Introduction To Fiber Optic Communication

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

I certify that this report does not incorporate without acknowledgement, any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any university, and to the best of my knowledge and belief it does not contain any material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in text.

Name: D.V.V.E.Hewathanthri

Student Registration Number: EN12515004

Contents

Introduction to fiber optic communication

Advantages of fiber optics

Introduction to fiber optic connector types

Fiber optic connector types

Standard fiver optic connectors

Small form factor fiber optic connectors

Ribbon fiber optic connectors

Other types

Table of figures

Figure 1

LC and ST Connectors

Figure 2

ST Connector

Figure 3

SC Connector

Figure 4

FC Connector

Figure 5

FDDI Connector

Figure 6

MJ-RT Connector

Figure 7

LC Connector

Figure 8

MU Connector

Figure 9

MTP-MPO Connector

Figure 10

Biconic Connector

Figure 11

SMA 905 and SMA 906 Connectors

Figure 12

D4 Connector

INTRODUCTION TO FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION

It’s a method of transmitting data through optical fibers using pulses of light. This technology was first developed in the 1970s. Telecommunication industry has moved to a new level due to the introduction of this technology and it basically has the following steps involved.

Creating the optical signal

Relaying the signal along the fiber

Ensuring the signal is not weak or distorted

Receiving the optical signal

Converting it into an electrical signal

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Figure

Fiber optics cables are made of bundles of thin glass strands which could be thin as human hair. However, these thin glass strands can be bent and not fragile as the glass we use in our day to day life. Due to these properties fiber optic cables gains flexibility.

These glass cables are covered with a protective layer known as cladding. Protective layer is made out of a material that can reflect light back to the core or the center of the optic cable. The outermost layer is designed to protect the inner glass cable from moisture and dust.

The two main types of fiber optic cables can be given as

Single mode cables: Use laser light to send signals and smaller in size.

Multimode cables: Use light emitting diodes to send signals but greater in size when compared to single mode fiber cables.

There is more to fiber optic technology than the cable. The following is a list of other requirements which are needed to complete a job using fiber optics.

Transmitter: Produces the signal which is to be travelled in the optic cable.

Optical regenerator: Due to degradation of the light beam over travelling a very large distance, regenerators are used to recreate the same light beam with the same characteristics to preserve the data signal.

Fiber optic connectors: Used to connect the optic cables at sending end, receiving end and at joints.

Receivers: Receives the optic signal which was generated by the transmitter and converts it back to an electrical signal.

ADVANTAGES IN USING FIBER OPTICS

Thinner

Compared to copper cables, fiber optic cables use less space and it’s very useful for underground cabling in cities.

High carrying capacity

As fiber optic technology sends light beams, the information that can be carried at once is greater. This is very useful in telecommunication and for computers as they need to send lot of information at once.

Less degradation

Due to the use of internal reflection of light, the information signals degrade less while travelling over a distance.

Low power

As the signal degrades less, optical fiber technology uses low power transmitters. Hence the total power consumption is low.

Light weight

Non-flammable

Copper cables send electrical signals which can be subjected to hazards, lightning, circuit shorts, electric shocks etc. But the use of light beams in fiber optics, have made it non- flammable.

Flexible

INTRODUCTION TO FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR TYPES

Due to many types of fiber optic connectors available in the market today, it’s complicated to figure out the right choice for the requirement. By choosing the correct connector type will influence on how efficient the project will be and the cost of the project. The following table will give the list of connector types

FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR TYPES

Table

Fiber connector types

Short name

Long form

Coupling type

Ferrule diameter

Standard

Typical applications

Avio (Avim)

Aviation Intermediate Maintenance

Screw

Aerospace and avionics

ADT-UNI

Screw

2.5 mm

Measurement equipment

Biconic

Screw

2.5 mm

Obsolete

D4

Screw

2.0 mm

Telecom in the 1970s and 1980s, obsolete

Deutsch 1000

Screw

Telecom, obsolete

DIN (LSA)

Screw

IEC 61754-3

Telecom in Germany in 1990s; measurement equipment; obsolete

DMI

Clip

2.5 mm

Printed circuit boards

E-2000 (AKA LSH)

Snap, with light and dust-cap

2.5 mm

IEC 61754-15

Telecom, DWDM systems;

EC

push-pull type

IEC 1754-8

Telecom & CATV networks

ESCON

Enterprise Systems Connection

Snap (duplex)

2.5 mm

IBM mainframe computers and peripherals

F07

2.5 mm

Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS)

LAN, audio systems; for 200 μm fibers, simple field termination possible, mates with ST connectors

F-3000

Snap, with light and dust-cap

1.25 mm

IEC 61754-20

Fiber To The Home (LC Compatible)

FC

Ferrule Connector or Fiber Channel [2]

Screw

2.5 mm

IEC 61754-13

Datacom, telecom, measurement equipment, single-mode lasers; becoming less common

Fibergate

Snap, with dust-cap

1.25 mm

Backplane connector

FSMA

Screw

3.175 mm

IEC 60874-2

Datacom, telecom, test and measurement

LC

Lucent Connector,[2] Little Connector, or

Local Connector[citation needed]

Snap

1.25 mm

IEC 61754-20

High-density connections, SFP transceivers, XFP transceivers

ELIO

Bayonet

2.5 mm

ABS1379

PC or UPC

Lucxis

1.25 mm

ARINC 801

PC or APC configurations (note 3)

LX-5

Snap, with light- and dust-cap

IEC 61754-23

High-density connections; rarely used

MIC

Media Interface Connector

Snap

2.5 mm

Fiber distributed data interface (FDDI)

MPO / MTP

Multiple-Fiber Push-On/Pull-off [2]

Snap (multiplex push-pull coupling)

