1. Introduction
Recent advances in In-Car Entertainment System will play an important role on automotive industry. It was assumed that in the year 2015, every new car, especially built in Europe will be equipped with Internet connection. As cars become connected to the Internet, the demand for Internet-based entertainment and applications and services increases [1].
Polymer optical fibers (POFs) are in a great demand for the data transmission and processing of optical communications compatible with the Internet, which is one of the fastest growing industries in automotive field. POFs become replacement for copper cable technology for future IVI system.
In this chapter reports experimental demonstration of a POFs based solutions in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network and some effects due to the placement of color filters as a demultiplexer for the In-Car Entertainment System. A
Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) is one of the advance IVI system provider company which also utilized a POF-LED technology to transmit numerous signals represent a different data transmission via time division multiplexing (TDM) network (refer Fig. 1).
In our research, we offered a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) communication network over POF due to the rapid increase of traffic demands [2, 3]. WDM is the network that allows the transmission of multimedia data in IVI system over multiple wavelength (color) and thus greatly increases the POF's bandwidth. Beside, this network proposes a backup path in order to mitigate a serious breakdown in TDM-based network in IVI system.
Refer to Fig. 2, the proposed WDM-POF system, three unit of transmitters with different color of LED will carry single information simultaneously. For example in IVI network, red LED with 650nm wavelength modulated with video signal while blue (λ1), green (λ2), and yellow (λ3) lights carry ethernet, audio and RF signal, respectively. The light has to be combined by the multiplexer (MUX) at the sending side. And to separate the wavelength channels at the receiver side, a wavelength demultiplexer (DEMUX) has to be used.
Demultiplexing, perform the reverse process with the same WDM techniques, in which the data stream with multiple wavelengths decomposed into multiple single wavelength data streams. POF coupler has similar function, operates to combine a number of optical data pulses as a single coupled signal. Hence, the development of MUX based on POF coupler is possible. A low-cost solution for POF-WDM system application will be presented.
A novel fused POF couplers has been fabricated by a fusion technique, as an effective transmission media to split and couple numerous different wavelengths which represents different signals. These novel coupler, however, suffer from several disadvantages. The high cost of the available couplers was raised as a challenge to the development of WDM systems in short-haul networks [5-8]. In addition, from the stand point of device design, the diameter of the fused tapered region, where stress is concentrated, is too small in conventional couplers. The structure causes a high incidence of fiber fracture, which results in poor reliability [9-12].
Thus a cost-effective 3×3 POF couplers based on a fused tapered structure to address these drawbacks of conventional couplers is demonstrated. The coupler is fabricated by a new and simple fabrication method, using a Bunsen burner and a metal tube. In this study, two types of fused couplers method focused of weakly fused (WF) and highly fused (HF). The WF coupler is, however, not considered to be a low-loss device, as the excess loss of the coupler was high, 12 to 22 dB.
The HF coupler is then developed to be the successor of the WF coupler. The excess loss of the HF coupler is very low, 0.3 to 5 dB. The device is developed as an optical switch which optical power can be switched completely from one fiber to another fiber at a temperature increase of T=55°C [13]. The switching characteristic can be achieved by varying the refractive index of the cladding at the coupling region of the coupler by temperature.
One of the aim of this chapter is to examine and optimize the feasibility of both methods of 3×3 POF couplers as thermal optical switches to be integrate in WDM-POF-based network for IVI system. The investigation is also to determine whether the thermal treatment is required to improve the quality and shift the device specification. Hence, a study of thermal effect on both polymer-based WF and HF couplers by varying the temperature of a hot plate from 20 °C to 125 °C is studied. The fused tapered fiber in the coupling region is exposed to the hot plate surface and optical power is launched into the input fiber of the coupler. In this temperature-dependence experiment, we investigate a relationship between temperature and several parameters such as coupling ratio, insertion loss and excess loss of the couplers.
In this chapter, red LED (650nm) has been utilized to transmit Ethernet data while green LED (520nm) can transmit a video image generated from CCTV network or DVD player, and blue LED with 470nm wavelength represents an audio transmission system for home networking. Refer to Fig. 3, special polymer color filters has been located between the coupler and receiver-end to ensure the entire WDM system can select a single signal as desired [4].
The performance of the novel coupler either with or without attachment of color filter can be evaluated in terms of insertion loss (IL). Some experiments in order the optimized the performance of WDM-POF based system for IVI system need to be conduct to minimized the value of the insertion loss (IL) in the network. The insertion loss (IL) is the amount of power loss that arises in the fiber optic line from input to the output of the fabricated coupler, expressed below,
Some wavelengths interfere with their reflected parts constructively, whereas others interfere destructively. Those wavelengths that interfere constructively can pass the filter, whereas the others get reflected. Besides the material parameters, the incident angle plays a major role, as each layer gets relatively thicker when tilting the filter. Color filters are manufactured for a long time and therefore high quality filters are readily available. They usually have sizes of several square millimeters. Color filters therefore are a valid choice to build DEMUX.
