Fiber Optic Communication Systems

Delivered By:
Engr. AAMER HAFEEZ
Assistant Professor, FAST-NU
Islamabad

1
 Module-I Introduction of Optical Fiber

2
General Communication System
Optical Communication System
 Optical Communication System
• Light from the
Light source
(LASER ) at the
transmitting
(Tx) end is
modulated by
the electrical
signal
• Modulated
light energy is
fed into the
Optical Fiber.

• At the receiving end (Rx) this light energy

is made incident on photo-sensors which
convert this light signal back to electrical
signal.
Fiber Optic Operational Wavelengths ?
 Fiber Optic Operational Wavelengths ?

• 850 nm
• Multimode Fiber

• 1310 nm
• Multi and Single
Mode Fiber

• 1550 nm
• Single Mode Long
Attenuation Vs. Wavelength Haul Fiber

7
 Wavelengths used for Single Mode Fiber (long distances) communications

• 1310 nm
– Usually lowest cost lasers

– Used for shorter broadcast runs and short to moderate data runs
• 1550 nm
– Can be amplified with relatively low-cost Erbium Doped Fiber
Amplifiers (EDFAs)

– Lasers are fabricated on a number of different wavelengths (about

1535 – 1600 nm) for wave division multiplexing (WDM)
applications

– Slightly lower fiber loss at 1550 nm 8

 Transmission Medium

7.9
 Classes of Transmission Media

7.10
 Optical Fiber

• An Optical Fiber is a Dielectric Wave guide that operates at

Optical Frequencies (Near & Far Infrared).

• It is normally Cylindrical in shape, Confines Electromagnetic

Energy in the form of Light with in its surfaces And Guides it in
a Direction Parallel to its Axis.

• No. of voice channels in thousands

11
12
 Optical Fibers in Access Network

Think………..
 Optical Fibers in Access Network

Or……………..
An optical communications link showing Optical fibre in Core
Many major components such as dispersion compensators, switches, modulators, network components and control systems etc, are not shown here, for
simplicity..
Optical Line Systems –how long ?
 Optical Fibers in Access Network

• Optical Fiber in Access Network

– OFAN
– FTTx
– HFC
Optical Line Systems –how long ?
 Advantages of Optical Fiber Communication

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 Optical Fiber (Advantages)
1. Small Size and Weight
– Optic fiber Cables substantially lighter than copper cables with same
capacity

2. longer life span

– Optical fiber cable has a longer life span than copper because it is
more resistant to corrosion

3. Material Availability
– Silica is in abundance throughout the world and is readily available.

4. Stable Performance
– Fiber optics is less affected by moisture which means less corrosion
and degradation.
– Offer great temperature stability than copper
 Optical Fiber (Advantages)

5. Immunity to Interference , Noise

and Cross Talk
– Optical Fiber is not subject to interference
or tapping making it secure as well Optical Fibre cables can be
densely routed In channels
– The dielectric nature of optical fibre
cables and EMI immunity enables
increased flexibility
– Copper UTP cables generate and are
sensitive to EMI
– At high data rates UTP cables generate
more RF interference

UTP cables require spacing to

reduce cross talk penalties
 Optical Fiber (Advantages)

DATA
ERRORS
COPPER

Noise Immunity
 OpticalOptical Fiber (Advantages)
Fiber (Advantages)_ Noise Immunity

NO DATA
ERRORS
FIBER

• Noise Immunity
• Fiber optics is completely immune to
Electrostatic and Electromagnetic
interference.
 Optical Fiber (Advantages)

6. High Bandwidth
– Modern day requirements of several gigabits per sec can be
accommodated and High Data Rates

7. More Wavelengths per fiber

8. Long-distance signal transmission
– Over 120 km without repeater
 Optical Fiber (Advantages)
9. Security
• Copper can be easily compromised with a tap. Fiber is
comparatively virtually “ tap resistant”
• Fiber gives no off radiated energy
• Wide Temperature Range
9. Wide Temperature Range
• Fibers and cables can be manufactured to withstand operating
temperature variation from – 40 C to + 85 C.

