Fibre Optics

Fibre Optics
Overview
 Introduction
 Composition of optical fibre
 Operation of the fibre optic system
 Advantages and disadvantages
 Analog and digital communication
 Two main types of cables
 Pulse Spreading
 Transmission Loss
 Interviews
 Conclusions
Introduction
Fibre optics is being used to transmit television,
voice, and digital data signals by light waves
over flexible hair like threads of glass and
plastic. It has evolved into a system of great
importance and use since the 1980’s.
The advantages of fibre optics compared to
coaxial cable or twisted pair cable, are endless.
Millions of dollars are being spent to put light
wave communication systems into operation, as
a result of its performance.
Composition of optical fibre
 Silica based glass or plastic filaments are
spun and packed into bundles of several
hundreds or thousands. Bundles may be
put together as rods or ribbons and sheets.
 These bundles are flexible and can be
twisted and contorted to conduct light and
images around corners Cross section of a bundle
 The thin glass center of the fibre where the

light travels is called the “core”.
 The outer optical material surrounding the
core that reflects the light back into the core
is called the “cladding”.
 In order to protect the optical surface from
moisture and damage, it is coated with a
layer of buffer coating.
Operation of the fibre optic system
 Light is ejected into the glass
core at the correct angle and
transmitted; it will reflect back
repeatedly with internal
reflections, even when the rod
is curved. Light cannot
escape from a fibre optics
cable. A bundle of rods of
fibres is capable of taking an
image projected at one end of
the bundle and reproducing it
at the other end. Reflected path of light in the glass rod
Operation of the fibre optic system
 In a fibre optic system, there are a few major components to perform
the task of communication.
 The Input Modulator is needed; this modulates the incoming signal
with a light beam.
 A light emitting device is used; it can be either a light emitting diode
(LED) or a semiconductor laser diode.
 A fibre optic cable is used as a transportation medium.
 A fibre optic system converts an electrical signal to an infrared light
signal, and then transmits the signal onto an optical fibre.
 An Output Modulator is used to separate the signal from the light
beam.
 Special connectors must be used to couple the light from the source
to the fibre and from the fibre to the detector.
Advantages and Disadvantages
ADVANTAGE
S
 Fibre optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables.
 Fibre optic cable is less susceptible to signal degradation than copper wire.
 Fibre optic cables weigh less than a copper wire cable.
 Data can be transmitted digitally.
 Lower-power transmitters can be used instead of the high-voltage electrical
transmitters used for copper wires.
 Unlike electrical signals in copper wires, light signals from one fibre do not
interfere with those of other fibres in the same cable.
 Because no electricity is passed through optical cable it is non-flammable,
and immune to lightning.
 Impossible to tap into a fibre optics cable, making it more secure
Advantages and Disadvantages
DISADVANTAGES
 Fibre optics are that the cables are expensive to install.
 The termination of a fibre optics cable is complex and requires

special tools.
 They are more fragile than coaxial cable.

Analog and Digital Communication
 An analog signal changes continuously, while a digital signal can be
at only a certain number of discrete levels.
 Conventionally, analog is used for audio and video communication.
 Analog technology has been used because our ears detect
continuous fluctuations in sound levels, not just the presence or
absence of sound.
 Going through a system where the analog signal can not be
successfully reproduced outputs a distorted signal which is what
happens when we get a distorted voice on the telephone or radio.
 Digital transmission works the best; both analog and digital signals
are found in audio and telephone systems.
 Analog signals are converted to digital before transmission and then
back to analog signals.
Two main types of cables
Step Index Fibre
 This cable has a specific index of refraction
for the core and the cladding. It causes
deformations due to the various paths lengths
of the light ray. This is called modal
distortion. It is the cheapest type of cabling.
Within the cladding and the core, the
refractive index is constant.
Graded Index Fibre
 In graded index fibre, rays of light follow
sinusoidal paths. Although the paths are
different lengths, they all reach the end of the
fibre at the same time. Multimode dispersion
is eliminated and pulse spreading is reduced.
Graded Index fibre can hold the same
amount of energy as multimode fibre. The
disadvantage is that this takes place at only
one wavelength.
Pulse Spreading
 Optical fibres that carry data consist of pulses of light
energy following each other. The fibre has a limit as
to how many pulses per second can be sent to it and
be expected to emerge intact at the other end. This is
known as pulse spreading which limits the Bandwidth of
the fibre.
 The pulse sets off down the fibre with a square wave
shape. As it travels along the fibre, it progressively gets
wider and the peak intensity decreases.
Transmission Loss
 The transmission loss or attenuation of an optical fibre is
perhaps the most important characteristic of the fibre;
this determines if a system is practical. It controls (1)
spacing between repeaters and (2) the type of optical
transmitter and receiver to be used.
 As light waves travel down an optical fibre, they lose part

of their energy because of various imperfections in the
fibre. These losses are measured in decibels per
kilometers (dB/km).
Interviews
Kushner, Jeff, Fibre Solutions Specialist, CORNING
 Stated fibre optics is a revolution that may affect our lives as much as
computers and integrated circuits have. Fibre optics is being
compared in importance with microwave and satellite transmissions in
the advanced world of communications.
Ali, Zafar, Configuration Supervisor, Unisys Canada Inc.

 stated that fibre optics will make using devices that use services such
as two-way television that was too costly before the development of
fibre optics easier to use with better quality. In addition to an incredible
bandwidth, fibre optics has smaller and lighter cables than
conventional copper-conductor systems, with immunity to electrical
noise, and numerous other advantages.
Conclusion
 The age of optical communications is a new era. In several ways
fibre optics is a pivotal breakthrough from the electric
communication we have been accustomed to. Instead of electrons
moving back and forth over a regular copper or metallic wire to carry
signals, light waves navigate tiny fibres of glass or plastic to
accomplish the same purpose.
 With a bandwidth and information capacity a thousand times greater
than that of copper circuits, fibre optics may soon provide us with
all the communication technology we could want in a lifetime, at a
cost efficient price.
 Any new communication system that does not use fibre optics, or
consider its use, is obsolete even before it has been built. It is
apparent that the average technician may also become superseded
if he or she fails to master fibre optics. After all, the technician will be
responsible for repairing and maintaining fibre- optic systems
wherever they are used, not the engineer.
THE END

Fibre Optics

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Fibre Optics

 The thin glass center of the fibre where the

 Fibre optics are that the cables are expensive to install.

 The termination of a fibre optics cable is complex and requires

 They are more fragile than coaxial cable.

 As light waves travel down an optical fibre, they lose part

Ali, Zafar, Configuration Supervisor, Unisys Canada Inc.

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