2. WDM-POF integrated network for in-car entertainment system
Adapting the fused tapering technique for conventional multimode fiber, we successfully established fabrication process for 1×3 POF twisted and fused couplers to be used as a MUX and DEMUX in IVI system. The 1×3 low cost coupler is an optical device, which ended by 3 number of POF output ports, while the other side ended by one POF port.
Similar to common coupler, it is also possible to work bidirectional, whereby it works from the 3 ports into 1 port (for coupling signal purpose), or vice versa (for splitting signals purpose). Optical 3×3 coupler has been symmetrically cut into two part to generate a pair of 1×3 couplers by the jointing of three polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) POF [14]. Other specification for the design, the input POF is designed and fabricated to be twisted and fused shape as the fabrication process and 1×3 POF coupler is illustrated in Fig. 4.
Standard multimode SI-POF is used with its core diameter of 980 µm and cladding thickness of 10 µm. To obtain the results, DEMUX is realized using a special color filter attached using epoxy resin to the end of the connectors. The components are chosen because they are low cost and are easily found in the market.
Almost similar to POF material itself, the color filters are comprised of two types of plastic. More than 65% of the line is made from co-extruded polycarbonate plastic. The remainder of the line is deep dyed polyester [15, 16]. Filters create color by subtracting certain wavelengths of color. Thus, a red filter absorbs blue and green, allowing only the red wavelengths to pass. The process is subtractive not additive, so the light source must emit a full spectrum.
The swatch book provides detailed information on the spectral energy curve of each filter. The curve describes the wavelengths of color transmitted through each filter. For example, Supergel 342 transmits approximately 40% of the violet and blue energy of the spectrum and 75% of the orange and red energy. It absorbs all energy in the yellow and green range [15, 16].
After putting the resin onto the filter to be attached to the socket, the component then is hold together tightly for about two minutes to assure that no gap or air bubbles all over and also to assure the strong bond. This part has to be done gently since the epoxy resin has to be avoided covering the fiber’s surface as much as possible so that any power losses can be minimized when the measurement is taken. However, since the edge of the socket is quite thin and sharp, the spread of the epoxy resin to the fiber surface cannot be 100% avoided.
After the fabrication is done, readings and measurements are taken for insertion loss for each of the fiber using a power meter. In this experiment, a lot of samples were fabricated to get the optimal results and to see which of the color filters that shows the most transmission and gives least losses. The length of the POFs is fixed at 3 meters long.
In this study, for fused plastic optical fiber, the optical loss is categorized as extrinsic loss due to the physical change of POF, LED projection to POF and the core-to-core connection and [17, 18]. It is obtained that the physical change of POF caused by fabrication process, where by diameter of POFs increasingly decrease to approach 1 mm and the POFs finally has twisted and fused shape. In characterization process, optical loss may present through the direct LED projection to POF surface. Besides, optical loss may also present through the connection between the fused tapered POF and POF cable [17].
3. Results and discussion
Comparison for the optical line either using the color filter or not, has been analyzed. The insertion loss of as much as 21 samples for the output terminal over POF has been utilized in 3-channels IVI system through red filter (internet data) have been visualized in Fig. 5. From the results gathered, it is seen that when all the components are set up and red LED (650nm) was injected, the insertion loss measured by the power meter shows small increase of losses when the film is attached to the socket.
This is also true when blue and green LEDs are injected. For the characterization of same film using different sources, we take a red film A (filter labeled
The effect of plastic-based filter attachment at the receiver-end did not indicate a significant deviation in power efficiency since both PMMA and Co-extruded Polycarbonate for fiber core and plastic filter’s material have the same refractive index which approaching 1.59 [16].
Study on the saturation level of each color filters – red, green and blue – has been carried out. As much as eleven best samples chosen with different level of color saturation labeled from 1 to 11 which sample number 1 indicate the darkest (more saturated) color filter while number 11 with the lightest color (less saturated). Each of different color filter has been injected by LED in a range of blue to red light (470~650nm) and the result can be obtained in Fig. 6.
From the result in Fig. 6(a), it is observed that sample 1 to 7 shows highest losses and decrease of efficiency. Since sample 1 to 7 being among the darkest film color meaning that only small or narrow transmission percentage of red LED or transmitter is allowed to get through. This phenomena also found in Fig 6(b), for the first six sample has quite high losses especially when it was injected by LED in blue to green range (470-580nm). However, red filter in Fig 6(c) did not indicate a significant deviation of loss by variying the saturation of the filter.
