Design and development with educational purposes of an optical spectrum analyzer for the visible range and of an optical time domain reflectometer for the second window

Abstract

We present in this paper the detailed design, development, and implementation of two optical measurement systems that serve as teaching devices for undergraduate students. The building of both prototypes has been carried out by several students for their undergraduate thesis project. Both systems are highly modular and each of their functional blocks are clearly separated and labeled so that students can immediately identify their constituent parts. In both cases, the hardware consists of optoelectronic devices and mechanical parts that are fully automated and controlled by the corresponding Windows application developed ad hoc. Our Optical Spectrum Analyzer is, as far as we know, the first system designed for highly multimode polymer optical fibers operating in the visible region. As for the Optical Time Domain Reflectometer, it is not only suitable for educational experimental measurements, but it can also be compared with commercial systems, since it works in the second transmission window. © ETOP 2009.