Free Space Optics

Prepared by: Mistry Pooja B

Enroll. No: 150320705006
Sem:3
Course: Communication System Engineering
College: LJIET

Contents
Introduction
Literature Review
Characteristics
Block diagram
Key Components
FSO Applications
Features
Merits
Limitations
References

Introduction
FSO (free space optics) is an optical communication technology in which data is
transmitted by propagation of light in free space allowing optical connectivity.
There is no requirement of the optical fiber cable. Working of FSO is similar to
OFC (optical fiber cable) networks but the only difference is that the optical beams
are sent through free air instead of OFC cores that is glass fiber. FSO system
consists of an optical transceiver at both ends to provide full duplex (bidirectional)
capability. FSO communication is not a new technology. It has been in existence
from 8th century but now is more evolved. FSO is a LOS (line of sight) technology,
where data, voice, and video communication is achieved with maximum 10Gbps of
data rate by full duplex (bidirectional) connectivity

Literature Review
Sr. No

Title of the paper

Publisher

Author(s)

Year

Applications of free space optics for

broadband access

IEEE publication

E. Leitgeb M. Gebhart U. 2004

Bimbacher S. Sheikh
Muhammad Ch. Chlestil

Free Space Optics in different (civil and

military) application scenarios in
combination with other wireless
technologies

IEEE publication

E. Leitgeb, T. Plank, M.
Lschnigg, P. Mandl

2014

Application of waveguide/free-space
optics hybrid to ROADM device

IEEE publication

Kenya Suzuki, Kazunori

Seno, and Yuichiro
Ikuma

2016

Sr. No
1

Title of the paper

Applications of free space optics for
broadband access

Publisher
IEEE publication

Author(s)

Year

E. Leitgeb M. Gebhart U. 2004

Bimbacher S. Sheikh
Muhammad Ch. Chlestil

At the moment the main work in this field is to increase reliability and availability.
Those two parameters of the FSO-link are mainly determined by the local atmospheric
conditions. So good reliability and availability can be achieved by using the Free Space
Optics for short distances, by calculating enough link-budget and by using the optimal
network architecture for each FSO application. The optimal solution for FSO configurations
is a meshed architecture. This network architecture combines shorter distances and high
reliability, because of the location of the Optical Multipoint Unit (in the center of the area).
The combination of FSO and microwave-links is also a further possibility for increasing
reliability and availability, because terrestrial FSO is most effected by fog, whereas the
microwave propagation is mainly influenced by rain. Results of investigations show a
reliability of 99.9991 % for hybrid systems.

Sr. No
2

Title of the paper

Free Space Optics in different (civil and
military) application scenarios in combination
with other wireless technologies

Publisher

Author(s)

IEEE publication E. Leitgeb, T. Plank,

M. Lschnigg, P.
Mandl

Year
2014

In this paper Free Space Optics (FSO) in combination with other wireless technologies including
WLAN and satellite communications in civil-military-cooperation is presented. At first modular
communication systems are shown, which allows worldwide access to the Internet or other networks
by combining satellite communications, FSO, Wireless LAN, Local Multipoint Distribution System
and DVB-T. Wireless LAN offers connectivity to mobile users in a network cell, Free Space Optics
allows quick installation of broadband fixed wireless links instead of cables and satellite
communications provides a backbone between distant locations in the world. DVB-T is the current
video broadcast standard (instead of former analogue TV) and will also be used for Internet-access.
Different scenarios using modular wireless technologies are shown. Free Space Optics and wireless
applications installed at a civil-military exercise in Styria and other application scenarios are
presented. In this civil-military cooperation a mobile satellite earth station was used for
videoconferencing between military and civil organizations.