Compare with others, red filters block most of the green and blue LED transmission since it is clear that only red wavelength (λ=600~650nm) will be allowed to get through the film. The film filters out any other wavelength transmission that is not within the range. This concept is used as the primary idea for designing the demultiplexer.
It has been proven that, when blue filter was injected by all three optical source (blue, green and red color) all the data were more fluctuated right after the light hit the filter through the fiber. Same goes to green filter, all light sources will fluctuated the efficiency of the data transmission. This fluctuation generated as an effect from the SED percentage of each filters and also came from the intensity of each light source. The higher intensity of the light source transmitted the more oscillated graph plotted and the less significant of SED percentage deviation the less effect on fluctuation.
For the temperature-dependence experiment, two samples of 3×3 fused couplers with multimode SI PMMA POF are tested: WF and HF couplers. For the WF coupler, the fabrication method includes three processes: fiber bundle configuration, fabrication of spiral fiber and fiber tapering. Firstly, a fiber bundle consists of
The HF coupler fabrication method includes four processes, as a new process was introduced to enhance the coupling characteristic of the fused tapered fiber by removing twisting effects on the fused fiber. A twisting effect implies that each fiber is not melted sufficiently to combine with each other. Firstly, a fiber bundle consisting of
The fiber bundle is pulled and twisted from both sides repeatedly and continuously over a long fusion time,
The experimental setup has been setup, which consisted of a digital hot plate, an AF-OM110A power meter and an LED fiber source with a 650 nm wavelength. Refer to Fig. 4, each fibers on the left side of the coupler are defined as Port A, B, or C, whereas on the other side, each fiber ports are termed as Port D, E, or F. In the experimental setup, for each coupler, the hot plate is exposed directly to the centre region (the fused and tapered fiber) and the temperature of the hot plate is varied from 30 °C to 125 °C to investigate the light propagation behavior and power loss for each fiber port. The LED source is launched into a single input fiber, while each output fibers was connected into an optical power meter using a suitable adapter to measure the output power. In the meantime, another optical power meter is also placed at the end of each input fibers to measure the returned power for both fiber ports. By using the optical power acquired from the measurement, several parameters were calculated for both couplers, such as the excess loss and the coupling ratio.
When the heating temperature is increased to
The heating temperature of the hot plate
While heat energy is supplied from a hot plate to the coupling region at the fused coupler and an LED fiber source with wavelength of 650 nm is injected into an input fiber, thermal resistance would be induced at the centre of the fused coupler to oppose light propagation from a single input fiber into multiple output fibers. The symbols
Firstly, when the temperature is increased to
The optical power was measured for one directions, the LED fiber source was injected into Port A, while the optical power meter was positioned at the ends of the output fibers (Ports D, E, and F). The room temperature
As shown in Fig 7(a) and 7(b), in each fiber port, output power decreases as temperature rises. Both types of fused polymer couplers will be damaged when the heating temperature increased to
In the case of the WF coupler, as shown in Fig 7(b), the optical power reduction in the cross-coupled fibers (Ports E and F) was not significant, as the power intensities for both cross coupled ports were too small, less than 0.5 μW at 30°C. It was found that the throughput port D decreased with similar behavior as that seen in the WF coupler, with the power falling to zero suddenly when the temperature of the hot plate increased to
However, for temperature variations from 30°C to 85°C, the downward slope for the WF coupler (−dP/dT) was greater than for the HF coupler. It is believed that the geometrical taper design (in the coupling region) influenced the −dP/dT slope. As the twisting effect was featured in the fused tapered fiber in the centre of the WF coupler, it is believed that the large fiber imperfection in the fused fiber region changes the total optical transmission characteristic of the polymer fiber. Therefore, the twisting effect is considered to be a minor factor in determining the power loss in the WF coupler.
Another effect to take into account is the heating time delay that occurred during power measurement for each fiber port. The delay caused the temperature of the polymer material to increase and thus resulted in optical loss. At
In addition to the measurement presented above, the returned power
Fig 8 shows the temperature dependence of the coupling ratio for both couplers in their throughput and cross-coupled fiber ports for both directions of lightguide propagation. The coupling ratio in the throughput port is defined as
As both the WF and the HF multimode PPMA POF fiber couplers are wavelength independent, their coupling ratios are not periodic functions. For an ideal wavelength-independent 3×3 coupler, it is assumed that the fused fiber in the coupling region has a strong coupling; the output power ratio in the throughput fiber and the cross-coupled fibers at room temperature,
For the WF coupler, as shown in Fig 8, the ratio error
As mentioned before, the refractive index of the fused tapered fiber decreases with temperature. The thermal change of the refractive index in the core and the cladding in the coupling region will result in the variation of the relative phase velocity of the interaction light modes, and the coupling ratio of the fused coupler will be thus influenced by rising temperature [22].
