High Speed Fiber Optic Networks

Douglas W. Bush National Semiconductor MIS 10-418 333 Western Avenue South Portland, ME 04102

ms, several designers are using fiber optics to move information between high speed data ports. Many such systems packetize and transfer data over fiber optic lines using protocols such as SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork) with ECL (Emitter Coupled Logic) used to perform parallel-serial conversions, multiplexing, and data translations. ECL provides the fastest silicon solution in use today to interface with laser based optical drivers. The fiber optic solution provides for 'clear and reliable transport of voice or data exchange between users. This paper reviews the concepts of fiber optics and ECL, discusses the need for fiber optic networks with h speed ECL systems, and gives a SONET appsication example.

has a refractive index coefficient which is slightly lower than that of the m e . To protect these two glass components, a protective layer called a buffer slurrounds the cladding interface.

Figure #I Cross Section Fibw Transport of information down a fiber requires a optical transmitter interfaced to one end of the line an optical receiver at the other end. An examp~e of this c~nfigurationis shown in figure #2. In this diagram, an electrical sigi?al (ECL) is translated into an optical carrier by using a sequence of light pulses to replicate electrical information. The optical signals are transmitted at a specified wavelength into the core of the fiber with a light source such as a laser. The light signals then prlolpagate down the length of the fiber through ref1ec:tions at the core-cladding interface. At the end of the line, the optical s ~ g ~ a ~ ~ are received and converted back to electrical (ECL) loveIs.

OPTIC OVERVIEW
ata transmission over fiber optic lines is a concept has gained widespread acceptance and ularity over the past few years. Telephone nies, for example, have been deploying lines in some areas almost exclusively. Fiber s the advantages of high bandwidth capability, and compact size. These attributes good choice for telecommunication signals.

nl =

n2

refractive inldex of core material = refractive inldex of cladding material

ng as the angle of incident light into the fiber is an the critical angle (marked as ' in figure internal reflection will occur. Total intemal reflection implies that no light escapes the core material as it travels down the length of the fiber. The critical angle is given as: Sin ec=

needed to develop the output voltage required for switching the device between logic states. A typical value for RP is 50 ohms with VT at a potential of -2 volts.

"2
nl

As fiber is bent to an extreme, line losses will occur. This is because total internal reflection no longer exists. In fact, if you bend a piece of bare fiber you can see the light escaping.
iber is classified as either single mode or ~ul~imode. Single mode fiber has typical core and cladding diameter dimensions of 10 microns and 100 microns respectively, and is often used in long-haul telephony applications. Multimode fiber has larger dimensions of typically 50 microns for the core and 125 microns for the cladding and is used for data distribution or local networks. These dimensions and other parameters such as attenuation and numerical aperture (the maximum angle for incident light into the fiber) can be found in the manufacturers data sheet.

T
Vee

Figure #3

ECL Differential Amplifier

Fiber Optic Networks In order to translate electrical signals into light pulses that can be sent down fiber optic cable, an optical transmitter (U0transmitter) is needed as showh in figure #4. This device is available in surface mount packaging and can be placed on the high speed system board. Typically, these transmitters take a differential ECL signal and transmit light through a laser based technology. At the receiving end of the line, an optical receiver (O/E receiver) is mounted on the system board to accept light pulses from the fiber. The light pulses are then translated into electrical (ECL) pulses that can be used by the high speed systems on either end of the link.

ECL Advantages/Operation
fiber optics gain popularity, the ability to handle apabilities offered becomes ortant. Inevitably, a family of devices reliably operate in excess of 200 MHz is by many designers at ECL has been used for years in areas such as super computers and very fast switching ns its speed advantage differential amplifiers, non and small voltage swings. The I amplifier circuit is shown in VBB is an internally generated reference value (-1.32 volts for F100K 300 Series which is used to switch against the input n the value of Vin exceeds VBB, transistor on which pulls the base of Q3 low to give a level at the complimentary G output. As is turning on, transistor Q2 is turning off. This ults in a high level present at the base of Q4 to give a logic HIGH on the true Q output. The RT and orks are used to terminate the outputs (both and complimentary) of the device. Since the output has an open emitter, this network is

