What is optical fiber technology, and how does it work. Attenuation the opticalloss of fiber per unit coefficient length,expressed in dbkm. You hear about fiberoptic cables whenever people talk about the telephone system, the cable tv system or the internet. Fiberoptic lines have revolutionized longdistance phone calls, cable tv and the internet. The fundamental components of a fibre optic system are shown in figure 1. It is commonly made from a combination of highly purified silica and germania. Traditional cable internet services use underground networks of copper coaxial cables to transmit data to subscriber homes. It is not satellites in the sky, but pipes on the ocean floor that form the backbone of the worlds economy. Cables may have from one to hundreds of fibers inside. Cables installed inside buildings must meet fire codes by using special jacketing materials.
Fiber optic lines are strands of optically pure glass as thin as a human hair that carry digital. A fiberoptic cable, also known as an opticalfiber cable, is an assembly similar to an electrical cable, but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light. In general, there are two methods to link optical fibers together. Light travels down a fiber optic cable by bouncing off the walls of the cable repeatedly. For more information on how the levels are determined click on the fiber optic cables applicable selection. Specification standard optical fiber backbone cabling 27 23 the university of new mexico, november 17, 2010 page 1 of 16 part 1. All optical fiber cables are sensitive to damage during shipping, handling, and installation.
Conec manufactures an extensive fiber optic connector product line. Light reflects from the cladding no matter what angle the fiber itself gets bent at. A fiber optic cable is a network cable that contains strands of glass fibers inside an insulated casing. Fiber optics 101 measuring fiber optics a micrometer, or micron m, is a metric measurement used to measure the diameter of a fiber. In some applications bare fibers work just fine, such as fiber optic sensors and laboratory use. Fiberoptic cables are now the main way of carrying information over long distances because they have three very big advantages over oldstyle copper cables. The core is the middle of the cable and the glass structure. Fiber optic link components in order to comprehend how fiber optic applications work, it is important to understand the components of a fiber optic link. Optical fibre, cables and systems iv the third phase the repeater spacing of the second phase lightwave systems was limited by the fibre losses at the operating wavelength of 1 300 nm typically 0. Simplistically, there are four main components in a fiber optic link figure 1. Fiber optic connectors todays and future communication technology demands fast, efficient and safe performance in the data communication process. Fiber optics, the science of transmitting data, voice, and images by the passage of light through thin, transparent fibers. Large and complex databases all interconnected must be able to receive and transmit data without outside interferences.
Work covered by this section shall consist of furnishing labor, equipment, supplies, materials, and testing unless otherwise specified, and in performing the following. Fiberoptic lines are strands of optically pure glass as thin as a human hair. So the splicing trailer is temperaturecontrolled and kept spotlessly clean to ensure good splicing. Losses of silica fibres become minimum near 1 550 nm. The cable itself is just a collection of glass fibers that are about 125 microns in diameter. How optical communication cables work and how they differ. The core is made from highly purified glass such as silicon dioxide. The technology that this vast network facilitates should make us all. Over the last 20 years or so, fiber optic lines have taken over and transformed the long distance telephone industry. Then, choose the appropriate level for your environment and click the part number to view the product details. Use the chart below to find the right fiber optic cable for your environment.
The optical fiber elements are typically individually coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be deployed. Osp fiber optics civil works guide 2015 joe botha and the fiber optic association, inc. Underground installation of optic fiber cable placing. Optical cables are used to transfer digital data signals in the form of light up to distances of hundreds of miles with higher throughput rates than those. Fiber optic cables shall be installed in accordance with necafoa 301,standard for installing and testing fiber optic cables.
The amount of network bandwidth a fiber cable can carry easily exceeds that of a copper cable with similar thickness. Fibers that support multiple propagation paths are called multimode fibers mmf. Fiber optic cable works to transmit light because the hollow, round glass or sometimes plastic wires reflect the light back to the core of the wire, causing the cable to act as a waveguide. Fiber optic cables with small inner cores 10 microns or less have only one path for the light and are referred to as singlemode fiber. Fibre optic cable an overview sciencedirect topics. In telecommunications, fiber optic technology is used to link computers within local area networks. Smoking should not be allowed around fiber optic work. This system can be used for either analogue or digital transmissions, with a transmitter which converts electrical signals into optical signals the optical signals are launched through a joint into an optical fibre, usually incorporated into a cable.
