FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

(EEE 525)
C1: FIBER OPTIC SIGNAL MEASUREMENTS

OBJECTIVES
1. To do the optical power measurement by means of photo-detectors with different
photosensitive areas.
2. To determine the attenuation of the optical fiber of 50-m length by means of three different
methods.
LIST OF EQUIPMENTS
1. Fiber Optic Communication Trainer (PROMAX)
2. Oscilloscope
3. Function generator
4. Fiber Optic Components:
i. Cable patch cords
ii. Cleaning components
iii. Optical fiber of 50-m length (Orange in colour)
iv. ST-ST adapters (2 nos)
v. Fix branching devices

PROCEDURES
A) OPTICAL POWER MEASUREMENT
Practical Procedure

1. The following modules is set:

Transmitter:

- Input: DC (without connection) on channel CH1

- mA Measurement: CH1
- Optical Output: photoemitter # 3 (LED 660-nm) for CH1

Receiver:

- Function: DC measurement
- Optical Input: Photodetector # 4 (Si 2.5 mm)
- Wavelength: 660-nm

2. The photoemitter current (IBIAS) is increased up to approximately 11 mA. The light

intensity is noticed increase having raised the current.

3. The cable patchcord (1-m length) is connected, the transmitter output to the
corresponding receiver input, as in Figure A1-1.

4. The received power on the photodetector #4 (Si 2.5 mm) is recorded in W and dBm.
5. The cable patchcord is connected, to the photodetector # 1 (Si 1mm) and this input
on receiver is selected.
6. Measure the power in W and dBm, also at 660-nm.
7.

Receiving both photodetectors the same power is noticed that the measurement is
different. This is because the photosensitive surfaces are different so, the energy
captured will be different.

8. The obtained values is filled in Table A1-1.

9. The results have been obtained is indicated by using 975/1000-m fibre (Plastic
transparent fibre), instead of the 62.5/125-m fibre (normal patchcord).
10. The photoemiiter current (IBIAS) is reduced to 5 mA and step 3 to step 9 is repeated.

11. The obtained values is filled in Table A1-2:

12. The cable patchcord is connected to the photoemitter #4 (PIN 850-nm) and select the
corresponding output on transmitter.
13. The current (IBIAS) is adjusted on photoemitter to 17mA. (Approximately)
14. The power captured by the photodetector #4 at 850-nm is measured in W and dBm.
15. The obtained values is filled in Table A1-3.

B) MEASURING ATTENUATION OF OPTICAL SIGNAL

Practical Procedure

1. The following modules is set:

Transmitter:

- Input: DC (without connection) on channel CH1

- mA Measurement: CH1
- Optical Output: photoemitter # 3 (LED 660-nm) for CH1

Receiver:

- Function: DC measurement
- Optical Input: Photodetector # 4 (Si 2.5 mm)
- Wavelength: 660-nm

Method 1

1. The cable patchcord, is connected to the transmitter output to the corresponding

receiver input, as in Figure A1-2.
2. A transmitter current (Ibias) is set at approximately 11 mA. For its stabilisation, 1
minute is taken to wait.

3. The power is measured as the reference value.

4. The optical fibre of 50-m length is inserted by using both adapters ST-ST and another
cable patchcord, as shown in Figure A1-3.

5. On power meter and the losses reached is read and recorded in Table A1-4 as (A-B).
6. The optical fibre of 50-m length is connected in reverse sense. The losses is Read
again. [Record as (B-A) in Table A1-4].

Method 2

1. Two cable patchcords and a ST-ST adapter is connected to the transmitter output
and the corresponding receiver input as in Figure A1-4.

2. The measured power is set as the reference value.

3. An optical fibre of 50-m length is inserted in between the cable patchcords. With the
aid of another ST-ST adapter, as in Figure A1-5.

4. On power meter and the losses reached is read and recorded in Table A1-4 as (A-B).

5. The optical fibre of 50-m length is connected in reverse sense. Read again the
losses. [Record as (B-A) in Table A1-4].
Method 3

1. Three cable patchcords and two ST-ST adapters is connected by means, the
transmitter output to the corresponding receiver input, as in Figure A1-6.

2. The power is set as reference value.

3. The central cable patchcord is replaced with the optical fibre of 50-m length.

4. On power meter and the losses reached is read and recorded in Table A1-4 as (A-B).
5. The optical fibre of 50-m length is connected in inverse sense. The losses is read
again. [Record as (B-A) in Table A1-4].
6. The obtained results for the attenuation is annotated, by means of all three methods,
in Table A1-4.

