INTRODUCTION TO FIBER OPTICS

Fiber Optics It's the communications technology that works by sending signals down hair thin strands of glass fiber and sometimes plastic optical fiber (POF). It began about 30 years ago in the R&D labs (Corning, Bell Labs, ITT UK, etc.) and was first installed in Chicago in 1976. By the early 1980s, fiber networks connected the major cities on each coast.

Fiber Optics By the mid-80s, fiber was replacing all the telco copper, microwave and satellite links. In the 90s, CATV discovered fiber and used it first to enhance the reliability of their networks, a big problem. Along the way, the discovered they could offer phone and Internet service on that same fiber and greatly enlarged their markets.

Fiber Optics Fiber Optics, as a universal technology, utilizes the metric system as the standard form of measurement. Several of the more common terms: Meter: 39.37 inches. Kilometer: 1000 meters / 3,281 feet / 0.62 miles.

Fiber Optics Micron: 1/1,000,000th of a meter. 25 microns equal 0.001 inch, this is the common term of measurement for fiber. Nanometer: One billionth of one meter, this term is commonly used in the fiber optics industry to express wavelength (or color) of transmitted light.

Fiber Optics Fiber optics has been around for over a hundred years. The diameter of the glass core is approximately the same size as a human hair. Optical fiber glass is 99.8% pure.

Fiber Optics If the oceans were as pure as fiber you would be able to see all the way to the bottom. The tinsel strength of fiber is 5 times stronger than that of steel. Originally intended to be used to distribute light in houses, but then came the more effective incandescent bulb.

Fiber Optics Why are fiber-optic systems revolutionizing telecommunications? Compared to conventional metal wire (copper wire), optical fibers are: Thinner - Optical fibers can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper wire. Less expensive - Several miles of optical cable can be made cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. This saves your provider (cable TV, Internet) and you money

Fiber Optics Higher carrying capacity - Because optical fibers are thinner than copper wires, more fibers can be bundled into a given-diameter cable than copper wires. This allows more phone lines to go over the same cable or more channels to come through the cable into your cable TV box.

Fiber Optics Less signal degradation - The loss of signal in optical fiber is less than in copper wire. Light signals - Unlike electrical signals in copper wires, light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception.

Fiber Optics Low power - Because signals in optical fibers degrade less, lower-power transmitters can be used instead of the high-voltage electrical transmitters needed for copper wires. Again, this saves your provider and you money. Digital signals - Optical fibers are ideally suited for carrying digital information, which is especially useful in computer networks.

Fiber Optics Non-flammable - Because no electricity is passed through optical fibers, there is no fire hazard. Lightweight - An optical cable weighs less than a comparable copper wire cable. Fiber-optic cables take up less space in the ground. Flexible - Because fiber optics are so flexible and can transmit and receive light

Fiber Optics They are used in many flexible digital cameras for the following purposes: Medical imaging - in bronchoscopes, endoscopes, laparoscopes Mechanical imaging - inspecting mechanical welds in pipes and engines (in airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, cars)

Fiber Optics Plumbing - to inspect sewer lines

Fiber Optics Because of these advantages, you see fiber optics in many industries, most notably telecommunications and computer networks.

Fiber Optics For example, if you telephone Europe from the United States (or vice versa) and the signal is bounced off a communications satellite, you often hear an echo on the line.

Fiber Optics But with transatlantic fiber-optic cables, you have a direct connection with no echoes.

Fiber Optics Advantages of fiber optics at a glance: Unlimited bandwidth Immune to EMI and RFI Non corrosive High speed transmission Long distance transmission Low cost backbone solution High security Light weight High density

Fiber Optics How many simultaneous voice conversations can be transmitted over two strands of fiber? Any where from 30,000 to 50,000 voice conversations can be transmitted over two strands of fiber

Fiber Optics In fact the primary advantage of fiber optics is it’s unlimited bandwidth. The bandwidth is limited only to our electronic technology. Who uses fiber optics?

Fiber Optics THE CABLE COMPANY (CATV) THE PHONE COMPANIES THE POWER COMPANIES CCTV CAMERAS CORPORATE LANS NOW BEING DEPLOYED FOR RESIDENTIAL

Fiber Optics The fiber color code is very similar to the copper color code. The first five colors in the fiber color code are the ring colors and the next five colors in the fiber color code are the tip colors then two new additional colors. Based on this you should already know the first 10 colors of the fiber color code, what is the color code?

BLUE ORANGE GREEN BROWN SLATE WHITE RED BLACK YELLOW VIOLET ROSE AQUA Fiber Optics BLUE ORANGE GREEN BROWN SLATE WHITE RED BLACK YELLOW VIOLET ROSE AQUA

Fiber Optics The fiber color code only contains twelve colors after the 12 strand count we reuse the same color code. Higher count fibers will follow similar rules as copper counts instead of binders they have color coded tubes, each tube would hold 12 strands. It is possible to have a cable with 144 strands, 12 tubes with 12 strands equals 144 strands.

Fiber Optics In some cases the color coded tubes will have only 6 strands in them instead of twelve. Break out fiber will have each strand numbered to identify each individual strand. BREAK OUT FIBER IS DESIGNED SO THAT EACH STRAND HAS IT’S OWN STRENGTH MEMBER AND OVERALL JACKETING, THE JACKETING CONTAINS THE STRAND NUMBER.