This is the place of origin for information coming on to fiberoptic lines. A fibreoptic cable comprises multiple pairs of fibres. The role of fiber optic cables in computer networking. Advantages of fiber optic cable optical fiber cable supports extremely high bandwidth and speed. Backscattering the scattering of light in a fiber back toward the source,used to. Cfo 301 standard for installing and testing fiber optics management, security or fire alarm systems, or any other communications link. In recent times, we have been hearing more and more about fiber optic cable. The owner, contractor, designer or installer is always responsible for the work involved. As a general rule, the tension should not exceed 300 pounds with indoor cables and 600 pounds with outdoor cables. However the electronics that send and receive signals over the optical cable are complex. In premises applications, fiber optic cables can be used as the backbone cabling in a standard structured cabling network, connecting network hardware in the computer roommain cross connect. For extensive work with fiber optics, safety glasses with ir filter is recommended. Example of the construction of a multi fiber cable ii.
Fiber optic lines have revolutionized longdistance phone calls, cable tv and the internet. Theyre designed for long distance, highperformance data networking, and telecommunications. The cables, which carry most of the worlds data, are optical fiber cables. Fiber cables rated at 10 gbps, 40 gbps, and 100 gbps are standard. Compared to wired cables, fiber optic cables provide higher bandwidth and can transmit data over longer distances. Fibreoptic cables have a design life of 2025 years, after which the cable will need to be lifted and replaced, with a recurrence of the disturbance, although there is also the possibility of.
An optical fiber cable is a type of cable that has a number of optical fibers bundled together, which are normally covered in their individual protective plastic covers. To keep pulling tension within careful limits, do not use power pullers with fibre, unless you use a tension meter as well. Fiber optic cable how it works fiber optic cables for. You hear about fiber optic cables whenever people talk about the telephone system, the cable tv system or the internet. In an optical fiber, the light travels through the core m1, high index of refraction by constantly reflecting from the cladding m2, lower index of refraction because the angle of the light is always greater than the critical angle.
Introduction to fiber optic interconnect technology and. Looking at the components in a fiberoptic chain will give a better understanding of how the system works in conjunction with wire based systems. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report. Use a swivel while pulling to prevent the cable from being twisted by rigid attachment to a fish tape.
Like all standards, this document only offers guidelines for design, installation and testing of fiber optic networks. Lets learn how optical fiber cables work, and how they have revolutionized. The industrial fiber optics fiber optic connector and splicing module contains three learning activities that cover the basics of attaching connectors and splices to fiber optic cables. In particular, telecommunications providers have been extolling its virtues as the best way to provide faster, clearer services in terms of not just internet, but also cable television and land lines for telephone. Locate the fiber type, fiber count, and construction and whether you want a plenum or riser cable. Fibre communication basics optical fibre connectors splicing optical transmitter optical receiver. Standard for installing and testing fiber optic cables. The first transatlantic telephone cable to use optical fibre was tat8, which went into operation in 1988.
These cables, called fiberoptic cables, can give you the fastest internet service available in the world today. Fiber needs protection to survive all the places it gets installed and its the cable that provides it. For direct buried fiber optic cables, it is recommended that, route be ripped, so that obstacles can be identified and removed and the placing operation precautions during installation and back filling shall be in accordance with the requirements of saest628 and saest629. Fiberoptic internet uses different equipment and technology than other providers, making it faster and more reliable.
Never look into a fiber, cable, or connector unless you know for sure that there is no laser light in the fiber. Method statement for optical fiber cable installation project. Each light particle photon bounces down the pipe with continued internal mirrorlike reflection. Optical fibers are also a huge part of making the internet available around the world. Some of the important parameters that need special attention during cable installation are. When fiber replaces copper for long distance calls and internet traffic, it dramatically lowers costs to understand how a fiber optic cable works, imagine an immensely long drinking straw. Installation guide for optical fibre cable edition 05. Optical transmitter optical fibercable connectors optical receiver figure 1. Fiber optic cables with slightly larger cores 50 and 62. Fiber optics is also the basis of the fiberscopes used. In a fibre optic cable, this may happen a million or more times. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a fibre optic. Each strand is less than a tenth as thick as a human hair and can carry something like 25,000 telephone calls, so an entire fiber optic cable can easily carry several.
The cables are brought up to the surface into a splicing trailer where all fiber work is done. Tat8 had two operational pairs and one backup pair. Fiber optic cable types indoor fiber optic cables indoor fiber optic cables are designed to either limit smoke vertically riser, or limit smoke and flame vertically and horizontally plenum. The cladding of both types of fiber is 125 microns fig. Because light can travel for much longer distances over a fiber cable without losing its strength, the need for signal boosters is lessened. Fiber optic data transmission systems fiber optic data transmission systems send information over fiber by turning electronic signals into light. Light refers to more than the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is near to what is visible to the human eye. It offers low power loss it is immune to electromagnetic interference optical fibers have a long lifespan it is thinner and light weighted.
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