An innovative optical laboratory design in studying thermal effects of laser-emitters and PIN-photodiodes

The reliability of laser-emitters and PIN- photodiodes used in fiber optic communication as the light source and the light receiver is a major concern. These devices are temperature dependent, especially the laser- emitters. This sets the limitations on all fiber optic devices when the application requires operation that is beyond specified temperature range. The operational temperature range is commonly from -40degC to 85degC. The information of fiber optic devices can be found in their manufacturer's specification sheets that are mostly typical and often not available for every device, unless requested by the user. In the process of selecting the components, further study of the supplied devices is necessary before making decision even though it is time- consuming and required expensive equipments. The purpose of this project is to design an effective and reliable testing facility into a real world problem solving experience for students. This hand-on testing experience will be a valuable asset to the students as it is an important part of many industrial operations. The system is capable of studying the temperature dependency of fiber optic device characteristics. This innovative design project can also enhance the opportunities for collaboration and service with local technical community.