FREE SPACE OPTICAL

COMMUNICATION
BY –
DIGISHA SINGHAL 13BEC026
RITIKA BISWAS 13BEC088

GUIDED BY -PROF. DHAVAL SHAH

 Motivation

[2]
[1]

 FSO involves communication through free space ie vacuum and

finds extensive application in interstellar space.
 FSO is an upcoming technique used for broadband
communication as we face RF spectrum scarcity with respect to
increasing throughput requirements.
 Useful in places where physical connections are impossible.
 Free space optical spectrum is license free and nearly unlimited.
 Objectives
 FSO is a line-of-sight (LOS) technology that transmits a
modulated beam of visible or infrared light through the
atmosphere for broadband communications.

 FSO technology delivers cost-effective optical wireless

connectivity, power efficient, and a faster return on
investment (ROI) for Enterprises and Mobile Carriers.

 Of high usage where physical connections are impractical

due to high costs and other considerations.
 Outline
 Introduction
 Working
 Challenges
 Advantages-disadvantages
 Applications
 Conclusions
 References
 Introduction
 Line of Sight “Fiber-less” laser driven technology.

 Operating wavelength range :

1) 780-900 nm
2) 1500-1600nm [3]

 Up to 1 Gbps Ethernet

 Distances – up to 5km.
 History

 In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell invented the ‘photophone’ .

 The invention of lasers In the 1960s, revolutionized free
space optics.
 Germany, France and Japan made significant advancements
in free space optics for satellite communications.
 Military organizations especially were interested and forced
some developments.
 Why FSO??
 Last mile bottleneck
:Copper-based
 Increasing
connections limits
demand for high
speed to an average of
bandwidth in
around 12Mbps–
metro networks
generally the slowest
So FSO is link in the chain.
used as an
alternative!!
 Digging, delays and  RF-based networks require
associated costs to lay immense capital investments
fiber often make it to acquire spectrum license.
economically Also bandwidth is limited to
prohibitive. 622 Mbps
 Working [5]

2 Transmitter projects the 3 A receiver at the other

carefully aimed light end of the link collects the
pulses into the air. light using lenses and/or
mirrors.

5 Reverse direction
data transported
the same way. 4 Received signal converted
1 Network traffic converted back into fiber or copper
into pulses of invisible light and connected to the
representing 1’s and 0’s. network.

Anything that can be done in fiber can be done with

FSO.
 Block Diagram

SOURCE LASER TRANSMIT

MODULATOR DRIVER
DIODE OPTICS

Transmitter

ATMOSPHERIC
CHANNEL

PHOTO RECEIVE
DESTINATION DEMODULATOR AMPLIFIER
DETECTOR OPTICS

Receiver
 Working
[6]

 Based on Connectivity between FSO based optical wireless units, each consists of

an optical transceiver to provide bi-directional capability.

 The modulated light source(laser/LED) provides the transmitted optical signal,

determines all the transmitter capabilities of the system which is then

transmitted through the atmosphere.

 On the receiving end, once the signal is received, after undergoing the influences

of the time-dispersive channel and ambient light, the optical signal is directly
translated into a photocurrent at the detector.

 The electrical SNR in optical links depends on the square of the optical power,

which has a deep impact on both design and performance of OW systems.

 Working (Cont.)
 TRANSMITTER : One or more laser diodes (LD) or light
emitting diodes (LED) are used. The choice between LED and
LD is determined by standard factors.
 RECIEVER:
 LED v/s LASER

LED LASER
 Non coherent  Coherent Beam

 Few MHz  Up to 10 GHz

 Eye safe  Harmful eye

 Preferred for indoor  Can be used in all practical

applications. outdoor applications

 Optical power output.  FSO systems require LASER.

 Range of Wavelengths Used
 780–850 nm: These wavelengths are suitable for FSO
operation and several vendors provide high power lasers
in this region.
 1520–1600 nm : high quality transmitter and detector
components are readily available, but more expensive and
detectors are less sensitive. 50-65 times much power can
be transmitted.
 10,000nm (10 mm): relatively new to the commercial FSO
arena, being developed because of claims of better fog
transmission characteristics. Fewer components available
at 10,1000 nm
 Challenges faced
[8]
Environmental factors: Sunlight
Window
Attenuation
Fog
Alignment
Building
Motion

Scintillation

Range
Obstructions
Low Clouds

These factors can “attenuate” (reduce) the signal.