2.5×6.4 mm [3]

IEC-61754-7; EIA/TIA-604-5 (FOCIS 5)

SM or MM multi-fiber ribbon. Same ferrule as MT, but more easily reconnectable.[3] Used for indoor cabling and device interconnections. MTP is a brand name for an improved connector, which intermates with MPO.[4]

MT

Mechanical Transfer

Snap (multiplex)

2.5×6.4 mm

Pre-terminated cable assemblies; outdoor applications[3]

MT-RJ

Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack orMedia Termination - recommended jack[2]

Snap (duplex)

2.45×4.4 mm

IEC 61754-18

Duplex multimode connections

MU

Miniature unit [2]

Snap

1.25 mm

IEC 61754-6

Common in Japan

NEC D4

Screw

2.0 mm

Common in Japan telecom in 1980s

Opti-Jack

Snap (duplex)

OPTIMATE

Screw

Plastic fiber, obsolete

OptoClip II

Snap (push-pull coupling)

None - bare fiber used

Proprietry Hüber & Suhner

Datacom and telcom; not common

SC

Subscriber Connector [2] or

square connector [2] or

Standard Connector

Snap (push-pull coupling)

2.5 mm

IEC 61754-4

Datacom and telcom; GBIC; extremely common

SMA 905

Sub Miniature A

Screw

Typ. 3.14 mm

Industrial lasers, military; telecom multimode

SMA 906

Sub Miniature A

Screw

Stepped; typ. 0.118 in (3.0 mm), then 0.089 in (2.3 mm)[citation needed]

Industrial lasers, military; telecom multimode

SMC

Sub Miniature C

Snap

2.5 mm

ST / BFOC

Straight Tip[2]/Bayonet Fiber Optic Connector

Bayonet

2.5 mm

IEC 61754-2

Multimode, rarely single-mode; APC not possible (note 3)

TOSLINK

Toshiba Link

Snap

most common is JIS F05

Digital audio

VF-45

Snap

Datacom

1053 HDTV

Broadcast connector interface

Push-pull coupling

Industry-standard 1.25 mm diameter ceramic ferrule

Audio & Data (broadcasting)

V-PIN

V-System

Snap (Duplex) Push-pull coupling

Industrial and electric utility networking; multimode 200 μm, 400 μm, 1 mm, 2.2 mm fibers

Standard Fiber Optic Connectors

ST Connector

This connector is also known as ‘BIFOC’ is one fiber in one ferrule type connector with a 2.5mm cylindrical ferrule. It’s a simplex connector type. The ST connector uses a push and twist, spring loaded latching mechanism. Compared to today’s standards it’s relatively large. This type is one of the first high performance connector and it’s still being used by many users.

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Figure

SC Connector

This connector is almost the same as the ST connector but it’s Duplex. SC connector was introduced to the market as ST had some weak points such as dealing with most of the LANs which are running in duplex fiber optics. Also the SC connector has a push pull latch housing mechanism which makes it easy to connect and disconnect.

C:\Users\VIRAJ\Desktop\SC.jpg

Figure

FC Connector

It also has a 2.5 mm fiber ferrule. Specially designed for telecommunication applications as the FC connector has a non-optical disconnect performance. The mechanism used is screw on. It is made out of Ceramic or stainless alloy.

C:\Users\VIRAJ\Desktop\FC.jpg

Figure

FDDI Connector

It has two 2.5 mm ferrules. FDDI connector is a duplex multimode connector which is designed by ANSI and used in FDDI networks. General usage of this connector is to connect to devices from wall outlets.

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Figure

Small Form Factor Fiber Optic Connectors

MT-RJ Connector

To minimize the volume of the connector, MT-RJ was introduced and it has made out of single, two fiber ferrule. The ferrule has a space of 700 micrometers between two fibers. It has a RJ- style latch mechanism and the size of it is slightly less than the RJ -45, which make it easy to plug in and plug out. It’s only available in Duplex form.

C:\Users\VIRAJ\Desktop\MTRJ.png

Figure

LC Connector

As they found out that the fiber ferrule is the limiting factor for fiber density, they introduced LC connector which has a 1.25 mm cylindrical ferrule which is comparatively smaller with other connectors which were discussed above with a 2.5mm ferrule. It’s available in both simplex and duplex forms. Due to the small size in the ferrule, the connector also became smaller in size. Moreover, two such LC connectors gave the size of a standard RJ-45 connector.

C:\Users\VIRAJ\Desktop\LC.jpg

Figure

MU Connector

Available in both Simplex and Duplex forms. It uses a push a pull mechanism to mate and de-mate. It was developed by NTT. Applications of this cable include High speed data access, Voice communication and Telecommunication.

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Figure

Ribbon Fiber Optic Connectors

MTP - MPO Connector

It offers a reliable connection up to 12 fibers. Used when multiple fiber optic connections are required. 12 fibers are stripped in to the cladding and placed in parallel groves which are 250 micrometers apart. As it connects multiple fibers at once, coupling loses are greater when compared to single fiber optic cables.

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Figure

Other types

Biconic Connector

It has a cone shape ferrule that helps to keep the fiber optics aligned at the connection end. The design of it makes it more preferable for military fiber optic applications. Applications such as Data processing system, local area networks are covered by this connector. It’s available in single mode and multimode. It’s a simplex fiber.

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Figure

SMA 905 and SMA 906 connector

Ideal for military applications as it’s low cost on multimode coupling. Only available in multimode and it’s a simplex fiber optic. Ferrule is made out of stainless steel or stainless alloy.

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Figure

D4 Connector

It’s a simplex fiber which is made from a 2.5 mm ceramic ferrule which enhances durability.

It has a system which delivers a high performance threading. It uses a screw on mechanism to made at de-mate.

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Figure