Laser Communication Report

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING, PSET
1. INTRODUCTION
Laser as a communication medium can provide a good substitute for the present day
communication systems as the problem of interference faced in case of electromagnetic waves is
not there and high deal of secrecy is available. Laser communications offers a viable alternative to
RF communications for inter satellite links and other applications where high performance links
are a necessity. High data rate, small antenna size, narrow beam divergence, and a narrow field of
view are characteristics of laser communications that offer a number of potential advantages for
system design. The present paper involves the study of wireless, open channel communication
system using laser a carrier for voice signals. Using this circuit we can communicate wirelessly.
Instead of RF signals, light from a laser torch is used as the carrier in the circuit. The laser torch
can transmit light up to a distance of about 500 meters. The phototransistor of the receiver must
be accurately oriented towards the laser beam from the torch. If there is any obstruction in the path
of laser beam, no sounds will be heard from the receiver.
MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 1

2. PROJECT OVERVIEW
The aim of this project is to input an audio signal (20Hz-20KHz) to the transmitter and
using a laser torch transmit it through air to a photo transistor (L14F1) receiver and output the
received signal to a speaker.
TRANMITTER
The audio signal is input using a 3.5mm jack.
It is amplified in the receiver using an op amp (LM386).
The output from the op amp is given to a laser torch
RECEIVER
The photo transistor receives the laser light
Receiver op amp (LM386) amplifies receiving signal.
The output of op amp is given to a speaker.

3. Block diagram
.
3.1 TRANSMITTER
Fig 3.1 Laser transmitter block diagram.
3.1.1 AUDIO INPUT

The audio is input through a 3.5mm jack. Music from a music player or an external mic
can be plugged into the 3.5mm female connector using a 3.5mm auxiliary cable. It is a small round
connector for accepting the pin-shaped plug from a standard pair of music headphones. It can
support stereo sound and/or a microphone, depending on the number of separate connector rings
on the plug or jack. 3.5mm refers to the approximate diameter of the connector. 2.5mm and 3.5
mm connectors look very similar, differing only in size.
3.1.2 OPAMP AUDIO AMPLIFIER

The Op amp is a LM386-based audio power amplifier. The LM386 is an integrated circuit
consisting of a low voltage audio power amplifier. It is suitable for battery-powered devices such
as radios, guitar amplifiers, and hobbyist projects. The IC consists of an 8 pin dual in-line package
(DIP-8) and can output 0.5 watts power using a 9-volt power supply.
3.1.3. LASER TORCH
Here we use the light rays coming from laser torch as the medium for transmission. Laser
had potential for the transfer of data at extremely high rates, specific advancements were needed

in component performance and systems engineering, particularly for space qualified hardware.
Free space laser communications systems are wireless connections through the atmosphere. They
work similar to fiber optic cable systems except the beam is transmitted through open space. The
laser systems operate in the near infrared region of the spectrum. The laser light across the link is
at a wavelength of between 780 - 920 nm. Two parallel beams are used, one for transmission and
one for reception.

3.2 RECEIVER
Fig 3.1 Photo transistor receiver block diagram.
3.2.1 PHOTO TRANSISTOR (L14F1)

The receiver circuit uses an NPN phototransistor as the light sensor. Like diodes, all
transistors are light-sensitive. Phototransistors are designed specifically to take advantage of this
fact. The most-common variant is an NPN bipolar transistor with an exposed base region. Here,
light striking the base replaces what would ordinarily be voltage applied to the base so, a
phototransistor amplifies variations in the light striking it. Note that phototransistors may or may
not have a base lead (if they do, the base lead allows you to bias the phototransistor's light response.
Note that photodiodes provide much lower gain (i.e., photodiodes allow much less current to flow
than do phototransistors).
3.2.2 OPAMP AUDIO AMPLIFIER
The Op amp is a LM386-based audio power amplifier. The LM386 is an integrated
circuit consisting of a low voltage audio power amplifier. It is suitable for battery-powered devices
such as radios, guitar amplifiers, and hobbyist projects. The IC consists of an 8 pin dual in-line
package (DIP-8) and can output 0.5 watts power using a 9-volt power supply.
3.2.3 SPEAKER
A loudspeaker (or "speaker") is an electro acoustic transducer that converts an

electrical signal into sound. The speaker moves in accordance with the variations of an electrical
signal and causes sound waves to propagate through a medium such as air or water.

4. FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
4.1 OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER
An op amp is a high-gain, direct-coupled differential linear amplifier whose response

characteristics are externally controlled by negative feedback from the output to the Input. OP
amps, widely used in computers, can perform mathematical operations such as summing,
integration, and differentiation. OP amps are also used as video and audio amplifiers, oscillators,
etc. in the communication electronics. Because of their versatility op amps are widely used in all
branches of electronics both in digital and linear circuits. OP amps lend themselves readily to IC
manufacturing techniques. Improved IC manufacturing techniques, the op amp's adaptability, and
extensive use in the design of new equipment have brought the price of IC ops amps from very
high to very reasonable levels. These facts ensure a very substantial role for the IC op amp in
electronics.
The LM386 is a power amplifier designed for use in low voltage consumer applications. The gain
is internally set to 20 to keep external part count low, but the addition of an external resistor and
capacitor between pins 1 and 8 will increase the gain to any value from 20 to 200.The inputs are
ground referenced while the output automatically biases to one-half the supply voltage. The
quiescent power drain is only 24 mill watts when operating from a 6 volt supply, making the
LM386 ideal for battery operation. The 386 is intended primarily for amplification of low voltage
input signals. It is especially useful for audio amplification as its output can directly drive an 8
Ohm speaker. The default gain of the 386 is 20 (that is, the output signal is 20 times greater than
the input signal). It can be increased up to 200 by connecting a capacitor across pins 1 and 8. The
386 operates from a single supply voltage;

Fig. 4.1 op amp internal diagram
Specifications:
Maximum Supply Voltage: + 4 to +12 Volts
Standard Gain: 20
Maximum Gain: 200

4.2 LASER TORCH
Laser light is very different from normal light. Laser light has the following properties:
The light released is monochromatic. It contains one specific wavelength of light (one
specific color). The wavelength of light is determined by the amount of energy released
when the electron drops to a lower orbit.
The light released is coherent. It is organized -- each photon moves in step with the
others. This means that all of the photons have wave fronts that launch in unison.
The light is very directional. A laser light has a very tight beam and is very strong and
concentrated. A flashlight, on the other hand, releases light in many directions, and the
light is very weak and diffuse.
To make these three properties occur takes something called stimulated emission. This does not
occur in your ordinary flashlight -- in a flashlight, all of the atoms release their photons randomly.
In stimulated emission, photon emission is organized.
The photon that any atom releases has a certain wavelength that is dependent on the energy
difference between the excited state and the ground state. If this photon (possessing a certain
energy and phase) should encounter another atom that has an electron in the same excited state,
stimulated emission can occur. The first photon can stimulate or induce atomic emission such that
the subsequent emitted photon (from the second atom) vibrates with the same frequency and
direction as the incoming photon.
The other key to a laser is a pair of mirrors, one at each end of the lasing medium. Photons, with
a very specific wavelength and phase, reflect off the mirrors to travel back and forth through the
lasing medium. In the process, they stimulate other electrons to make the downward energy jump
and can cause the emission of more photons of the same wavelength and phase. A cascade effect
occurs, and soon we have propagated many, many photons of the same wavelength and phase.

The mirror at one end of the laser is "half-silvered," meaning it reflects some light and lets some
light through. The light that makes it through is the laser light.
4.3 Photo transistor (L14F1)
The standard symbol of a phototransistor, which can be regarded as a conventional

transistor housed in a case that enables its semiconductor junctions to be exposed to external light.
The device is normally used with its base open circuit, in either of the configurations shown in fig.
and functions as follows.
Fig. 4.3.1 Phototransistor symbol.
In practice, the collector and emitter current of the transistor are virtually identical and, since the
base is open circuit, the device is not subjected to significant negative feedback.
The sensitivity of a phototransistor is typically one hundred times greater than that of a photodiode,
but is useful maximum operating frequency (a few hundred kilohertz) is proportionally lower than
that of a photodiode by using only its base and collector terminals and ignoring the emitter.
Phototransistors are solid-state light detectors with internal gain that are used to provide analog or
digital signals. They detect visible, ultraviolet and near-infrared light from a variety of sources
and are more sensitive than photodiodes, semiconductor devices that require a preamplifier.
Phototransistors feed a photocurrent output into the base of a small signal transistor.
For each illumination level, the area of the exposed collector base junction and the DC current