 Challenges(Cont.)
• Modifies light
characteristics • Causes a
or hinders the decrease in the
passage of light power density
FOG ABSORPTION

•Fluctuations in
signal amplitude SCINTILLATION SCATTERING
leading to image • Significant
distortion reduction in beam
intensity
 Advantages
 Installation cost is very low as compared to laying Fiber

 Highly secure transmission possible

 Unregulated Spectrum
[9]
 Low Power Consumption

 Ease of installation

 License-free long-range operation

 Immunity to electromagnetic interference [10]

 Speed: high bit rates and low bit error rates

 Disadvantages
 High Launch Power represents eye hazard.

 Physical obstruction

 Atmospheric barriers

 SNR can vary significantly with the distance and the ambient noise

 Low Power Source requires high sensitive receivers.

 If the sun goes exactly behind the transmitter, it can swamp the

signal.
 Applications
 Metro Area Network (MAN)
 Last Mile Access
 Enterprise connectivity
 Fiber backup [11]

 Backhaul
 Service acceleration
 Space Applications/Extraterrestrial(esp. in military)
 CCTV
 Video conferencing
 Fso and Other Technologies
Coaxial cable Satellite Optical Fibre Free Space optics

Transmission 500Mbps 90Mbps 100Mbps to Varies

speed 100Gbps
Ease of Moderate Difficult Difficult Moderate
installation
Cost Moderate Moderate (not including High Moderate
cost of satellite)

Maintenance Moderate Low Low Low

difficulty
Skills Required to Moderate High High Moderate
install
Applications Computer networks long distances Point-to-point Between buildings

Advantages Less susceptible to Speed, availability Not susceptible to Price/ performance

interference EMI
Disadvantages Bulky, difficult to work Propagation delay Difficult to Can be intercepted
with terminate
 Future Of FSO
 The FSO industry shows some strength, and the FSO market is
growing, though with much less speed as compared to
required speed.

 Perhaps the best overall prospects are in space, where

progress is being made in improving acquisition and tracking.

 The FSO industry consists of mostly established vendors that

manufacture equipment for various distances and speeds of
transmission. The highest speed of 2.5 Gb/s promises to be
increased to 10 Gb/s in future.
 Conclusion
 For future short-range applications, optical wireless
communications present a viable and promising supplemental
technology to radio wireless systems and optical fiber.
 It provides a low cost, rapidly deployable method of gaining access
to fiber-quality connections and provides the lowest cost
transmission capacity in the broadband industry saving substantial
up-front capital investments.
 Can be installed for as little as one-tenth of the cost of laying fiber
cable, and about half as much as comparable microwave/RF
wireless systems thus eliminating the need to buy expensive
spectrum (it requires no FCC), which further distinguishes it from
fixed wireless technologies.
 References
1. http://www.fsona.com/
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Space_Optics
3. http://www.slideshare.net/
4. http://www.ieeexplore.ieee.org.proxy.library.carleton.ca/s
tamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=4446618
5. http://web.mst.edu/~mobildat/Free%20Space%20Optics/
index.html
6. http://freespaceoptics.org
7. http://www.freespaceoptic.com
8. http://www.free-space-optics.org/
 References
[1] www.opticsinfobase.orgoefulltext.cfmuri=oe-19-26-B56&id=224428
[2] www.pi-usa.us/products/images/300x250_images/S-334-Red-Beams.jpg
[3] www.pi-usa.us/products/images/300x250_images/S-334-Red-Beams.jpg
[4] image.slidesharecdn.com/introductiontofsotechnology-
1216024918992120-8/95/introduction-to-fso-technology-3-
728.jpg?cb=1360750423
[5] image.slidesharecdn.com/freespaceoptics-140721105157-
phpapp02/95/free-space-optics-communication-9-
638.jpg?cb=1405957976
[6]www.optica.ru/EN/lant3a.jpg.
[7] http://cictr.ee.psu.edu/research/pcs/index_files/image010.jpg
 References
[8] image.slidesharescdn.com/freespaceoptics-140721105157-phpapp
02/95/free-space-optics-communication-19-638.jpg?cb=1405957976/
[9] http://www.gigapackets.com/images/ManRunningUpArrow250.jpg
[10] termistron.com/ilginc-devre/guc-tasarrufu-devresi/Power%20Saver
%20circuit.jpg
[11] etutorials.org/shared/images/tutorials/tutorial_63/F02tk06.jpg
[12] http://www.yugatech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/wimax.
gif
[13] beyondthescores.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/edu627-blog-3-2.jpg
THANK YOU

FURTHER QUERIES?????