Course Syllabus

ECE 666 – Fiber Optic Communications

Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering

Course Number: ECE 666
Course Title: Fiber Optic Communications
Credit Units: 3

Course Description
A comprehensive description of the technology of fiber optical communication system. A
balanced discussion between component operation and system design consideration.
Performance parameters and fabrication problems, lasers, LED modulation and detector
responses. Link budget analysis. Advantages of fiber optics, recent developments and
applications.

Prerequisite by Topic
ECE 460 (introduction to communication systems) and ECE 370 (electromagnetic fields and
waves) or equivalent courses. Specifically students should be familiar with analog and digital
communication systems, frequency-division and time-division multiplexing techniques.
Maxwell’s equations and waveguides

Text, References & Software

Recommended Text:
Gerd Keiser, Optical Fiber Communications, third edition, McGraw Hill, 2000

Additional References:
Joseph Palais, Fiber Optic Communications, fourth edition, Prentice Hall, 1998

Software:
MATLAB, MATHCAD, EXCEL and PTDS Virtual Photonics.

Course Objectives – After completing this course the students should be able to:
1. Understand fiber optic concept to information transmission.
2. Identify the elements of an optical fiber transmission link.
3. Understand optical fiber structure, wave guiding and fabrication
4. Understand, compute and simulate the modes in slab waveguide, step index fiber and
graded index fiber.
5. Calculate and simulate the attenuation and signal degradation due to intermodal and
intramodal distortion.
6. Understand the structure, the performance and the signal analysis of optical sources.
7. Understand the structure, the performance and signal analysis of optical detectors.
8. Calculate power coupling losses due to connectors, splices, source output pattern and fiber
numerical aperture.
9. Design optimum single mode and multimode fiber link.
10. Design and analyze optical receivers.
Topics Covered/Course Outline
1. The evolution of fiber optic systems
2. Optical fiber modes and configurations
3. Mode Theory and waveguide equations
4. Single-Mode and graded-index fiber structure
5. Signal degradation in optical fibers
6. Optical Sources
7. Photo detectors
8. Optical Receiver Performance and Operation
9. Optical Measurements

Relationship to Program Outcomes

This course supports the achievement of the following outcomes:
a) Ability to apply knowledge of advanced principles to the analysis of electrical and
Computer engineering problems.
b) Ability to apply knowledge of advanced techniques to the design of electrical and
Computer engineering systems.
c) Ability to apply the appropriate industry practices, emerging technologies, state-of-
the-art design techniques, software tools, and research methods of solving electrical
and computer engineering problems.
d) Ability to use the appropriate state-of-the-art engineering references and resources,
including IEEE research journals and industry publications, needed to find the best
solutions to electrical and computer engineering problems.
e) Ability to communicate clearly and use the appropriate medium, including written,
oral, and electronic communication methods.
f) Ability to maintain life-long learning and continue to be motivated to learn new
subject.
h) Ability to be competitive in the engineering job market or be admitted to an
excellent Ph. D. program.

Prepared by:
Nagwa Bekir
November 8, 2002