Fig. 4.3.2 Phototransistor used as a photodiode
The base current from the incident photons is amplified by the gain of the transistor, resulting in
current gains that range from hundreds to several thousands. Response time is a function of the
capacitance of the collector-base junction and the value of the load resistance.
Photodarlingtons, a common type of phototransistor, have two stages of gain and can provide net
gains greater than 100,000. Because of their ease of use, low cost and compatibility with transistor-
transistor logic (TTL), phototransistors are often used in applications where more than several
hundred Nano watts (nW) of optical power are available. Selecting Phototransistors requires an
analysis of performance specifications. Collector current is the total amount of current that flows
into the collector terminal. Collector dark current is the amount of collector current for which there
is no optical input.
Typically, both collector current and collector dark current are measured in milliamps (mA). Peak
wavelength, the wavelength at which phototransistors are most responsive, is measured in
nanometers (nm). Rise time, the time that elapses when a pulse waveform increases from 10% to
90% of its maximum value, is expressed in nanoseconds (ns). Collector-emitter breakdown voltage
is the voltage at which phototransistors conduct a specified (non-destructive) current when biased
in the normal direction without optical or electrical inputs to the base. Power dissipation, a measure
of total power consumption, is measured in mill watts (mW).

4.4 SPEAKER
Fig 4.4: 8 ohm 0.5 w speaker
Description: A small audio speaker that is ideal for radio and amplifier projects and is small
enough to fit in robot projects. The speakers provide 8 ohms of resistance (by far the most common
value, though there are 4 ohm and 2 ohm speakers out there), and can handle amplified audio
signals up to 0.5W of power (i.e. very little many consumer home stereos provide hundreds of
watts of power).Typically you would not hook this up to, say, the PCM output of an Arduino
directly. You would amplify the signal somehow. And if you include a potentiometer in the right
spot, you will get a volume knob. A headphone amp should be enough to drive a small speaker
like this, so if you want to hook this up to some sort of audio out board or device, anything that
supports hooking up headphones directly ought to work as well.
Features:
Small Size
Power rating: 0.5W
Impedance: 8 ohm
Dimensions: 50mm diameter, 16mm high, 28mm base diameter

4.5 CAPACITORS
A capacitor or condenser is a passive electronic component consisting of a pair of conductors

separated by a dielectric (insulator). When a potential difference (voltage) exists across the
conductors, an electric field is present in the dielectric. This field stores energy and produces a
mechanical force between the conductors. The effect is greatest when there is a narrow separation
between large areas of conductor; hence capacitor conductors are often called plates. The physical
form and construction of practical capacitors vary widely and many capacitor types are in common
use. Most capacitors contain at least two electrical conductors often in the form of metallic plates
or surfaces separated by a dielectric medium. A conductor may be a foil, thin film, sintered bead
of metal, or an electrolyte. The nonconducting dielectric acts to increase the capacitor's charge
capacity. Materials commonly used as dielectrics include glass, ceramic, plastic film, paper, mica,
and oxide layers. Capacitors are widely used as parts of electrical circuits in many common
electrical devices. Unlike a resistor, an ideal capacitor does not dissipate energy.
Fig 4.5.1 Different types of capacitors
Capacitor materials: - From left: multilayer ceramic, ceramic disc, multilayer polyester film,
tubular ceramic, polystyrene, metalized polyester film, aluminum electrolytic.

