiment against the use of different
resistor values. As discussed, the suggested resistor for this application was a 10 resistor,
and through calculations, we decided to use a 12 to make it slightly better. Although both
resistors will be experimented with, there will be a third value to experiment with which is a
combination of resistors that will give us a close value to 28. To obtain a resistance near
28, the best combination of resistors to gain a near value would be to use a combination
of 3X100 + 1X120 all in parallel, this combination totals the resistance to 26 which is
slightly smaller than the suggested 28.
The results of these experiments should be tabulated in the following manner:

Table 7-1: Suggested Transmission Resistor Selection Table

Transmission Resistor Selection Results

Resistor category Resistors used Operating current Effects
@5V
Suggested resistance 10 330 mA
Resistor combination that 100||100|| 127mA
satisfies power ratings 100||120
Experimental suggested 12 275mA
resistor
Selected resistor Reason:

This table concludes any transmission configuration issues and will allow us to complete the
remaining calculations.
Following the transmission configuration, we then need to determine the optimal receiving
circuit. In the design circuit, there should be switching mechanism to switch through
multiple resistances (since the circuit was done mainly with surface mount resistors, I did
not have a variable resistor available to implement, therefore multiple resistors are added).
The various resistor should be switched with and their receiving power should be recorded
at a set distance. Since the requirements explained by the instructors were to use a set
distance of 2m, we will use this to validate the various values of resistors used. The range of
resistors as suggested by the case study for receiving circuits range from 10k to 100k.
Since we are not using a variable resistor, we can range these resistors with the following
values:

10k

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33k
56k
120k
220k (experimentation for point of interest)
The results should be tabled in the following format:
Table 7-2: Suggested Receiver Resistor Selection Table

Receiver Resistor Selection Results (at a distance of 2m)

Resistor Value Receiving power (V) Notes
10k V
33k V
56k V
120k V
220k V
Selected resistor:

Once the resistor selection for optimal performance has been completed, all we are left
with is to experiment with actual distance measurement. The LED should also be measured
to determine what the voltage the LED experiences as we are transmitting, this will
determine the transmission power and we can measure the actual current being consumed
for transmission. Along with the transmission power, we will also determine the received
power on the receiver photodiode from a test point accommodated during design. Through
this process, we can also determine the overall efficiency of the transmission.
Given the scope, we can determine the main results table will look something like this:
Table 7-3: Suggested Performance in Free Air Table

Performance in Free Air Results

Transmission Power Measured (LED Voltage): V
Transmission Current Measured (LED Current): mA
Distance Output Voltage Gain
10 cm V dB
20 cm V dB
30 cm V dB
40 cm V dB
50 cm V dB
60 cm V dB
70 cm V dB
80 cm V dB
90 cm V dB
100 cm V dB

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Following this table, we can graph the results to compare gain distance in a line graph.
Once the values are recorded, finally we can take our 1m length of fiber optical waveguide
and test its performance to compare against the free air application. The optical fiber is held
against the transmitting LED and then held against the phototransistor as perpendicular to
the apparatus as possible. The results should be added as an extra in the table above in this
format:

Distance Output Voltage Gain

100 cm (Optical Fiber) V dB
Figure 7-1: Example Table Addition

Once these tables are completed, we can finally draw conclusions from these values

Chapter 8 - Results
As indicated in the experimentation process described in Chapter 5, we begin with
determining the optimal configuration of the transmission circuit resistor.

Table 8-1: Transmission Resistor Selection Results

Transmission Resistor Selection Results

Resistor category Resistors used Operating Effects (tested with 10k resistor
current @5V connected to receiver collector)
Suggested 10 330 mA LED heats up after 3 minutes
resistance of operation.
Very bright.
Receiver receives signal from
a distance of up to 2m.
Resistor 100||100| 127mA LED remains cold throughout
combination that |100||120 10 minutes of operation.
satisfies power Light is very weak
ratings Struggles to receive at a
distance of 0.5m.
Experimental 12 275mA LED does not heat up, gets
suggested warm after 5 minutes of
resistor operation.
Very bright.
Receiver receives signal from
a distance of up to 2m.
Selected resistor 12 Reason: Does not heat up, performs just as
well as 10 resistor and transmits
perfectly for the application.

