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EE40130: Optical devices and communications systems

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: EX 100%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites:
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:
To describe the fundamentals of optical (fibre) communications systems and key components.

Learning Outcomes:
After completing the unit the student should have a clear understanding of:
* the characteristics of the optical fibre;
* the basic principles of operation of optical communications systems and components;
* the design rules for (i) a high capacity trunk optical network, (ii) a metropolitan area fibre network and (iii) an optical local area network.

Skills:
Intellectual skills: basic maths, electromagnetic waves and semiconductor devices.

Content:
Overview of optical communications systems and basic components.
Semiconductor lasers: principles of operation; Fabry-Perot resonator. Qualitative review of optoelectronic sources: LEDs, Superluminescent LEDs, designs for monochromatic sources (DFB laser), Gain curve. Structures for single wavelength operation. Modulation response of lasers. Coupling of input signal to optical fibre.
Optical Transmitters: requirements for stable pulsed laser operation, relaxation oscillations, chirp, use of optical modulators.
Optical Receivers: principles of photodiode operation, requirements for high speed photodetection, optical design of PIN photodiodes, signal-to-noise performance of photo-receivers, simple relationship between bit error rate and receiver signal-to-noise performance.
Performance of Optical Fibre Links: power budget, fibre dispersion and timing budget, effect of chirp and polarisation on system bandwidth, requirements of (i) high data rate links, (ii) wavelength division multiplexing, (iii) optical networks.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

EE40130 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEEE-AFM05 : MEng (hons) Electronic and Communication Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEEE-AKM05 : MEng (hons) Electronic and Communication Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5

EE40130 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEEE-AFM07 : MEng (hons) Computers Electronics and Communications (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEEE-AKM07 : MEng (hons) Computers Electronics and Communications (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEEE-AFM01 : MEng (hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEEE-AKM01 : MEng (hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEEE-AFM14 : MEng (hons) Electronic Engineering with Space Science & Technology (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEEE-AKM14 : MEng (hons) Electronic Engineering with Space Science & Technology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • TEEE-AFM03 : MSc Digital Communications (Full-time) - Year 1
  • TEEE-AFM02 : MSc Wireless Systems (Full-time) - Year 1
  • TEEE-AFC08 : PG Cert Digital Communications (Full-time) - Year 1
  • TEEE-AFC06 : PG Cert Wireless Systems (Full-time) - Year 1
  • TEEE-AFL07 : PG Dip Digital Communications (Full-time) - Year 1
  • TEEE-AFL05 : PG Dip Wireless Systems (Full-time) - Year 1

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.