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Fiber Optic Cable

WHAT IS IT ?

  • Containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light.

  • When compared to earlier traditional cables, optical fiber cabling has an increased speed, capacity, and clarity of signal.

  • Different types of cable are used for different applications, for example, long-distance telecommunication, or providing a high-speed data connection between different parts of a building.

  • An optical fiber is a thin, transparent fiber, usually made of glass or plastic, for transmitting light. 

  • Defined In IEEE 802.8, is a cable that contains optical fibers (usually glass) coated in plastic that is used to send data by pulses of light. 

Cable that contains optical fibers. 

Fiber Optic Cable

A thin flexible fiber with a glass core through which light signals can be sent with very little loss of strength.

HOW DOES IT WORKS?

  • To understand the working of light goes through a fiber, we should know a basic concept of light propagation; refraction.

  • When light from a medium with high refractive index goes to a medium with a low refractive index, it moves away from the normal at the point of crossover. 

  • The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

  • One of the most common applications of total internal reflection is in fiber optics. 

  • Take a look at the image below. 

  • The red line runs away from the normal as it enters the cladding, which has a lower refractive index. 

  • The construction of a single optical fibre is shown in.

Total Internal Reflection principle

Photocell receives the light signal.

STRUCTURE OF OPTICAL FIBER

  • There are a few different types of optical fibers available in the market.

  • The general structure of optical fibers include the following three parts.

  • The Core

  • Cladding

  • Jacket

  • The core is the innermost part that is made out of glass or transparent plastic. It is extremely thin, flexible and has a cylindrical shape.

  • The cladding is the second layer on top of the core. It is also made of glass or transparent plastic. But with a different material, so the refractive index of the cladding is lower than that of the core.

  • The jacket exists purely for protecting the core and the cladding.

  • It is made up of flexible and abrasion resistant varieties of plastic.​​

FIBER OPTIC CABLE PRECAUTIONS

  • Keep the fiber connections and connectors capped when not in use to help prevent dust, dirt, or other substances from being on the connection of connector.

  • Always keep the fiber connections and connectors clean.

  • Do not allow the fiber cabling to bend more than the diameter of your hand. Bending the cable further could cause physical damage to the cable.

  • Do not touch the tip of the actual fiber cabling, as it could cut you.

  • Never look down the fiber cabling when in use as light pulses are being used. To determine if the pulse is being sent, use a meter.

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