Section I – Abstract

     The main objective of this project is to design a fiber optical system that can output an optical signal without the use of electrical bits. With this basis, a new standard can be set in the world around us. Many devices today operate according to electrical signals that cohere to their respective circuitry components. New devices can be constructed with fibers that will be waterproof. For example, a tracking device can be made that can calculate speeds of moving objects such as ships and torpedoes more accurately. Within information technology, communications and networking would be faster and more reliable. An optical system would eliminate such use and produce possibilities that are endless.

The project will consist of different fibers that will be closely studied in order to understand their properties. Many fibers have measurable wavelengths that affect how the light travels inside them. It has been decided that the fibers will be two meters in length. However, the core of the project will circulate around three main systems that will be built. The first system, called the transmitter, will involve cutting the fibers and analyzing how the light can be trapped. The light must be trapped in order to shift it to another system that will output our desired optical signal. This system will be called the receiver. The light will come from a laser that we will use. The trapping of light itself creates another system. The purpose of this system is to shift the light from the transmitter to the receiver. Pressure will be used within this system to “force” the light into the receiver. The force will be the result of physical energy that will come from a device that we will designate. This system will include sensors that will know when it is possible to shift the light into the receiver. In essence, this will be the basis of our pressure sensor optical system.

Section II –Introduction

Many devices today are built to perform various duties to simplify the world around us.  For instance, devices such as microwaves, microphones, televisions, and computers all contain one main common aspect.  All these devices operate according to configurations that involve the use of electrical bits.  Imagine constructing a device that will avoid the use of electrical signals, which the standard of today.  Fiber optic technology has excelled and given us an opportunity to explore this possibility.  Fiber optic systems offer a wide range of capabilities that electrical signals cannot offer.  Fibers offer many advantages.  Since fibers are made out of glass, they are immune to most chemicals that can destroy chemical systems.  For example, any device that uses electrical bits cannot operate in water.  Fibers are also unaffected by interference signals.  These range from lightning from a thunder storm to high voltage electrical equipment and power lines. Fibers are more durable and can be used over extreme distances.

Typically, a fiber optic system is composed of a transmitter and a receiver.  Between the transmitter and a receiver there can be many different types of mediums that form in other systems.  In today’s environment, that medium is the fiber optic cable.  The fiber optic cable functions between the transmitter and the receiver, and they can carry an optical signal from one system to another.  The problem is that electrical bits are still used to convert from optical to electrical and then from electrical to optical.  Our project will focus on changing this standard in terms of creating a system which will perform our desired result of a purely optical to optical conversion.

Fiber based pressure sensors enable us to explore this idea.  These fiber systems use sensors that will allow us to determine when it is safe for the optical signal to be transferred to the other fiber component. This part of our project will be the most important aspect within the system that lies between our transmitter and receiver respectively. These pressure sensors will operate according to a medium we have yet to decide. These pressure sensors will be located within this medium and will function in a highly advanced environment. 

Section II - Design Requirements/Approaches:

     At this moment, the design for our fiber optical pressure system is not known.  In the approaches to find the correct and most efficient design various types of fibers would be tested and carefully studied.  These various fibers all have different properties and such properties would have to be understood before any selection is made to be used in the design project.  For example, fibers are found to have various wavelengths that influence the way light will travel through them.

Even though the design and materials to be used are not quite known yet, a basic approach has been outlined.  In this basic approach the optical fiber cables would be of two meters in length. However, the core (center) of the project will circulate around three main systems. The first system is called the transmitter and in this system cutting of the fibers and trapping light in the fibers would be the main test. The light must be trapped in the fiber in order to have it shift to another system which would eventually output it to a preferred optical signal. This system is called the receiver. The source light that will be used will be a laser. The trapping of this source light itself will create another system. The objective of this system would be to have the light travel from the transmitter to the receiver. In order to have this light travel in such a way pressure will be used within this system in order to “force” the light into the receiver. Such force will be the result of some type of physical energy that will come from a device that we will designate after numerous tests and observations.

Overall the system will contain some sensors that will identify when it is probable to alter the light into the receiver. This will be the basic approach we will take when testing and analyzing our fibers.  These evaluations of fibers will allow us to determine which fibers will be appropriate for the optical fiber pressure sensor system and that will produce the best and most accurate results.

Section II - Financial Budget

The following is a proposed budget for material that we need in order to start implementing our ideas. However, there are materials that are already provided in the physics lab that we will use and there not listed in this section.

We will be ordering from a company called Newport Corporation

Project Timeline  

Gantt Chart

Section III - Conclusion:

Our project objectives will be approached by testing different optical systems for pressure measurements and choosing the most efficient one that will meet our goals as well as the project requirements. In this case it will be the system that will efficiently output an optical signal without electricity. Our first optical system will be one that is going to help us to understand the basic properties of fibers and how the light can be trapped and dispersed efficiently.

A Gantt chart has been created to keep track of the progress of the project and making sure each individual of the group is contributing as required.  It was also designed to meet deadlines and avoid time constraints as well as difficulties that will limit what we envision. The strengths of each member are focused on an area in which he/she could be the most beneficial; however input from each member will be applied in all areas. 

The group dynamics are excellent and the project proves to be quite challenging and time consuming. The overall experience appears optimistic and we feel that the project will be a complete success with the hard work from each member.  

Section III – References

1. Understanding Fiber Optics, Third Edition by Jeff Hecht

2. Optics and Vision by Leno Pedrotti and Frank L. Pedrotti

3. Photonics by Newport Worldwide Sales Network                

4. Optical Fiber Sensor Technologies for Efficient and Economical Oil Recovery

   http://www.ee.vt.edu/~photonics/sensors.htm

5. Optical Fiber

   http://www.corningfiber.com/

6. Fiber-Optic Pressure Sensors

   http://www.paroscientific.com/fiberoptapp.htm

7. Fiber Optic Sensor Basics 

  http://www.davidson-instruments.com/basics/basics.html