The University of Southampton
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Electronics and Computer Science

OPTO6010 Advanced Fibre Telecommunication

Module Overview

Communications is arguably the most widespread application of fibre optics, and naturally forms an essential part of an MSc Programme specialising on fibre technologies. This module will cover topics ranging from the more general (aimed at students with a background that is different to engineering) to more specialised issues relating to modern communication systems. The module starts with an introduction to the history of optical communications and the evolution of optical communication systems. It covers aspects of optical networking, and looks in detail in the modulation and multiplexing techniques used in modern systems. Key optical components for communications are presented and their main characteristics are analysed, allowing the students to appreciate what features can make a difference in the performance. An introduction to wave propagation in optical fibres is presented next, with emphasis on the effects of fibre characteristics on fast data signals. The final part of the main body of the module covers topics that are relevant either to modern communication systems or that emerge from recent research in the field. It includes optical nonlinearities and their implications both in transmission and signal processing, as well as electronic signal processing and its ever-increasing role in optical communications.

Furthermore, the module includes provision for four lectures on passive optical networks to be given by an invited lecturer. These lectures cover specialised networking topics of interest to next generation low-cost telecommunication system technologies. 

This module builds directly on the fundamental fibre technology modules (OPTO6008 and OPTO6009) taught in Semester 1, and together the three modules provides in-depth knowledge of the core concepts of advanced telecommunication systems and the state-of-the-art of telecommunication systems technologies.
This module series could also be of interest to students studying towards an MSc in Wireless Communications.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Understand the evolution of optical communication systems to their current form.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution

Referral Method: By examination

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OPTO6009 Optical Fibre Technology II

Module Overview

Active optical fibres, including lasers and amplifiers, form a central part of optical fibre technologies today. This module will cover this important area of optical fibre technology covering the fundamental aspects of active fibre technologies including optical fibre amplifiers and the basics of fibre lasers. 

This module will give a clear understanding of the operating principles of fibre lasers and amplifiers both in the linear and nonlinear regimes. It will make use of the initial description of passive fibres given in OPTO6008, and combine this with understanding of the basic properties of laser materials to give a firm grounding in active and nonlinear fibre optics. The skills and knowledge acquired during this course will form the foundation for much of the material taught in the Semester 2 courses, and for the final projects in Semester 3 of the MSc programme. 

The aim of this module is to introduce the principles of operation and design of fibre amplifiers and the most common types of fibre lasers. Students will learn the basics of the interaction of light (photons) with matter in the context of absorption and the generation of light via spontaneous and stimulated emission. They will also learn the key concepts of how these transitions relate to the operation of optical fibre lasers and amplifiers. The nonlinear interactions induced by propagating optical beams in an optical fibre will be outlined together with an introduction to the relevant background theory. A detailed overview on various types of linear and nonlinear amplifiers, including their transient dynamics, will also be taught. 

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Understand the fundamentals of optical fibre lasers and amplifiers.
  • Comprehend the spectroscopic properties of rare earth ions in a variety of host materials defining the choice of pump wavelengths and gain bandwidths.
  • Understand the transient dynamics of fibre lasers and the generation of short optical pulses.
  • Comprehend the nonlinear effects in optical fibres and their applications in variety of fields including optical communications.
  • Perform quantitative calculations on the properties of fibre lasers and amplifiers (e.g. threshold power, gain, noise figure and a range of output parameters related with their performance).

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Conceptualise the phenomenon of optical gain and how to tailor and control it in optical fibres.
  • Be able to assess the suitability of different types of optical fibre amplifiers for particular wavelength regions and applications.
  • Predict specific properties of optical fibre amplifiers, and continuous wave (CW) and pulsed fibre lasers based on the knowledge of their design parameters and the materials and components used to form them.
  • Understand the concepts of linear and non-linear optical amplification in optical fibres.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use a variety of information sources (lectures, web, journals) to understand & solve problems relevant to both CW and pulsed fibre lasers and amplifiers.
  • Use feedback from problem classes to prepare for answering examination questions.

Syllabus

  • Transition cross sections.

    •  Blackbody radiation.

    •  Absorption, spontaneous emission and stimulated emission.

  •  Rare-earth spectroscopy.

    •  4f-4f transition of lanthanides.

    •  Absorption and emission cross sections of rare-earth ions.

      Host dependent transition cross sections.

    •  Linewidth broadening and transition lineshapes.

