William Petriw

Definitions

11/26/2014

Forward Biased LED- a voltage applied to a circuit or device, esp a

semiconductor device, in the direction that produces the larger current
Incoherent Light- two or more waves having the same frequency but not
the same phase
Laser- The acronym laser stands for "light amplification by stimulated
emission of radiation." Lasers work as a result of resonant effects. The output
of a laser is a coherent electromagnetic field. In a coherent beam of
electromagnetic energy, all the waves have the same frequency and phase.
Output Pattern- Different angles the light reflects at to prevent collision of
data.
Output Power- That power available at a specified output of a device under
specified conditions of operation.
Modulation Speed- Coding of information onto the carrier frequency. Types
of modulation include amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation
(FM), and phase modulation (PM). When light is emitted by a medium, it is
coherent, meaning that it is in a fixed-phase relationship within fixed points
of the light wave. The light is used because it is a continuous, or sinusoidal,
wave (a white or blank form) upon which a signal can be super-imposed by
modulation of that form. The modulation is a variation imposed upon this
white form, a variation of amplitude, frequency, or phase of the light. There
are two basic forms of this modulation: one by an analog form, another by a
digital signal. This signal is created in the form of the intelligence and
superimposed upon the light wave. It is then demodulation by a photo
detector and converted into electrical energy.
Core Diameter Mismatch- the launching fiber has a larger core radius than
the receiving fiber.
Current- a flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional
movement of electrically charged particles.
a quantity representing the rate of flow of electric charge, usually measured
in amperes.
PIN Photodiode- a diode with a wide, undoped intrinsic semiconductor
region between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor region.
The p-type and n-type regions are typically heavily doped because they are
used for ohmic contacts

William Petriw

Definitions

11/26/2014

Avalanche Photodiode- a semiconductor-based photodetector

(photodiode) which is operated with a relatively high reverse voltage
(typically tens or even hundreds of volts), sometimes just below breakdown.
Responsivity- the local slope (derivative). Many common photodetectors
respond linearly as a function of the incident power.
Optical Subassembly- An optical to electrical or electrical to optical
interface, otherwise known as O-E or E-O.
Dynamic Range- the ratio of the largest to the smallest intensity of sound
that can be reliably transmitted or reproduced by a particular sound system,
measured in decibels.
Operating Wavelength- In a waveguide, such as closed waveguide, an
optical fiber, or a slab dielectric waveguide in an optical integrated circuit,
the wavelength that (a) the guide is capable of transmitting, i.e., is capable
of supporting over useful distances, (b) the waveguide is designed to
support, or (c) a system, such as a fiber optic transmission system, uses.
Note: The standard operating wavelength for fiber optic transmission
systems is 1.31 m (microns). 2. In radio transmission, the wavelength that
corresponds to the carrier frequency. See also carrier frequency, closed
waveguide, fiber optic transmission system, micron, optical fiber, optical
integrated circuit, radio, slab dielectric waveguide, transmission, transmit,
waveguide, zero material-dispersion wavelength, wavelength.
Fiber-Optic Coupler- a device used in optical fiber systems with one or
more input fibers and one or several output fibers. Light entering an input
fiber can appear at one or more outputs and its power distribution potentially
depending on the wavelength and polarization
Optomechanical Switch- are the oldest type of optical switch and the most
widely deployed at the time. These devices achieve switching by moving
fiber or other bulk optic elements by means of stepper motors or relay arms.
This causes them to be relatively slow with switching times in the 10-100 ms
range. They can achieve excellent reliability, insertion loss, and crosstalk.
Usually, opto-mechanical optical switches collimate the optical beam from
each input and output fiber and move these collimated beams around inside
the device. This allows for low optical loss, and allows distance between the
input and output fiber without deleterious effects. These devices have more
bulk compared to other alternatives, although new micro-mechanical devices
overcome this.

William Petriw

Definitions

11/26/2014

Optical Attenuator- a device used to reduce the power level of an optical

signal, either in free space or in an optical fiber. The basic types of optical
attenuators are fixed, step-wise variable, and continuously variable.
Optical Isolator- an optical component which allows the transmission of
light in only one direction. It is typically used to prevent unwanted feedback
into an optical oscillator, such as a laser cavity.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing- a technique where optical signals with
different wavelengths are combined, transmitted together, and separated
again. It is mostly used for optical fiber communications to transmit data in
several (or even many) channels with slightly different wavelengths.
Passive Optical Network- a telecommunications network that uses pointto-multipoint fiber to the premises in which unpowered optical splitters are
used to enable a single optical fiber to serve multiple premises.
FTTH- the installation and use of optical fiber from a central point directly to
individual buildings such as residences, apartment buildings and businesses
to provide unprecedented high-speed Internet access. FTTH dramatically
increases the connection speeds available to computer users compared with
technologies now used in most places.
FTTB- a type of fiber-optic cable installation where the fiber cable goes to a
point on a shared property and the other cabling provides the connection to
single homes, offices or other spaces. FTTB applications often use active or
passive optical networks to distribute signals over a shared fiber-optic cable
to individual households or offices.
FTTC- refers to the installation and use of optical fiber cable directly to the
curbs near homes or any business environment as a replacement for "plain
old telephone service" (POTS). Think of removing all the telephone lines you
see in your neighborhood and replacing them with optical fiber lines.
FTTN- The installation of optical fiber to a junction box (node) in a
neighborhood that serves a few hundred customers within a radius of about
a mile.
Feeder Cable- different or same wires bundled together as a single cable.
Distribution Cable- a satellite TV technology that enables the delivery of
broadcast programming to multiple users over a single coaxial cable, and
eliminates the numerous cables required to support consumer electronics

William Petriw

Definitions

11/26/2014

devices such as twin-tuner Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and high end
receivers.
Drop Point- A connection point in a network. The term generally refers to a
local area network (LAN). Network drops are typically wall outlets with an
Ethernet jack that a computer or other network device can plug into.
Local Convergence Point- serves as a point of flexibility and where
splitters would be located in PON systems
Network Access Point- a public network exchange facility where Internet
service providers (ISPs) connected with one another in peering
arrangements.
Network Interface Device- a device that serves as the demarcation point
between the carrier's local loop and the customer's premises wiring.