Sr. No
3

Title of the paper

Application of waveguide/free-space
optics hybrid to ROADM device

Publisher
IEEE publication

Author(s)
Kenya Suzuki, Kazunori
Seno, and Yuichiro
Ikuma

Year
2016

In this paper, the basics of SPOC technology and review its application to
reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexing (ROADM) devices are summerized. The key
elements of a waveguide on an SPOC platform are an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG)
and a spatial beam transformer. The latter functions as a microlens array and provides
attractive features such as dense integration of switches. An LCOS device has numerous
phase modulating pixels, enabling flexible manipulation of lightwaves. Using an SPOC
platform, we constructed and demonstrated devices for ROADM applications including a
wavelength filter, tunable optical dispersion compensators, and wavelength selective
switches (WSSs). The WSSs range from an ultra-high port count WSS to a single module
wavelength cross connect.

Characteristics
FSO systems should have the ability to operate at higher power levels for longer distance.
For high speed FSO systems, high speed modulation is important.
An overall system design should have small footprint and low power consumption
because of its maintenance.
FSO system should have the ability to operate over wide temperature range and the
performance degradation would be less for outdoor systems.
Mean time between failures (MTBF) of system should be more than 10 years.

Block Diagram

Explanation
The electrical signal is converted to optical power and transmitted through the air.
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 Optical Wireless systems.

Key Components
AT 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 that influence price and

performance as known from traditional optical communications

AT RECIEVER:
An optical concentrator ( collect and concentrate incoming radiation) and an optical filter
(to reject ambient light), a photo detector (PD, to convert radiation/ optical power into a
photocurrent), and an electrical front-end (performing amplification, filtering etc.)

FSO - Applications
In addition to bringing huge bandwidth to businesses /homes FSO also finds applications
in :

Hospitals

Cellular communication back-haul

Others:
Inter-satellite communication
Disaster recovery
Fibre communication back-up
Video conferencing
Links in difficult terrains
Temporary links
e.g. conferences

Multi-campus university

Merits
Free space optics is a flexible network that delivers better speed than broadband.
Installation is very easy and it takes less than 30 minutes to install at normal locations.
It has very low initial investment.
There is no need for spectrum license or frequency coordination between users.
It is a secure system because of line of sight operation and so no security system up
gradation is needed.
High data rate can be obtained.
There is immunity to radio frequency interference.
Electromagnetic and radio-magnetic interference cannot affect the transmission in FSO link.
Low power usage per transmitted bit.
There is relatively high bandwidth.
Transmission of optical beam is done in air. Hence, transmission is having speed of light.

Security
FSO laser beams cannot be detected with spectrum analyzers or RF meters.
FSO laser transmissions are optical and travel along a line of sight path that
cannot be intercepted easily.
The laser beams generated by FSO systems are narrow and invisible, making
them harder to find and even harder to intercept and crack.
Data can be transmitted over an encrypted connection adding to the degree of
security available in FSO network transmissions.

Limitations
Physical obstructions: flying birds, trees, and tall buildings.
Scintillation: there would be temperature variations among different air packets due to the
heat rising from the earth and the man-made drives like heating ducts.
Geometric losses: geometric losses which can be called optical beam attenuation are induced
due to the spreading of beam and reduced the power level of signal as it travelled from
transmitted end to receiver end
Absorption: absorption is caused by the water molecules which are suspended in the
terrestrial atmosphere.
Atmospheric turbulence: the atmospheric disturbance happens due to weather and
environment structure.
Atmospheric attenuation: atmospheric attenuation is the resultant of fog and haze normally. It
also depends upon dust and rain.
Scattering: scattering phenomena happen when the optical beam and scattered collide.

References
E. Leitgeb M. Gebhart U. Bimbacher S. Sheikh Muhammad Ch. Chlestil Applications of
free space optics for broadband access Institute of Broadband Communications (at the
Department of Communications and Wave Propagation, 2004.
E. Leitgeb, T. Plank, M. Lschnigg, P. Mandl Free Space Optics in different (civil and
military) application scenarios in combination with other wireless technologies IEEE
publication, 978-1-4799-6515-1/14,2014.
Kenya Suzuki, Kazunori Seno, and Yuichiro Ikuma Application of waveguide/free-space
optics hybrid to ROADM device IEEE publication, Journal of Lightwave Technology,
0733-8724, 2016.

THANK YOU