  •  Rate equations for optical amplification.

    •  Energy levels of rare-earth ions.

    •  Three-level system.

    •  Four-level system.

  •  Optical fibre lasers and amplifiers.

    •  Transient dynamics.

    •  CW lasers.

    •  Pulsed lasers.

  •  Nonlinear interactions in fibres.

    •  Self-phase modulation.

    •  Modulation instability.

    •  Stimulated Raman scattering.

    •  Stimulated Brillouin scattering.

  •  Nonlinear amplifiers.

    • Raman amplifier.
    • Brillouin amplifier
    • Introduction to Parametric amplifiers. 

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Teaching methods include

Lectures, tutorials and laboratory visits.

Learning activities include

Lectures, coursework assignments, laboratory visits, and exam preparation 

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture36

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Assignments and problem sheets-20%
Exam2.5 hours hours80%

Referral Method: By examination

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Aims & Objectives

Aims

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution

Referral Method:

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ELEC6215 Integrated RF Transceiver Design

Module Overview

 Aims:

Cellular telephone and local wireless data communications applications have fuelled an explosive demand for highly integrated radio transceiver functions.  The architectures used and the design techniques used depart significantly from the classical matched impedance building block approach, and the whole radio system as well as the target technology must be considered in the design choices.  This course aims to bring together the radio system and transistor level designers’ views in the problem of low cost high performance radio design.

This module aims to bring together the system, circuit and technology issues to be faced when realising a complete wireless transceiver function in silicon for mass market use.

 

Popular architectures will be compared, (egsuperhetvs direct conversion) in terms of the IC implementation issues and the specifications of the building blocks required.  Digitising receiver architectures for Software Defined Radio will be introduced. The question of which technology (principally BICMOS vs CMOS) is most suited will be discussed.  The course will then consider the transistor level design of typical cells in an integrated rather than matched environment.  This will include LNA, Up and Down Mixers, IF and filtering, A/D interfaces, VCOs and PLLs

 

 

Pre-Requisite Knowledge:
•  Bipolar and MOS transistor construction and physics
•  Basic transistor linear circuits
•  DC and AC network analysis skills
•  Elementary analogue IC design
•  Elementary knowledge of matching and S-parameter methods
•  Basic knowledge of filter theory
•  Basic knowledge of classical radio systems
•  Basic knowledge of modulation schemes
•  Basic knowledge of system level noise analysis
•  Familiarity with circuit simulation CAD skills (SPICE)

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Understanding of radio architectures suitable for high levels of integration and how system level specifications affect these choices
  • Appreciation of issues relating to mass market IC technology as used in highly integrated radios
  • Understanding of specifications for circuit functions in highly integrated radio
  • Understanding of common circuit level functions essential to integrated radio architectures

Syllabus

  • General requirements for highly integrated radios
  • Signal selection methods and receiver architectures - direct conversion vs superhet for full integration
  • Practical problems with direct conversion
  • Transmitter requirements, direct upconversion problems
  • System level linearity issues, harmonics, intermodulation, blocking, cascaded system performance, dynamic range
  • Transistor level issues for bipolar low noise amplifiers - bipolar models, ft vs bias, cascode, noise, equivalent models, linearity
  • CMOS technology for RF - scaling, modelling for RF, ft in CMOS, device layout, noise, matching and inductive degeneration
  • Mixer fundamentals, basic requirements and specs, active and passive mixers
  • Quadrature image rejection mixing, practical phase shifting techniques
  • Zero and Low IF baseband filtering, tolerances and tuning, complex band pass and band stop filters, implementations
  • Digitised IF for SDR, system advantages, out of band requirements, sigma delta conversion
  • Local oscillators, requirements, phase noise, integration of inductors, calibration and tuning
  • PLLs and synthesisers - basics, impact of phase noise, settling time and BW, fractional N systems, implementations for full integration, phase/frequency detection

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture32
Tutorial4

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
System study-25%
Exam2 hours75%

Referral Method: By examination

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COMP3200 Part III Individual Project

Module Overview

The individual project gives students the opportunity to gain both detailed knowledge and practical experience in a more focussed area than generally possible elsewhere in their degree programme. Most projects are in the nature of a challenging engineering exercise in which there is scope for flair and originality. Typically, the result of the project will be some demonstrable software and/or hardware together with the supporting final report.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • The subject area of your project in depth
  • The broader subject area of your project, including previous work and alternative approaches
  • The limitations of your project, and how they might be addressed in future work
  • The relationship between your project and your degree specialism (for students on specialist variant programmes only)
  • The legal, social, ethical, professional and commercial issues that are involved in your project

