Optoelectronics Group
Members:
Academic staff - Dr. Nicholas Ioannides (Leader), Dr. Demetri Kalymnios (Honorary)
Research Students - J. Munisami
The optoelectronics laboratory was established in 1987 and occupies approximately 25 m2. It offers the usual specialised optoelectronics equipment such as optical benches, mounts, translation stages, lens holders and other similar. It can support both undergraduate final year projects and postgraduate research in the areas of electro-optic modulation, line of sight laser communications, and fibre optic communications.
There are additionally, specialised facilities for both undergraduate and postgraduate work in the area of Plastic Optical Fibres (POF) in data communications and sensors. These facilities in POF also started in 1987 and were one of the first in a UK institution.
The Faculty of Computing has offered use of the POF facilities, for extended periods, to visiting European researchers and other UK university collaborators. These facilities are also being used for consultancy and industrial research contracts and this is an area of activity the group endeavours to expand.
Typical undergraduate Plastic Optical Fibre (POF) project areas:
- Short data links (RS232C full-duplex, over one or more fibres)
- Video links
- LAN components (splitters, 1x 8 couplers, mode scramblers)
- Sensing techniques
Evolved research areas using POF:
- POF LAN and components
We have developed simple 'do-it-yourself' versions of 1 x 2, 1 x N and N x N couplers based on butting of polished fibre ends using mechanical parts that can be produced inexpensively with appropriate polymer mould design techniques. Excess loss, though dependent on fibre polish finish, is consistently less than 3 dB, making these couplers useful in many applications
- POF data links and bandwidth optimisation
Currently, we investigate ways for improving the bandwidth performance of high numerical aperture (NA) POF using mode scrambling / filtering techniques. We have developed a 'small size' moulded scrambler for easy use in data links and sensors. Additional advantages in using mode scrambling techniques in POF links relate to improvements in link reliability and repeatability
- POF sensors
An optical displacement sensor has been developed which utilizes three Plastic Optical Fibres. It is an extrinsic, intensity based, differential technique. The sensor has linear response and scalable range. It has a dynamic range of 45 mm (20 mm < R < 65 mm) when operated with ambient illumination, accuracy of 1 %, and good temperature stability. It has been shown that the sensor can be adopted to measure dynamic variables such as vibration, pressure, etc
POF components and devices produced
The group's work has often been presented at the annual international POF conferences (UK, USA, France, Germany, Japan, China, Brazil, Greece). Additionally, tutorials and one-day short courses on POF Data Communications and POF Sensors have also been presented (Portugal, USA, UK, France, Germany).
The Group wishes to continue its activities with POF and is very interested in expanding both its academic and industrial partnerships.
For further information please contact Nicholas Ioannides n.ioannides@londonmet.ac.uk
For more details see Centre for Communications Technology
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