4.6 RESISTORS
A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical

resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow,
adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias active elements, and terminate transmission lines,
among other uses. High-power resistors that can dissipate many watts of electrical power as heat
may be used as part of motor controls, in power distribution systems, or as test loads for generators.
Fixed resistors have resistances that only change slightly with temperature, time or operating
voltage. Variable resistors can be used to adjust circuit elements (such as a volume control or a
lamp dimmer), or as sensing devices for heat, light, humidity, force, or chemical activity.
Resistors are common elements of electrical networks and electronic circuits and are ubiquitous in
electronic equipment. Practical resistors as discrete components can be composed of various
compounds and forms. Resistors are also implemented within integrated circuits. (V=IR).
Fig 4.6 Resistor Values

5. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
Fig 5.1 Transmitter circuit

Fig5.2 Receiver circuit

6. WORKING
There are two sections: The transmitter board and the receiver board, both powered by a
separate 9V DC power supply. The transmitter board has a 3.5mm female module at one end, and
the laser diode at the other end. The electronics modulates the intensity of the laser beam according
to the input from the audio jack. The laser diode has an inbuilt collimating lens, and is simply a
module that connects to the transmitter board. The receiver uses a photodiode as the receiving
element, and the onboard amplifier powers a small 8 ohm speaker. This board is therefore a high
gain amplifier with a basic audio output stage.
6.1 TRANSMITTER
An audio signal is given to the 3.5mm port from an external audio device. The input capacitor and
the 10k pot resistor determine the amplitude of the input signal given to the op amp (LM386); Op
amp (LM386) is a low voltage audio amplifier. It is non inverting and the input is given to terminal
3.The gain of the op amp is determined by the 10uF and 56ohm resistor connected between the
terminals 1 and 8.The output is an amplified signal taken from terminal 5. This amplified audio
signal is intensity modulated and given to the laser torch. The laser torch is a monochromatic light
that facilitates as the medium of communication. The modulated audio signal is transmitted
through the laser to a phototransistor receiver.
6.2 RECEIVER
The light from the laser is incident on the phototransistor (L14F1). The audio voltage is converted
to light and with intensity modulation. At photo transistor the light is converted into audio voltage.
The input capacitor and 10k pot resistor is used to determine the amplitude of the input signal
given to the op amp. Op amp (LM386) is a low voltage audio amplifier. It is non inverting and the
input is given to terminal 3. The gain of the op amp is determined by the 10uF and 56ohm resistor
connected between the terminals 1 and 8. The output is an amplified signal taken from terminal 5.
The output is given to the speaker (8 ohm 0.5W) and the input audio signal is obtained at the
output.

7. SCHEMATICS
7.1 TRANSMITTING SECTION
Fig 7.1 Transmitter schematics

7.2 RECEIVING SECTION
Fig 7.2 Receiver schematics

8. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES
Less costly.
Circuit can be easily constructed.
High data rate.
No communication licenses required.
The laser transmission is very secure because it has a narrow beam.
There are no recurring line costs.
Compatibility with copper or fibre interfaces and no bridge or Router requirements.
Lasers can also transmit through glass, however the physical properties of the glass
have to be considered.
Narrow beam divergence.
Laser transmitter and receiver units ensure easy, straightforward systems

alignment and long-term stable, service free operation, inaccessible
environments, optical wireless systems Offer ideal, economical alternative to
expensive leased lines for communication.
DISADVANTAGES
To avoid 50Hz hum noise in the speaker, keep the phototransistor away from AC
light sources such as bulbs. The reflected sunlight, however, does not cause any
problem. But the sensor should not directly face the sun.

11. APPLICATIONS
It can be used in inaccessible areas.
In future it can be commissioned in satellites for communication.
It can be used in conference halls.
Can communicate without any cost except the instrument cost.
It can be used in the places only where one side communication takes place like
instructions given to workers etc.
Principle of laser communication is used in LIFI
Various space organizations like NASA conducts studies in using laser to communicate in
space. They will launch their first laser communication project named LCRD (Laser
communications Relay Distributions) in 2017 as per website.