10.Safety
• No short Circuits
• No sparks or fire hazards
 Optical Fiber (Advantages)
11. Light Weight
• 38 Km of fiber can be manufactured, from just one
kilogram of glass material.
• 120,960 pairs of copper, carrying voice channels, can
be replaced by only one pair of optical fiber
• Practical bandwidth of fiber is many time greater than
copper

12. Overall Cost of a fiber communication system is lower

than equivalent communication system
 Optical Fiber (Advantages)

COPPER
PAIR

MICROWAVE

FIBER
OPTICS

13. Low Maintenance

• Long Repeat less Spans means fewer repeaters and
lower maintenance.
 Optical Fiber (Advantages)
COPPER PAIR
1~5 km

MICROWAVE

40~50KM
FIBER
OPTICS
120 km

14. Low Loss means greater distance between repeaters (Lowest

attenuation )
• attenuation in the optical fiber (at 1.3 µm and 1.55 µm bands) is much
smaller than electrical attenuation in any cable at useful modulation
frequencies
• Much greater distances are possible without repeaters
Disadvantages Of The Optical Fiber

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 Disadvantages Of The Optical Fiber
1. Small bending causes radiation loss

2. Optical Fiber connections need to align the fiber core

with fine precision

3. A very small flaw (hole) at the fiber surface weaken the

strength of fiber

4. Optical Fiber is very Fragile

5. Hydrogen absorption
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 Disadvantages Of The Optical Fiber
7. Cost
– Although availability of raw material is guaranteed, the
manufacture of Optical Fibre extremely difficult and involves
complete set up for heat and chemical treatment of SiO2 to
reach the desired purity required to producing Optical Fibre.

8. Remote Power Feeding

– Power of operation of regenerators cannot be transmitted on
Optical Fibre (Dielectric nature).Additional arrangements are to
be made for this purpose e.g use of stand by batteries, solar
power panels etc.

9. Mechanical Problems
 Disadvantages Of The Optical Fiber
10. Non-Linear characteristics of Optical converters
– The electrical and optical characteristics of optical
converters are non-linear, which results in extra noise,
loss of power, coupling efficiency of optical sources,
conversion efficiency of optical devices etc.
11. Hazards with lasers
– These radiations are extremely dangerous. Their
exposure to eyes or skin can cause irreparable damage.
Necessity of safety precautions must be taken working
with the optical fibre system.
 Main Disadvantage Of Fiber Optics
12. Expensive to install

– ROW, labour

13. Dangerous for eyes

14. More fragile than wire and are difficult to split

Fiber Construction
 Fiber Construction

125 microns diameter Cladding Glass 8, 50, 62.5 microns diameter

Core Glass
 Fiber Construction

• Core
• The central region of an optical fiber through which light is transmitted.
• Glass or plastic with a higher index of refraction than the cladding
• Used to transmit the light
Cladding
• The glass layer surrounding the core of an optical fiber. The cladding must have a lower
index of reflection to keep the light in the core.
• prevented the light from leaking out of the core by reflecting the light within the boundaries
of the core.
• Glass or plastic with a lower index of refraction than the core
• Core and cladding are made of pure fused silica.
• Germanium dopant is added to core to raise the index of refraction

36
 Fiber Construction

• Buffer
• Protects the fiber from damage and moisture
• Jacket
• Holds one or more fibers in a cable
 Primary Buffer

Primary Buffer 250

Cladding 125
Core (62.5)

As the optical fibre is so small, it needs some measure of protection so that it can be easily handled
and installed. To this end, the manufacturer puts a coating called the “Primary Buffer” onto the fibre
during the process of drawing the glass from a rod down into a fibre. ALL optical fibre has a
Primary Buffer coating, regardless of what type of construction is ultimately used to make the cable.
 Secondary Buffer
Materials used to create buffers can are
Kynar) polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), or
Secondary Buffer 900 polyurethane

Primary Buffer 250

Cladding 125
Core (62.5)

For fibre which is to be used in a cable type known as “tight-jacketed”, the fibre is given
a further protective coating, known as the “Secondary Buffer”. This coating is normally
applied by the cable manufacturer, rather than the fibre manufacturer, and is always 900
microns (0.9 mm, or approx. 0.036”) in diameter.
 FIBRE MATERIAL

 Silica Glass
 used for high-speed data applications

 Plastics
 used for low-speed data / voice applications

 Composite Constructions
 used for low-speed and specialized applications
OPTICAL FIBER CABLE
OPTICAL FIBER CABLE
 OPTICAL FIBER CABLE
Slotted
Core Fibers
Steel Armoring Inner
Polly-ethylene
sheet
Middle
Polly-ethylene
Polly-ethylene sheet
sheet

Strengthening
member

Corrugated
steel
tape
THANK YOU