RESULTS
A) OPTICAL POWER MEASUREMENT
Table A1-1
Received Power
Received Power
Photosensitive
(W)
(dBm)
Surface
Normal
Plastic
Normal
Plastic
Normal
Plastic
Photodetector Patchcord Transparent Patchcord Transparent Patchcord Transparent
Fiber
Fiber
Fiber
#
1

42

99

-13.76

-10.02

1 mm

1 mm

93

218

-10.29

-6.6

2.5 mm

2.5 mm

Table A1-2
Received Power
Received Power
Photosensitive
(W)
(dBm)
Surface
Photodetector
Normal
Plastic
Normal
Plastic
Normal
Plastic
#
Patchcord Transparent Patchcord Transparent Patchcord Transparent
Fiber
Fiber
Fiber
1
18.3
43
-17.34
-13.68
1 mm
1 mm
4

41

95

-13.8

-10.18

2.5 mm

2.5 mm

Table A1-3
Photodetector #

Received Power
(W)

Received Power
(dBm)

Photosensitive
Surface

125

-9.01

2.5 mm

B) MEASURING ATTENUATION OF OPTICAL SIGNAL

Table A1-4
A (dB)
Method

A-B

B-A

Average Value

25.19

25.01

25.1

18.23

18.53

18.38

14.52

14.17

14.345

QUESTIONS

1. How the area of photodetector surface effect the power signal measurement ?
Answer: Large photodetector allow more light particles/photons to be absorbed/ received
which are scattered, bended, and absorbed over the optical cable transmission
2. Why a small area photoemitter is more suitable for transmitting ?
Answer: have Small area in photoemitter less potential to scatter the light particles. It
possesses light focusing nature in transmitting light particle.
3. Compare the three methods used. Indicated the advantages for each method.
Answer:
Method 1
Have highest sensitivity to the attenuation. Suitable for long transmission line require less
repeaters.
Method 2
Have medium sensitivity to the attenuation. Suitable for moderate transmission line require
average number repeaters.
Method 3
Have lowest sensitivity to the attenuation. Suitable for short transmission line.

DISCUSSION

From the first section of the experiment; optical power measurement, there were a set of
tabulated data comparing two key aspect playing important role in optical fiber
communication system. Firstly, the surface area (size) of photodetector, while the other one
was the type of optical fiber. There were two type of optical fiber discussed here, one was
normal patch cords (single core optical fiber coated by its cladding), and the other was a
transparent single cored plastic fiber.
From the given instrument, the inference that could be made was, the transparent
plastic fiber could perform better than of normal patch cord since there was no cladding and
coating the fiber. The absence of the cladding/coating have little effect on the absorption of
the light (higher intensity) into the cladding material
In the experiment, there were two size of photodetector used. Both, using the same
material: silicon. Referring from the Fiber Optic Communication Trainer (PROMAX) board,
photodetector #1 was referred to the silicon 1 mm2 photodetector while photodetector #4
was silicon 2.5 mm2 photodetector.
An inference could also be made in the variable involved, in which the larger size of
the photodetector allows more light to be captured, thus more power could be received.
From the practical implementation in the experiment carried out, it was proven that
the inference is correct. The result came to the same conclusion that the power measured at
the receiver using transparent plastic fiber will overkill the normal patch cords, and the
smaller size of photodetector (silicon - 1 mm2) outfit the larger one (silicon - 2.5 mm2) in both
intensity parameter, 11 mA and 5 mA, 660nm wavelength.
But, even when the normal patch cord applied slightly higher intensity at 17 mA with
silicon 2.5 mm2 set at the wavelength of 850 nm, the power measured at the receiver end
still unmatched by transparent plastic fiber at the intensity of 11 mA with silicon 2.5 mm 2,
wavelength of 660 nm.
For the second part of the experiment measuring the attenuation of optical signal,
there were three methods of determining the reference power of transmitted signal. The first
one, only one patch cord cable involved end-to-end. Second, two cable patch cord involved
joint by one ST-ST adapter; one used for transmitting end, while other for receiving end,

connecting optical fiber (50 meter) in between. Third, three patch cord cable involved
including one cable as reference.
Between the three method, the first one was the most preferable reference value in
comparing the attenuation of the optical signal. The lowest reference value in transmitted
signal is more acceptable to compare between the received signal, so, a better setup could
be made for any given situation to reduce the number of repeaters in the real world
implementation

CONCLUSION

For the first section of the experiment, it was proven that the inference and the
hypothesis are correct. For the power received is directly proportional to the size of the
photodetector. The transparent plastic fiber is more efficient in transmitting single
wavelength light in contrast with coated/cladded patch cord cable.
While for the second part of the experiment, the first method of obtaining reference
value is more suitable in use for long transmission line, so, an improvement of the setup
could be made at higher standard. Method 1 however, is more preferable to cut down the
cost for repeaters and reducing the attenuation.

REFERENCES

1. Fiber-Optic Bragg Grating Sensors for Bridge Monitoring (1997) Elsevier Science
Limited
2. Philip Coppin, Attenuation Measurement Improvement. Sterilite Optical Technologies
Ltd.
3. Fibre Optic Test and Measurement. Assured Communication.
4. Greg Sanger (2002). How Fibre Optics Works. American Insitute of Physics.
5. Single-Mode Spectral Attenuation Measurement Method. Corning. Issued on January
2006
6. Wayne Tomagi- Communication Systems.