Laser diode and photodiode modules and analogue circuits training for the optical fiber transmission practice system

Abstract

In this paper, the technical training for fabricating the laser diode and photodiode modules and also assembling the electronic drives for the both modules is described from a view point of student technical training to study fundamental technology of optical fiber telecommunications. First, the students assembled the both modules using small parts and adjusted the optic axis of laser light from a source with an accuracy of a few micrometers so that the laser light efficiently enters the core of an optical fiber cable. The characteristics of the modules such as the spatial intensity distribution of emitted laser light, the relationship between the input laser power and the output current of a photodiode were measured to evaluate the fabricated modules. Second, two electronic analogue circuits of the drives used for the modules were assembled to study about typical optronics devices such as laser diode and photodiode, the functions of the circuits in the drives and how they are used in combination with the optical fiber telecommunications technology. Lastly, the fabricated modules and the assembled drives were tested by transmitting the test image using an optical fiber cable.