Development of wireless sensor network emphasized modular radio-over-fiber platform - Phase III

• Grant number: 13/50962-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Telecommunications
• Agreement: FINEP - PIPE/PAPPE Grant
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Fernandes Nunes
• Grantee: Eduardo Fernandes Nunes
• Company: R4F Tecnologia em Telecomunicações Ltda
• City: Campinas

Abstract

The use Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) in applications such as cable television and cellular telephony, has grown significantly in the last decade. The combination of optical communications and radio frequency (RF) in the microwave range considerably increased the possibilities for thecnological innovations. The major applications of RoF technology systems include cable TV and cell phone. However, innovations can foster technological development in the following aspects: a) extend the range of services, b) combine the capillarity of wireless networks with high capacity and long reach of optical networks, c) centralize the management and control of RF equipment in remote locations, and thus d) reduce operating costs (OPEX) of telecommunications networks. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no national companies working on developing the RoF technology and/or manufacturing those equipment which may be strategic in many applications, e.g., sensor networks, mobile telephony, digital TV, satellite communication, cable TV and various military applications. In Phases I and II of this PIPE project, we developed the modular radio-over-fiber platform for wireless sensor networks with great results, overcoming the technical barriers to the direct modulation of the laser toward the loss of RF power, the degradation the signal to noise ratio, the generation of harmonics and intermodulation distortion of third order (IMD3). As a product of these phases I and II, and innovative combination of optical fiber and radio, there is a single device radio-over-fiber dedicated to wireless sensor networks. Starting from the innovative results obtained in PIPE I and II, the objective of this project is intended to improve the product's technical quality, fit and approve the product according to the standards of use of the electromagnetic spectrum (ANATEL) and provide the technical and economic feasibility for production scale. (AU)