Advanced Optical Communication Systems (TC-518)

Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer

Submitted By:
Ali Raza
M.Engg Telecommunication
TC-39/2015-16
 1. What Is OTDR?

OTDR, squat instead of “optical time-domain reflectometer”, is an optoelectronic apparatus used

to exemplify an optical fiber. It can be measured as the optical correspondent of an electronic time
domain reflectometer [1].

OTDR introduces a sequences of optical pulses into the fiber during test. It furthermore excerpts,
from the alike end of the fiber, light that is dispersed or returned back from points along the fiber.

The forte of the coming back pulses is dignified and combined as a function of time, and is
contrived as a function of fiber length.

Figure.01 How OTDR Look Like

2. Functionality of OTDR

OTDRs work similar as “optical radar”, introducing pulses of light into the fiber as of one end and
determining replications and backscatter that is reverted to the OTDR [2] .

Loss due to fusion splices, connectors, breaks or macro-bends decrease the amount of reverted
backscatter.

The OTDR accounts reverted backscatter and replications vs. time and may extant this as a
suggestion displaying optical loss vs. distance.

Smart procedures understand the hint to trace, categorize and describe identified network start, end,
mechanisms and inaccuracies.
 Figure.02 Functional Block

2.1 The Operational Appearances of OTDR

OTDR functioning grounded on the standard of “Rayleigh scattering” and “Fresnel reflections” to
extent fibbers appearances.

Rayleigh scattering speak of to the asymmetrical smattering produced as optical signals conveying
in to the fiber. Fresnel reflection is use to trace the associated socket, fiber optic ends and cut-off
point [3].

Figure.03 Functional Characteristics Phenomena

 3. Application of OTDR

The application and use of optical fiber is mainly categories into three separate fields [4].

1. Telecommunication (associated with high bandwidth and various type of area networks) .
2. Industrial and Military (associated with safety/Security and Digital communication).
3. Integrated Service Digital Networks-ISDNs (associated with Business world).

4. Conclusion:
In nutshell, an OTDR is an optical radar in principle. By transfer out an optical signal, it capture the
strength of signal coming back or mirror image. So, OTDRs are mostly used in the optical fiber
setting up and repairing provision of access systems and functioning out is castoff to show a suggest
and sort a amount of mathematical interpretations.

References:

[1] Agrawal, Govind (2010). Fiber-Optic Communication Systems (4 ed.).

Wiley. doi:10.1002/9780470918524. ISBN 978-0-470-50511-3.

[2] Rajiv Ramaswami; Kumar Sivarajan; Galen Sasaki (27 November 2009). Optical Networks: A
Practical Perspective. Morgan Kaufmann. ISBN 978-0-08-092072-6.

[3]Mitschke F., Fiber Optics – Physics and Technology, Springer, 2009 (ISBN 978-3-642-03702-3)

[4] Ray Tricker , Optoelectronics and Fiber Optic Technology, Newness. ISBN 0-7506-5370-1