12. LIFI
Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) is a bidirectional, high speed and fully networked wireless
communication technology similar to Wi-Fi
Like laser communication, it uses light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a

medium to deliver networked, mobile, high-speed communication.
Visible light communications (VLC) works by switching the current to the LEDs
off and on at a very high rate too quick to be noticed by the human eye.
Direct line of sight is not necessary for Li-Fi to transmit a signal.
Although Li-Fi LEDs would have to be kept on to transmit data, they could be
dimmed to below human visibility while still emitting enough light to carry data.
The light waves cannot penetrate walls which makes a much shorter range,
though more secure from hacking, relative to Wi-Fi.
Li-Fi has the advantage of being useful in electromagnetic sensitive areas such
as in aircraft cabins, hospitals and nuclear power plants without causing
electromagnetic interference

13. RESULT AND CONCLUSION
If the laser is properly aimed at the phototransistor the bit stream is received perfectly. As
such text transmission works flawlessly at our largest test distance. The quality of sound
at the speaker end is clearly audible after the successful working of the project, it can be
concluded that this project is suitable for easily communication. There can be further up
gradations in the project which could lead to a much better system for communication.
Some of the possible ways are as follows: - Instead of the short range laser, high range
lasers can be used which range a few hundred meters. Provisions have to be made for cases
when there is no heavy traffic.

14. REFERENCES
www.wikipedia.com.
www.circuitstoday.com.
www.electroschematic.com.
www.efy.com.
D.ROY CHOUDHARY SHALIN B. JAIN LINEAR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

DELHI: NEW AGE INTERNATIONL PUBLISHERS, THIRD EDITION 2009.
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU MAGAZINE [Book].
GUPTA J.B. ELECTRONICS DEVICE & CIRCUITS. - INDIA: S.K. KATARIA &
SONS, FIRST EDITION DEC 2000. - Vol. 1.
KUMAR N. SURESH ELECTRONICS DEVICE & CIRCUITS [Book]. - 2008.
MEHTA V.K. PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRONICS [Book].
NAVAS K.A. ELECTRONICS LAB MANUAL [Book]. - [s.l.]: Rajath publishers,

o 2008. - Vol. 1&2.
RAI A. VALLAVE ELECTRONICS DEVICE & CIRCUITS [Book]. - 2007.

15. APPENDIX
1. Datasheet of LM386
2. Datasheet of L14F1

Fig 16.2 Data sheet of L14F1



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DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING, PSET

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 1

The audio signal is input using a 3.5mm jack.

It is amplified in the receiver using an op amp (LM386).

The output from the op amp is given to a laser torch

The photo transistor receives the laser light

Receiver op amp (LM386) amplifies receiving signal.

The output of op amp is given to a speaker.

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 2

Fig 3.1 Laser transmitter block diagram.

3.1.1 AUDIO INPUT

3.1.2 OPAMP AUDIO AMPLIFIER

3.1.3. LASER TORCH

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 3

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 4

Fig 3.1 Photo transistor receiver block diagram.

3.2.1 PHOTO TRANSISTOR (L14F1)

A loudspeaker (or "speaker") is an electro acoustic transducer that converts an

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 5

4.1 OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER

An op amp is a high-gain, direct-coupled differential linear amplifier whose response

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 6

Fig. 4.1 op amp internal diagram

Maximum Gain: 200

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 7

4.2 LASER TORCH

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 8

4.3 Photo transistor (L14F1)

The standard symbol of a phototransistor, which can be regarded as a conventional

and functions as follows.

Fig. 4.3.1 Phototransistor symbol.

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 9

Fig. 4.3.2 Phototransistor used as a photodiode

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 10

Fig 4.4: 8 ohm 0.5 w speaker

Power rating: 0.5W

Dimensions: 50mm diameter, 16mm high, 28mm base diameter

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 11

A capacitor or condenser is a passive electronic component consisting of a pair of conductors

Fig 4.5.1 Different types of capacitors

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 12

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical

Fig 4.6 Resistor Values

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 13

Fig 5.1 Transmitter circuit

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 14

Fig5.2 Receiver circuit

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 15

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 16

7.1 TRANSMITTING SECTION

Fig 7.1 Transmitter schematics

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 17

7.2 RECEIVING SECTION

Fig 7.2 Receiver schematics

MINI PROJECT REPORT 2016-2017 18

8. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Circuit can be easily constructed.

High data rate.

No communication licenses required.

The laser transmission is very secure because it has a narrow beam.

There are no recurring line costs.

Compatibility with copper or fibre interfaces and no bridge or Router requirements.

Narrow beam divergence.