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Identify a suitably challenging topic for your project, with guidance
  • Identify a topic for your project that is relevant to your degree specialism, with guidance (for students on specialist variant programmes only)
  • Solve problems encountered during the course of your project
  • Study independently in order to gain specialist knowledge in the area chosen for your project

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Work independently to manage a project to completion, by carrying out reading and other research, design, planning, implementation and testing
  • Present and explain technical work, both verbally and in written form
  • Apply appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices to your work

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Analyse a problem and design a solution to that problem
  • Implement your design
  • Test your solution and evaluate its effectiveness

Syllabus

The topics covered on a student's project will depend on their programme of study and choice of project.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureProject briefings, covering: project allocation, academic integrity, information skills, careers, project management, risk management, costing, design for manufacture, evaluation, ethics, and project report writing.12
Project supervisionWeekly supervision meetings with project supervisor12

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Progress Report-10%
Final Report-80%
Viva-10%

Referral Method: By re-write of the project report and re-viva (the original progress report mark will be carried forward)

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ELEC6235 SOC Design Project

Module Overview

This project is a group based design project where the cohort is divided into teams and each team is required to complete a specific design task based around FPGAs or Embedded Processors. The aim of this course is to provide a mechanism for the System on Chip students to be able to move beyond computer simulation into the lab and actually make circuits for practical applications.

The project teams will also have to give several presentations and a final report with both group and individual elements.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Complete an FPGA based practical project to a specification
  • Achieve a set of design goals

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Develop Team and Time management skills
  • Complete a group report with integrated individual elements

Syllabus

1. FPGA design

2. Embedded Processor Implementation

3. Sensor Integration

4. System design and testing

5. Presentation and management

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureThere will be 1 hour lecture scheduled per week, mainly for administrative and progress updates12
Specialist LabScheduled labs and self study labs are required for the SOC/FPGA design project96
SeminarThere will be three 2 hour progress seminars during the semester6

Assessment

Assessment methods

Laboratory sessions are scheduled in the labs on level 2 of the Zepler building
Length of each session: 3 hours
Number of sessions completed by each student: 12
Max number of students per session: unlimited
Demonstrator:student ratio: 1:12
Preferred teaching weeks: 1 to 12

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Project proposal-20%
Project prototype and initial evaluation-30%
Final presentation and demonstration -40%
Project report-10%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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ELEC6231 VLSI Design Project

Module Overview

To provide students with hands-on experience of the complete integrated circuit design process from specification through to fruition.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • A complete integrated circuit design flow based on a standard cell design approach.
  • The use of CAD tools in the design process.
  • The importance of a systematic approach to design and test in order to reduce the problems of debugging large systems.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Manage a complex system design through the use of hierarchy and a modular design and test strategy.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Work as a member of a team. Note that where a group project is not appropriate a suitably tailored individual project or programme of work is substituted. This is the case for part time students for whom collaboration is not practicable.
  • Demonstrate project management and time management skills including working to deadlines and planning your work beyond the next deadline.
  • Communicate your work accurately and concisely through written reports.

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Model complex digital systems using a hardware description language.
  • Design hierarchical modules using a layout editor.
  • Verify function and performance of designs using digital and analogue simulators.

Syllabus

  • Preparation
    • Within each team, students will undertake research relevent to the system design and present their results to the team.
  • System Design
    • Having completed a cell library it will be used in the construction of a large digital system. The tasks undertaken will include:
      • Interpretation of the specification
      • Outline block design
      • HDL Specification
      • Detailed module design
      • Module place & route
      • Flooplanning & global layout
      • Simulation at all stages
    • A number of deliverables will be produced in connection with these tasks.
  • Fabrication
    • The best student design will be chosen for fabrication, with the fabricated chip being used in subsequent projects by other students.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture12
Computer Lab60

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Milestone Submissions-20%
Design Submission-75%
Individual Reflection-5%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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WEBS6200 Project and Dissertation - Web Science

Module Overview

The aims of this module are:

  1. To give you the opportunity to demonstrate advanced knowledge of your specialist subject 
  2. To provide the opportunity to work in a research-led environment 
  3. To develop research skills and prepare you for a career in research and development

Your research project will enable you to explore in depth some aspect of your specialist subject area.  You will agree a multidisciplinary project supervisory team with whom you will meet and agree a project brief and plan. These must be submitted to, and agreed by, the project coordinator. You will thereafter have weekly meetings, either in person or electronically, with your supervisor or, if your supervisor is unavailable, a delegated deputy. The dissertation is due in the first week of September, unless an extension is agreed or you are taking referral examinations. 

