Fiber Optics Technology

Introduction to Optical Fibers.

Fibers of glass
Usually 120 micrometers in
diameter
Used to carry signals in the form of
light over distances up to 50 km.
No repeaters needed.

Introduction (Cont)
Core thin glass center of the
fiber where light travels.
Cladding outer optical material
surrounding the core
Buffer Coating plastic
coating that protects
the fiber.

Evolution of Fiber
1880 Alexander Graham Bell
1930 Patents on tubing
1950 Patent for two-layer glass waveguide
1960 Laser first used as light source
1965 High loss of light discovered
1970s Refining of manufacturing process
1980s OF technology becomes backbone
of long distance telephone networks in NA.

Advantages of Optical Fibre

Thinner
Less Expensive
Higher Carrying Capacity
Less Signal Degradation& Digital
Signals
Light Signals
Non-Flammable
Light Weight

Areas of Application
Telecommunications
Local Area Networks
Cable TV
CCTV
Optical Fiber Sensors

Type of Fibers
Optical fibers come in two types:
Single-mode fibers used to transmit one
signal per fiber (used in telephone and cable TV).
They have small cores(9 microns in diameter)
and transmit infra-red light from laser.
Multi-mode fibers used to transmit many
signals per fiber (used in computer networks).
They have larger cores(62.5 microns in diameter)
and transmit infra-red light from LED.

How Does Optical Fibre

Transmit Light??

Total Internal Reflection.

Fibre Optics Relay Systems has
-Transmitter
-Optical Fibre
-Optical Regenerator
-Optical Receiver

Total Internal Reflection in Fiber

How are Optical Fibres made??

Three Steps are Involved
-Making a Preform Glass Cylinder
-Drawing the Fibres from the
preform
-Testing the Fibre

Testing of Optical Fiber

Tensile Strength
Refractive Index Profile
Fiber Geometry
Information Carrying Capacity
Operating temperature/humidity range
Ability to conduct light under water
Attenuation

Optical Fiber Laying

Mechanical Linking
Includes coupling of two connectors end to end
Optical distribution frames allow cross connect
fibers from by means of connection leads and
optical connectors
Soldering:
This operation is done with automatic soldering machine
that ensures:
Alignment of fibers core along the 3 axis
Visual display in real-time of the fibers soldering
Traction test after soldering (50 g to 500 g)

Optical Fiber Laying (Cont)

Blowing
Used in laying optical cables in roadways.
Cables can be blown in a tube high
density Poly Ethylene
Optical fiber is then blown in the tube
using an air compressor which can propel
it up to 2 kilometers away.

Tools of Trade

Cleaning fluid and rags

Buffer tube cutter
Reagent-grade isopropyl alcohol
Canned air
Tape (masking or scotch)
Coating strip
Microscope or cleaver checker
Splicer
Connector supplies

Fiber Optics Test Kit

Features
Includes Smart FO Power Meter and Mini
LED or laser source
FO test lite software for data logging
Tests all networks and cable plants
New versions of Gigabit Ethernet
Low Cost

Applications
Measure optical power or loss
Trouble shooting networks

Protecting Fibers
Tougher than copper wires
Designed in three concentric layers
Core Cladding Buffer
Two basic buffer types
Tight buffer
Loose tubes

Implementation of Different LANs

IEEE 802.3
FOIRL
Fiber optic inter repeater link
Defines remote repeaters using fiber optics
Maximum length 1000 meters between any
two repeaters.

IEEE 802.3 (Cont)

10BASEF
Star topology with hub in the center
Passive hub:
Short cables
No cascading
Reliable
Active hum:
Synchronous
May be cascaded
Do not count as one repeater
Any 10BASEF active hub must have at
least two FOIRL ports

Token Ring
Advantages
Long range
Immunity to EMI/RFI
Reliability
Security
Suitability to outdoor applications
Small size
Compatible with future bandwidth
requirements and future LAN standards

Token Ring (Cont)

Disadvantages
Relatively expensive cable cost and installation cost
Requires specialist knowledge and test equipment
No IEEE 802.5 standard published yet
Relatively small installed base.

Fiber Distributed Data Interface

Stations are connected in a dual ring
Transmission rate is 100 mbps
Total ring length up to 100s of kms.

Conclusion
This concludes our study of Fiber Optics. We have
looked at how they work and how they are made. We have
examined the properties of fibers, and how fibers are
joined together. Although this presentation does not
cover all the aspects of optical fiber work it will have
equipped you knowledge and skills essential to the fiber
optic industry.