This is a laboratory and experimental course in the field of signal processing and optical communications. Most of the activity is performed in the laboratories, where students have the opportunity to setup experiments regarding signal analysis on a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and optical communications. Few introductory lectures are given to introduce the lab experiences. One of the goals of the course is to foster the communication skills and the ability to work in groups.

The course offers the student the possibility to deepen and put in practice the knowledge on physical layer functions of communication systems as well as the signal and image Processing techniques. The lab sessions will be preceded by lectures to describe the experiments that will be performed and the procedure to implement them. The course will provide knowledge of: - the methods for the experimental characterization of optical sources - the methods for the experimental characterization of active and passive optical devices - the methods for the experimental characterization of optical communications systems and subsystems - the architecture of Digital Signal processing (DSP) Systems - the fundamentals on signal and image compression - some algorithms of digital signal processing and their implementation methods The student will acquire the ability to: - characterize optical sources, active and passive optical devices, optical communications systems and subsystems - setup a laboratory experiment in the optical communication field - develop appropriate signal-processing algorithms and implement them on a DSP The ability to apply the gained knowledge will be verified from lab reports, and their discussion.

The course requires a background on digital transmission and signal theory. Some background on the basic concepts regarding signal processing, digital transmission and optical communications is also useful, although these concepts will be reviewed during the course.

The course covers three main areas of modern communications systems, and students take classes and laboratories focusing only on two of the two proposed areas: 1. Signal and Image Processing laboratory (3 CFU) 2. Optical Communications laboratory (3 CFU) for a total amount of 6 CFU. Theoretical Lectures: Optical communications (0.5 CFU) • Measures of optical powers, wavelength and corresponding instruments • Measure of optical spectrum and corresponding instruments • Methods for high resolution spectral characterization • Experimental modelling of optical transmission systems and corresponding instrumentation Signal Processing (0.5 CFU) • IReview of FIR and IIR filters • Fixed point implementation • Quantization • Source coding • DSP architecture and development tools Laboratories: Optical communications (2.5 CFU) • Spectral measures of laser sources through the “optical power meter” and the “wavelength meter” • Experimental procedure for the joint of optical fibers and corresponding measurement of the joint attenuation • Experimental characterization of passive optical devices • Realization of an optical amplifier and corresponding experimental characterization • Spectral characterization of optical sources through optical spectrum analyzers and high resolution methods Signal Processing (2.5 CFU) DSP implementation of linear filters and their application to lossless compression: - Program template and in/out template and in/out interfaces - basic FIR and IIR filtering structures - real-time filtering of audio signals - real-time lossless coding of audio signals - validation and testing

The presence of the students at the laboratory training sessions is mandatory. This course can admit no more than 40 students every year.

Students take classes and laboratories focusing on the two proposed areas: 1. Signal and Image Processing laboratory (3 CFU) 2. Optical Communications laboratory (3 CFU) for a total amount of 6 credits. Due to the Experimental laboratory course characteristics, the student presence is mandatory for all the foreseen lab sessions. The laboratory activities are organized at the educational Laboratory of the Electronics and Telecommunications Department (LED) and at the “Laboratorio Informatico di Base” (LAIB).

The teaching material will be made available by the instructors on the course web portal. Description of the lab experiments will be provided, and reference documentation will be made available to students.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Prova pratica di laboratorio; Elaborato scritto prodotto in gruppo;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Practical lab skills test; Group essay;

... In order to verify the acquired laboratory experimental skills the students have to write reports and to discuss them during the oral examination. Students are required to write two reports on the laboratory experiences (one for every lab area). The report organization will be described during the lectures. Both reports have to be delivered 1 week before the exam day. Every lab report will have an independent evaluation (maximum mark 30/30). Each student will be asked to discuss the content of the report during an oral exam. The oral exam is individual, and students will be asked to answer questions about both the practical and the theoretical parts of the course (maximum mark 30/30) The final grade will be the average between the evaluations of the two laboratory reports and the oral examinations. The grading criteria are the following: - appropriate choice and application of the experimental methodology/algorithms - report clearness and completeness. - appropriate use of the technical terms - completeness of the discussion of the obtained experimental results

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.