Figure #4 Fiber Optic Network

50th types of converters are usually single supply devices requiring a positive or negative 5 volts to operate. Special care should be taken when handling these device as the cost is typically hundreds of dollars each. The optical transmitters are often significantly more expensive than the optical receivers due to the internal lasers that must be used to transmit information. The price will increase for both as the data rates of communication increase. The high speed systems shown in figure #4 are often made up of ECL based devices. These devices range from custom application specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) to standard digital logic. ECL is very fast but with this speed comes important design considerations. If the system being designed uses mixed logic families (ECL with TTL for example), it is necessary to isolate the ECL ground plane. This will keep the ECL outputs free from noise and distortions. Also, the termination supply voltage (VT) for ECL is ideally -2 volts. This value keeps power dissipation in the output resistors at a minimum. Noise on supply lines be kept at a minimum with a properly decoupled system. Decoupling capacitors should be used between ECL VEE (ECL power supply) and ECL VCC (ECL also between ECL VCC and ECL V?. A d high value capacitors will and low frequency ranges encountered.

Controlled impedance lines should be used wherever high frequerrcy information is being transferred. It is also important to terminate these lines properly to avoid unwanted reflections in the system. Figure #5 shows; an interface between an ECL driver and an electirical to optical transmitter. d The ECL driver outpiits are c o ~ n e ~ eto a transmission line (printed circuit board micro strip) with a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms. The termination resistors are equivalent to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line aind are placed as close (as possible to the input of the electrical to optical transmitter. The ECL signals aire received and converted to light pulses where they are then sent over the fiber line. VT
100313
ECL Clrcutry

50 ohms

ECL Driver

50 ohms

VT

Figure #5 ECL to

U0 Transmitter Interface

pplication Example
SON? Telecommunication System

A very popular applicatiion for high speed ECL systems with fiber optic transmission is

DS3
DS3

DS3

DS3

DS3
DS3

DS3
DS3

Flber Optlc Link

an American National Standard created mmunicaaion systems using fiber optic lines for information transport. The standard specifies ts and rates for information exchanged criteria for fiber lines. An example of a NET implementation is given in figure #6. In this system, several individual voice channels (DSO's) are grouped into a series of DS3 (digital signal) formats and are required to be sent from one location to another over fiber optic lines. The DS3 signals first pass through a DS3/STS-1 (Synchronous Transport Signal) mapper. This mapper translates signals from the standard DS3 rates into a SONET compliant STS-1 signal. An STS-1 signal is a serial data stream which passes frames (each frame has a duration of 125ps) of SONET information at a rate of 51.84Mbitdsec. The SONET multiplexer is the next device through which information must pass. Here, three STS-1 signals are combined to form an STS-3 rate of 155Mbitdsec. After this, information is sent to a clock recovery device where it is serialized and encoded before an electrical to optical conversion. Information is then transmitted optically at a wavelength of 1300nm. Once the signal is optical, it travels through fiber to its destination where it is converted back to electrical signals and sent through the multiplexer, clock recovery, and mappers to retum as DS3 signals. This system is full duplex in that data is being transmitted and received by both locations simultaneously. The SONET multiplexer and clock recovery devices are often ECL based chips. Summary Fiber optic transport is clearly the most efficient and reliable means to transfer information between systems. In order to maximize the efficiency of fiber, CL is used in equipment on both sides of the optics to handle tasks such as multiplexing and data conversion. In the future, fiber optics with ECL based designs will play a major role in areas such as the telecommunications industry to create more ~ ~ ~ h ~ s ~ for the~ t ~ of everyone. systems ~ c benefit d

3. Na

000253, Bell Communication Research, Inc., 1992.

Ref ere nces

1. W. Blood, MECL Sv-m Desian Handbook, Fourth Edition, Motorola, Inc., 1988.

. Cherin, A

~ H.,An IntrQduction to Optical Fibers, ~ ~ n ell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., 1983.