As shown in Fig 8, the variation of the coupling ratio for both couplers is a linear function. The experimental result shows that, for both couplers, the ratio of the transmitted power increases with rising temperature from 30 °C to 125 °C, while the ratio of the coupled power decreases in the meantime.
Fig 8(a) indicates that, for the HF coupler, the average ratio of the coupled power reduces from 35 % to 23 %, whereas the ratio of the output power in the throughput fiber increases linearly from 68 % to 74 %. Fig 8(b) shows that, in contrast to the HF coupler, the WF coupler’s power ratio in the cross-coupled fiber decreases linearly from 18% to 16%. Moreover, the ratio of the transmitted power increases from 82% to 86%. As the Δ
In this study, at room temperature (
In normal conditions without temperature influence, the power splitting performance of the HF coupler is more significant than that of the WF coupler, as the fused fibers in HF coupler suffer from relatively few imperfections. In spite of the different levels of power loss for the two couplers, the fiber imperfections that are characteristic of the fused fiber regions can be considered a design constant, as the excess losses of both couplers decrease with similar Δ
On the other hand, the efficiencies of both couplers lie at the same point when the temperature has been increased to
In the experiment, 95 °C is thus defined as the PMMA POF damage threshold. In the case of polymer material, the
4. Conclusion
The combination of WDM with POF will broaden the horizon of low cost optical customer premises networks [26]. A technique has been used for fabricating the optical coupler based on POFs technology using multimode SI-POF type with 1 mm core size. Fabrication and characterization stages have been carried out to develop the coupler [14]. A technique also has been used to develop a demultiplexer for short-haul communication based on plastic optical fibers. This experiment shows the transmission of multiple signals with different wavelengths carried through one fiber. The concept of multiplexer and demultiplexer are the basic of this system. The system only utilizes three colors for the transmitters and also the filters for the demultiplexer which are blue, green and red (λ=430, 570 and 650nm). Light source from the red, green and blue transmitters are combined by using multiplexer. In order to separate the combined signals, special separators – called demultiplexers (DEMUX) – are utilized. These DEMUX are realized by employing the principle of the Color filters.
Filters play an important role in giving a higher insertion loss from the WDM-POF system, but the quality of a number of output port is not badly destructed due to the color band gap from the filter itself, speed rate of the Internet still stable and the resolution of the video image is quite good. Some parameters, such as optical output power and power losses on the devices were observed, and not to mention about the effect of filter placement and the efficiency of the handmade 1 ×
Red LED with a 650 nm wavelength has been injected to different Color filters for the purpose of characterization test in order to analyze the level of power efficiency of the demultiplexer. Analysis shows that efficiency maintains for filter of the same wavelength as the transmitter while other range of wavelengths will mostly be filtered out or blocked. This main idea is fully utilized for the designing of demultiplexer for WDM-POF-based IVI-Systems applications. Final analysis shows that efficiency of the filter can reach up to 70%. Improvement of performance can be made through practice. Although the setup IVI system exhibits very high attenuation of the transmission, this concept of handmade optical coupler and demultiplexer has been tested for sending data for video, audio and Ethernet and the output shows successful performance.
In the temperature-dependence experiment, it was proven that thermal resistance exists in the fused tapered fiber at the centre of the coupler. The thermal resistance of the fused fiber is dependent on the heat capacity stored in the coupling region. As the heat capacity of the fused tapered fiber reaches its level of saturation, the internally induced thermal resistance is sufficient to block light propagation from the input fibers. Thus, some portion of the total input power is reflected along the opposite path to the two other input fibers. The resultant light guide propagation is called thermal switching.
Hence, the obtained result reveals that WDM-POF has great potential to be employed as economical wavelength divisions multiplexer because it is able to couple different wavelengths with main advantages that are low optical loss and low cost. An intensive study suggested in order improving the homogeneity of this prototype. In fact, fusion technique afflicted with some disadvantages has no consistency of producing coupler as it was almost not possible to fabricate POF coupler with good performance consistently. This WDM-POF technology can be improved gradually through experience and practice. This device is highly recommended for WDM-POF system as it is not as costly as other commercial POF coupler. Furthermore, the fabrication and installation process is simple, easy and suitable to be used for WDM-POF based IVI-system application.
Acknowledgments
This research has been conducted in Computer & Network Security Laboratory, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). This project is supported by Ministry of Science, technology and Environment, Government of Malaysia, 01-01-02-SF0493 and Prototype Research Grant Scheme PRGS/1/11/TK/UKM/03/1. All of the handmade fabrication method of POF coupler, 1×N handmade™-POF coupler and also the low cost WDM-POF network solution were protected by patent numbered PI2010700001.
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