EXPERIMENT 2: Transmission of Analogue DC signals over an Optical Fibre

OVERVIEW
In this experiment, we learned about the use of the analogue fibre optic transmitter and receiver
boards as a communication system for transmitting analogue signals.
The attenuation of the system and of the cables used will be calculated and the phenomena of
end separation and angular misalignment will be demonstrate.
EQUIPMENTS
For this experiment, we need:
Two Power supply boards (No. 0)
Fibre optic analogue transmitter board (No. 3)
Fibre optic analogue receivere board (No. 4)
Digital voltmeter
Probes
Short fibre optic cable
Long fibre optic cable
Lead with a connecting wire
Ruler
Part 1: Transmission of DC signals through fibre optic cables
AIM
To demonstrate the transmission of DC signals through fibre optic cables
PROCEDURES
Step 1. Connecting the boards together
- Connect one power supply board to the fibre optic analogue transmitter boards and
the other power supply board is connected to fibre optic analogue receiver

- Now, connect the output of the transmitter system power supply to the input of the
transmitter board with a lead.

- Then connect the short fibre optic cable to the connector on the transmitter board and
the receiver board
The fibre optic link will transfer signals/information between the analogue transmitter system
and the analogue receiver system.

Step 2. Adjusting the receiver amplification
- Connect the black voltmeter probe to the 0 volt reference point and the red probe to
the test point TP1 on the transmitter board.
- Then, turn the potentiometer on board No. 0 until it reaches the maximum value of
voltage
- The maximum input voltage is 5.078V.
- Next, transfer the voltmeter probes to TP1 and 0V reference point on the receiver
board and look at the result.
- The receiver output voltage is 2.68V

Step 3. Record the receiver output as the transmitter Input voltage is decrease
- Return the voltmeter probes to board No. 3.
- Turn the potentiometer on board No. 0 until it shows the transmitter input voltage of
4V.
- Move the probes to board No. 4 and record the receiver output voltage.
- Repeat this measurements for transmitter input voltage of 3V, 2V, 1V and minimum
voltage and record the results
- Below is the table for the results obtained.

Short Cable
Decreasing Input Voltage
Transmitter Input
Voltage (V)
Receiver Output
Voltage (V)
5.01(Max Voltage) 3.42
4 3.03
3 2.50
2 1.72
1 0.88
0(Min Voltage) 0.22

Step 4. Record the receiver output as the transmitter Input voltage is increased.
- Set the transmitter input voltage at minimum and repeat the step 3s procedure,
instead of decreasing input, we use increasing input.
- The minimum input voltage is 0.029V.
- Below is the table for the results obtained.

Short Cable
Increasing Input Voltage
Transmitter Input
Voltage (V)
Receiver Output
Voltage (V)
0(Min Voltage) 0.22
1 0.90
2 1.72
3 2.46
4 3.05
5.01(Max Voltage) 3.42

Step 5. Repeat the measurement using the long optic cable
- Replace the short fibre optic cable with the long fibre optic cable.
- And repeat steps 3 and 4.
- Record the results


Long Cable
Decreasing Input Voltage
Transmitter Input
Voltage (V)
Receiver Output
Voltage (V)
5.01(Max Voltage) 3.42
4 3.00
3 2.40
2 1.71
1 0.92
0(Min Voltage) 0.19





Long Cable
Increasing Input Voltage
Transmitter Input
Voltage (V)
Receiver Output
Voltage (V)
0(Min Voltage) 0.19
1 0.89
2 1.73
3 2.44
4 3.06
5.01(Max Voltage) 3.42


Step 6. Plotting a graph.
- Taking only the increasing input voltage values for both long and short cable
- Plot the results with 2 different colours.
- Draw the best straight lines.


a) Calculate the V
out/
V
in
for the fixed voltage values ( 1V, 2V, 3V and 4V )
Long Cable
Transmitter Input
Voltage (V)
V
out/
V
in

1 0.89
2 0.865
3 0.813
4 0.765

Short Cable
Transmitter Input
Voltage (V)
V
out/
V
in

1 0.90
2 0.86
3 0.82
4 0.763

b) Calculate the average values for increasing voltage

The average slope for a long cable is 3.333/4 = 0.833
The average slope for a short cable is 3.343/4 = 0.836

Part 2: Fibre optic connection
AIM
To demonstrate the effects of end separation and of angular misalignment for fibre optic
connections
PROCEDURE
Step 1. Replace the long fibre optic cable with the short cables
- Connect each end of the two fibre optic cable to the transmitter and receiver boards
(No 3 and No 4)
Step 2. Investigate the effects of end separation
- The red voltmeter probe is connected to the test point TP1 on the receiver board
(No.4) and the black probe is connected to the 0V reference point.
- The two free ends of the fibre optic cables are being held so that they are just
touching.

Observation: As the two ends of the fibre optic cables are being moved away from each other,
the value of voltage started to decrease.

Step 3. Investigate the effects of angular misalignment
- To observe how signal transmission varies with angular misalignment, alter the angle
between the ends of the two fibre optic cables.
- Observe how the receiver output voltage varies as the angle is changed.
- By using the following diagram that is given, locate the two ends at various angles
and record the values of the output voltages using table.

















Angular Misalignment

Angle of Misalignment
()
Receiver Output Voltage
(V)
60 0.034
45 0.037
30 0.046
15 0.075
0 0.180
-15 0.231
-30 0.069
-45 0.038
-60 0.032

60
45
30
15
0
-15
-30
-45
-60