FIBER OPTIC CABLE

What is Fiber Optics

Fiber optic technology makes use of light to carry digital signals via optical cables.
By attaching a light source to one end of an optical fiber and a detector to the other, we get a
unidirectional data transmission system.
o An optical transmission system has three components:

the light source - a pulse of light indicates a 1 bit and the absence of light indicates a 0 bit

the transmission medium - ultra-thin fiber of glass

the detector - generates an electrical pulse when light falls on it.

This technology is based on the concept of light reflection. In the case of fiber optics
technology, light carrying digital signals is reflected inside the optical cable to transfer
information. Total internal reflection is the principle behind the success of this technology.
The work of this transmission system is based on the refraction of the light ray at the silica/air
boundary.

(a) Three examples of a light ray from inside a silica fiber impinging on the
air/silica boundary at different angles. (b) Light trapped by total internal
reflection.

As shown in figure, when a light ray passes from one medium to another, for example, from
silica to air, the ray is refracted (bent) at the silica/air boundary, as shown in Fig(a). Here, a light
ray incident on the boundary at an angle a1 emerging at an angle b1. The amount of refraction
depends on the properties of the two media. For angles of incidence above a certain critical
value, the light is refracted back into the silica; none of it escapes into the air. Thus, a light ray
incident at or above the critical angle is trapped inside the fiber, as shown in Fig(b) and can
propagate for many kilometers with virtually no loss.

Since any light ray incident on the boundary above the critical angle will be reflected internally,
many different rays will be bouncing around at different angles. Each ray is said to have a
different mode, so a fiber having this property is called a MULTIMODE FIBER (MMF).
If the fiber's diameter is reduced to a few wavelengths of light, the fiber acts like a wave guide
and the light can only propagate in a straight line, without bouncing, yielding a SINGLE
MODE FIBER (SMF).

FIBER OPTIC CABLE

Fiber optic cables are similar to coax, except without the braid.
At the center is the glass core through which the light propagates. In multimode fibers, the core
is typically 50 microns in diameter, about the thickness of a human hair. In single-mode fibers,
the core is 8 to 10 microns.

The core is surrounded by a glass cladding with a lower index of refraction than the core, to
keep all the light in the core.
Next comes a thin plastic jacket to protect the cladding. Fibers are typically grouped in bundles,
protected by an outer sheath.
The light-guiding parts of an optical fiber are called the core and the cladding . The core is
usually very pure glass with a high index of refraction. When a cladding layer of glass or plastic
with a low index of refraction surrounds the core glass, light can be trapped in the fiber core.
This process is called total internal reflection
o The following summarizes the features of fiber-optic cables:
Speed and throughputMore than 1 GBPS
Average cost per nodeExpensive
Media and connector sizeSmall
Maximum cable lengthMore than 10 km for single mode; up to 2 km for multimode

Types of fiber optic

It is classified into two types depending on the way the light is transmitted:
multi-mode fiber (MMF)
single-mode fiber (SMF)

MULTI-MODE FIBER
Since any light ray incident on the boundary above the critical angle will be reflected

internally, many different rays will be bouncing around at different angles. Each ray is
said to have a different mode, so a fiber having this property is called a MULTIMODE
FIBER (MMF).

Multimode fiber cable allows multiple modes of light to propagate through the fiber.
Diameters range is between 50 to 100 microns.
The maximum cable length is 2 Km.
Less expensive.
There are two types of MMF are: Multimode Step-Index Fiber and Multimode
Graded-Index Fiber.
MULTIMODE STEP-INDEX FIBER
The reflective walls of the fiber move the light pulses to the receiver

MULTIMODE GRADED-INDEX FIBER

Acts to refract the light toward the center of the fiber by variations in the density

SINGLE-MODE FIBER
If the fiber's diameter is reduced to a few wavelengths of light, the fiber acts like a wave
guide and the light can only propagate in a straight line, without bouncing, called a
SINGLE MODE FIBER (SMF).

Single-mode fiber cable allows only one mode of light.

Diameters range is between 8.3 to 10 microns.
Maximum cable length is more than 10 km
It is capable of higher bandwidth and greater distances than multimode fiber.
Much more expensive then MMF.
Since there is only one light the problem associated with the multimode fiber does not
exist and by this it can give a higher transmission rate and also it can be used for longer
distance.

USE:
Because of greater bandwidth (2Gbps), smaller diameter, lighter weight, low attenuation,
immunity to electromagnetic interference and longer repeater spacing, optical fiber cables are
finding widespread use in long-distance telecommunications.

Advantages:
Very high data rate, low error rate. 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) over distances of kilometers
common. Error rates are so low they are almost negligible.

Much thinner than existing copper circuits. Because of its thinness, phone companies can
replace thick copper wiring with fibers having much more capacity for same volume.

 Not susceptible to electrical interference (lightning) or crosstalk.

Greater repeater distance than coax.

Disadvantages:
Difficult to terminate, requires fiber hubs etc.

CONNECTORS USED FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLES

Two types of connectors are widely used for fiber communication are:
SC (Stick n Click)
SC type connectors feature a push-pull connects and disconnect method. To make a
connection, the connector is simply pushed into the receptacle (device holding the light).
To disconnect, the connector is simply pulled out.

SC
ST (Stick n Turn)
ST fiber-optic connector is fully inserted into the receptacle and is then twisted in a
clockwise direction to lock it into place.