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Scientific and technological principles underlying your chosen topic of study
  • Specialist tools and techniques used to analyse and evaluate or design and implement Web systems or environments
  • Current research issues relevant to your chosen topic of study

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Acquire new knowledge and understanding through critical reading of research material
  • Apply such knowledge and understanding to specialist design and analysis problems

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use printed and on-line catalogues and databases to locate relevant technical information
  • Present specialist technical information in written and verbal forms
  • Work independently on a significant research project

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use knowledge of tools and methods relevant to your subject area to carry out research

Syllabus

The topic or topics covered will be agreed by negotiation between yourself and the supervisor who is allocated to support you with your project.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Project supervision14

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
15,000 word dissertation-%

Referral Method: By re-write of the project report and re-viva (the original progress report mark will be carried forward)

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COMP6200 MSc Project

Module Overview

The aims of this module are:

  1. To give you the opportunity to demonstrate advanced knowledge of your specialist subject 
  2. To provide the opportunity to work in a research-led environment 
  3. To develop research skills and prepare you for a career in research and development

Your research project will enable you to explore in depth some aspect of your specialist subject area.  You will be allocated a project supervisor with whom you will meet and agree a project brief and plan. These must be submitted to, and agreed by, the project coordinator. You will thereafter have weekly meetings, either in person or electronically, with your supervisor or, if your supervisor is unavailable, a delegated deputy. The dissertation is in the first week of September, unless an extension is agreed or you are taking referral examinations. 

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Scientific and technological principles underlying your chosen topic of study
  • Specialist tools and techniques used to design, analyse, implement, build and verify systems
  • Current research issues relevant to your chosen topic of study

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Acquire new knowledge and understanding through critical reading of research material
  • Apply such knowledge and understanding to specialist design problems

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use printed and on-line catalogues and databases to locate relevant technical information
  • Present specialist technical information in written and verbal forms
  • Work independently on a significant research project

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use knowledge of tools and methods relevant to your subject area to carry out research

Syllabus

The topic or topics covered will be agreed by negotiation between yourself and the supervisor who is allocated to support you with your project.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Project supervision14

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
15,000 word dissertation-100%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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COMP6228 Individual Research Project

Module Overview

The Individual Research Project is a 7.5 ECTS credit masters level module undertaken by independent study that allows students to demonstrate mastery of an advanced aspect of their discipline, including critical evaluation of current research and research methods, and an awareness of the current limits of knowledge in this aspect of their discipline.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • The historical and current developments in an advanced aspect of your discipline, and an appreciation of likely future developments

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Select, summarise and survey a group of related research articles
  • Critically evaluate current research in an advanced aspect of your discipline
  • Critically evaluate the research methods in an advanced aspect of your discipline

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Locate, read, understand and review research articles
  • Communicate information at the forefront of your discipline in writing
  • Communicate information at the forefront of your discipline as a conference-style poster

Syllabus

This project is not required to have a practical element, but the highest scoring projects typically do. It might be appropriate, for example:

  • to compare, in a uniform framework, the surveyed approaches
  • to complete or extend the work in the surveyed articles
  • to repeat a complex, hence suspect, measurement

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Project supervisionYou will be assigned a supervisor, based on your declared interests. Regular supervision meeting are recommended, it is during these supervision session that you will obtain formative feedback on your ideas, progress and report.12

Assessment

Assessment methods

You must agree a suitable area to research with your supervisor, and should use the skills developed in your earlier modules to locate a group of 15 or so significant articles, 150 pages or so, relevant to the chosen topic. Ideally these articles should span a period of time, range of publication methods, and research institutions.

You should read and summarise these articles, producing a 8 page (using a two-column format) survey article indicating the background to the problem, the methods and results presented in your group of articles, a comparison and evaluation of approaches, and an indication of the outstanding or unsolved issues and problems.

On the basis of this you must also prepare a poster based on your research, to be given at an end of semester research-style conference.

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Literature search, interim and final report-75%
Poster -25%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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