Fiber Optic Light Sources.ppt

Fiber Optic Light Sources Fiber Optic Communications ECEE – 641 Dr. Kurzweg By: Antonios Boulos Overview What is an Optical Source LEDs SLEDs – Surface Emitting LEDs ELEDs – Edge Emitting LEDs LDs – Laser Diodes Tunable Lasers Conclusion Questions What is an Optic Source? The heart of a fiber optical data system A Hybrid Device Converts electrical signals into optical signals Launches these optical signals into an optical fiber for data transmission. Device consists of an interface circuit, drive circuit, and components for optical source. (LEDs, ELEDs, SLEDs, LDs, etc) LEDs – Light Emitting Diode Emits incoherent light through spontaneous emission. Used for Multimode systems w/ 100-200 Mb/s rates. Broad spectral width and wide output pattern. 850nm region: GaAs and AlGaAs 1300–1550nm region: InGaAsP and InP Two commonly used types: ELEDs and SLEDs SLEDs – Surface Emitting LEDs Primary active region is a small circular area located below the surface of the semiconductor substrate, 20-50μm diameter and up to 2.5μm thick. Emission is isotropic and in lambertian pattern. A well is etched in the substrate to allow the direct coupling of emitted light to the optical fiber Emission area of substrate is perpendicular to axis of optical fiber Coupling efficiency optimized by binding fiber to the substrate surface by epoxy resin with matching refractive index Surface Emitting LED ELEDs – Edge Emitting LEDs Primary active region is a narrow strip that lies beneath the semiconductor substrate Semiconductor is cut and polished so emission strip region runs between front and back. Rear face of semiconductor is polished so it is highly reflective while front face is coated with anti-reflective, light will reflect from rear and emit through front face Active Regions are usually 100-150μm long and the strips are 50-70μm wide which are designed to match typical core fibers of 50-100μm. Emit light at narrower angle which allows for better coupling and efficiency than SLEDs E