Free Space Optics

FSO
Sourabh S
Introduction
Why FSO?
Wide Area Networks between Local Area Networks in
major cities are extremely fast buildings are also fast
• Fiber based

The connections in
between are typically
a lot slower

Only about 5% of commercial

buildings are lit with fiber

The “Last Mile” Bottleneck Problem

 Overview of FSO

Lens Channel
Transmitter Lens/Mirror Receiver
Operation of FSO
Advantages of FSO

No interference
High Security
 Advantages of FSO

• High data rates

• Up to 2.5 Gb/s
Advantages of FSO

• Spectrum is too large

 Advantages of FSO

Easy to install
• Rapid installations without trenching and permitting
through the window

• Direct connection to the end user

• Bypasses the building owner

• No roof rights
• No riser rights
Challenges of FSO
Window
Attenuation
Fog

Sunlght
Building
Sway

Scintillation Alignment

Obstructions

Low Clouds

Each of these factors can “attenuate” (reduce) the signal. However,

there are ways to mitigate each environmental factor.
Challenges of FSO

• Building Sway
-misalignment
Challenges of FSO

• Compensating for Building Sway – 2 Methods

• Automatic Pointing and Tracking
using MEMS technology

0.2 – 1 mrad divergence

= 0.2 to 1 meter spread at 1 km
Challenges of FSO

• Compensating for Building Motion

• Large Divergence and Field of View

2 – 10 mrad divergence
=2 to 10 meter spread at 1 km
Challenges of FSO

• Scintillation
Challenges of FSO

• Atmospheric Attenuation
Challenges of FSO
• Experiment
• Line of sight =2.4 km
Challenges of FSO

• Safety Considerations

• Strict international standards have been set for safety and performance.
Applications
FSO technology roadmap

• Enhance the performance of data rate

• Highest speed 2.5 Gb/s
• 10 Gb/s in the future
• Fiber-like data rates
FSO technology rodmap

• Future Application
• FSO on HAPs
 Comparison

Criteria FSO Optical Fiber RF

Installation Easy Difficult Easy
Cost Moderate High Moderate
Maintenance time Short Large Short
Most common uses Last Mile solution Long distance Short/Long distance
(short distance)
Security Moderate High Moderate
FSO manufacturers
References

[1]LINCOLIN laboratory, MASSACHUSETS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

[2] http://www.fsona.com/technology.php?sec=fso_guide
[3] http://www.laseroptronics.com/index.cfm/id/57-66.htm
[4] LightPointe_White_Paper_What_is_Free_Space_Optics
[5] http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/optoelectronics/fiber-
optics-without-fiber
THANK YOU …