As we progressed, the table for the receiver circuit needed to be populated. The selection of
a receiver resistor in series with the collector of the phototransistor was determined
through the following table:

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Table 8-2: Receiver Resistor Selection Results

Receiver Resistor Selection Results (at a distance of 2m)

Resistor Value Receiving power (V) Notes
10k 0.11.2
33k 0.12V
56k 0.15V Optimum resistor for
receiver
120k 0.1V Degrades as resistor
increases
220k 0.08V Falls out of scope
Selected resistor: 56k

Given the selection of both receiver and transmitter critical resistors are complete, the next
step is to test out the optimal configuration as scoped by the project.
An extra line is added to accommodate the results of the optical fiber.
The following table was suggested to record the results:
Table 8-3: Performance in Free Air Results

Performance in Free Air Results

Transmission Power Measured (LED Voltage): 3.1 V
Transmission Current Measured (LED Current): 190 mA
Distance Output Voltage Gain
10 cm 3V 0.28 dB
20 cm 2.96 V 0.49 dB
30 cm 2.24 V 2.28 dB
40 cm 1.56 V 5.96 dB
50 cm 1.24 V 7.96 dB
60 cm 0.9 V 10.74 dB
70 cm 0.84 V 11.34 dB
80 cm 0.74 V 12.44
90 cm 0.68 V 13.177 dB
100 cm 0.64 V 13.703 dB
100 cm (Optical Fiber) 3.04 V 0.17 dB

Following these results of transmission through free air, they can be graphically examined
with the following illustration:

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Chart Title

13,703 dB
13,177 dB
12,44 dB
11,34 dB
10,74 dB
7,96 dB
5,96 dB

3,04 V
2,96 V

2,28 dB
2,24 V
3V

1,56 V

1,24 V
0,49 dB

0,84 V
0,28 dB

0,74 V

0,68 V

0,17 dB
0,64 V
0,9 V
10 cm 20 cm 30 cm 40 cm 50 cm 60 cm 70 cm 80 cm 90 cm 100 cm 100 cm
Optical
Fiber

Output Voltage Gain

Figure 8-1: Output Voltage VS Negative Gain Over 1m Distance

Note that the gain is negative, the lower the receiving voltage, the further the value strays
from unity and the optical fiber reading is added to compare.

Chapter 9 - Deductions Conclusions

As the results are studied, there are multiple deductions that can be drawn from these
experiments. Multiple lessons can be learned regarding the transmission, receiver, free air
communication and the use of a fiber optic wire.
Through the use of an LED in transmission, we learned that we can drive the LED at high
current rates above its operating condition but probably at the expense of its overall life
span. With increasing the operating current, we discovered that heat is generated on the
device and thus there is a loss of energy through heat.
The receiver circuit was an interesting apparatus to work with, through experimentation we
had managed to find an optimal resistor value to connect to the collector of the
phototransistor. This selection allowed us to find the voltage range where we could
measure the incoming optical transmission and read it efficiently.
Through the transmission of free air, we can conclude that optical signals can still effectively
be read from distances of up to 2m provided that the emission source is strong enough. This
drove the project to experiment pushing the current ratings of the LED to beyond its rated
current.

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 OPTO-ELECTRONICS PROJECT OET401

The use of a fiber optic wire truly showed us how inefficient transmitting optical signals
through free air really is. The transmission of light through a 1m optical fiber wire is more
efficient than transmitting through 10 cm of free air, which is about 10 times more
effective!

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 OPTO-ELECTRONICS PROJECT OET401

Chapter 10 - Bibliography

1 - John M. Senior, Optical Fiber Communication Principles and Practices, Third Edition.
ISBN: 978-0-13-032681-2, 2009, Pearson Education Limited.
o Chapter 1 1.2
o Chapter 2 2.1 2.3
o Chapter 5 5.1 5.4
2 - Arduino Forum
o https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=50243.0
3 - oocities.org
o http://www.oocities.org/wave032002/refraction.htm
4 - Britannica Online Encyclopaedia
o https://global.britannica.com/science/refractive-index
5 - Lumex LED Datasheet
o http://www.lumex.com/content/files/ProductAttachment/93201521137-SSL-
LX5093SRC-X.pdf
6 - OET401 Project scope, Tshwane University of Technology Faculty of Engineering
and the Built Environment Department of Electrical Engineering. 2017, semester 1.
7 - Vishay Electronics Phototransistor Datasheet
o //www.vishay.com/docs/84768/tept5600.pdf
8 - Google Play Electrodroid Adroid App
o https://electrodroid.it/
End of Document

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