WALCHAND COLLEGE OF ENGINEERNG, SANGLI

A Seminar Report on:

Optical Fiber Networking

By

Nupur C. Prajapati

Guide

Prof. P. A. MANE

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CONTENT-

1. Abstract

2. Introduction

3. Description

4. Advantages

5. Field of application

6. Conclusion

7. References

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 Optical Fiber Networking

ABSTRACT-

Optical fibers are used extensively for data transmission systems because of their
dielectric nature and their large information‐carrying capacity. Network architectures
using multiple wavelength channels per optical fiber are utilized in local,
metropolitan, or wide‐area applications to connect thousands of users having a
wide range of transmission capacities and speeds. A powerful aspect of an optical
communication link is that many different wavelengths can be sent along a fiber
simultaneously in the 1300‐to‐1600‐ nm spectrum. The technology of combining a
number of wavelengths onto the same fiber is known as wavelength division
multiplexing (WDM). The concept of WDM used in conjunction with optical
amplifiers has resulted in communication links that allow rapid communications
between users in countries all over the world.

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 INTRODUCTION-

Fiber optic systems are important telecommunication infrastructure for world-wide

broadband networks. The major driving force behind the widespread use of fiber
optics communication is the high and rapidly increasing consumer and commercial
demand for more telecommunication capacity and internet services, with fiber optic
technology capable of providing the required information capacity (larger than both
wireless connections and copper cable).It is a method of transmitting information
from one place to another place by sending pluses of light through an optical fiber .

Fiber optics have become the industry standard for the terrestrial transmission of
telecommunication information. Fiber optics will continue to be a major player in the
delivery of broadband services. Carriers use optical fiber to carry service across their
nationwide networks. Today more than 80 percent of the world's long-distance traffic
is carried over optical-fiber cables. Telecommunications applications of fiber-optic
cable are widespread, ranging from global networks to desktop computers. These
involve the transmission of voice, data, and video over distances of less than a meter
to hundreds of kilometers, using one of a few standard fiber designs in one of several
cable designs. Optical cable is also the industry standard for subterranean and
submarine transmission systems.

It works on the principle of Total Internal Refraction .To consider the propagation of
light within an optical fiber, it is necessary to take account of the refractive index of
the dielectric medium. The refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio of the
velocity of light in a vacuum to the velocity of light in the medium.

Total internal reflection is the phenomenon that involves the reflection of all the
incident light off the boundary. Total Internal Reflection only takes place when both
of the following two conditions are met:

1) The light is in the more dense medium and approaching the less dense medium.
2) The angle of incidence is greater than the so-called Critical angle.

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DESCRIPTION-

Understanding wavelength in fiber optics:

One of the more confusing terms to many is “ wavelength” .It sounds very scientific,
but is simply the term used to define what we think of as the color of light.For fiber
optics with glass fiber, we use light in the infrared region which has wavelength
longer than visible light , typically around 850,1300 and 1550 nm. The attenuation of
glass optical fiber is caused by two factors ,absorption and scattering. Absorption
occurs in several specific wavelengths called water bands due to absorption by minute
amount of water vapor n the glass.

Fiber optic transmission wavelenths are determined by two factors: longer wavelength
in the infrared for lower loss in the glass fiber and at wavelength which are between
the absorption bands. Thus the normal wavelength are 850,1300, and 1550 nm.
Fortunately, we are also able to make transmitters and recievers at these particular
wavelengths.

General Overview Of Optical fiber System :

Like all other communication system, the primary objective of optical fiber
networking system also is to transfer the signal containing information (voice, data,
video) from the source to the destination. The general block diagram of optical fiber
networking or communication system is shown in the figure.

The source provides information in the form of electrical signal to the transmitter. The
electrical stage of the transmitter drives an optical source to produce modulated light
wave carrier. Semiconductor LASERs or LEDs are usually used as optical source
here. The information carrying light wave then passes through the transmission
medium i.e. optical fiber cables in this system. Now it reaches to the receiver stage
where the optical detector demodulates the optical carrier and gives an electrical
output signal to the electrical stage. The common types of optical detectors used are
photodiodes (p-i-n, avalanche), phototransistors, photoconductors etc. Finally the
electrical stage gets the real information back and gives it to the concerned
destination.

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 Source of Electrical
Optical Source
information transmit

Optical fiber cable

As transmission medium

Photodetector Electrical stage Destination

FIGURE 9.

It is notable that the optical carrier may be modulated by either analog or digital
information signal. In digital optical fiber communication system the information is
suitably encoded prior to the drive circuit stage of optical source. Similarly at the
receiver end a decoder is used after amplifier and equalizer stage.

Primary Elements Of Optical Fiber Networking System:

Figure shows the major elements used in an optical fiber networking or

communication system. As we can see the transmitter stage consists of a light source
and associated drive circuitry. Again, the receiver section includes photo detector,
signal amplifier and signal restorer. Additional components like optical amplifier,
connectors, splices and couplers are also there. The regenerator section is a key part
of the system as it amplifies and reshapes the distorted signals for long distance links.

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Transmitter Section :

The main parts of the transmitter section are a source (either a LED or a LASER),
efficient coupling means to couple the output power to the fiber, a modulation circuit
and a level controller for LASERs. In present days, for longer repeater spacing, the
use of single mode fibers and LASERs are seeming to be essential whereas the earlier
transmitters operated within 0.8µm to 0.9µm wavelength range, used double hetero
structure LASER or LED as optical sources. High coupling losses result from direct
coupling of the source to optical fibers.

For LASERs, there are two types of lenses being used for this purpose namely
discrete lenses and integral lenses.

Receiver section :

Figure enlightens the general structure of a receiver section. It is clear that it includes
Photo detector, low noise front end amplifier, voltage amplifier and a decision making
circuit to get the exact information signal back. High impedance amplifier and Trans
impedance amplifier are the two popular configurations of front end amplifier, the
design of which is very critical for sensible performance of the receiver. The two most
common photo detectors are p-i-n diodes and avalanche photodiodes. Quantum
efficiency , responsivity and speed of response are the key parameters behind the
decision of photodetectors. The most important requirements of an optical receiver
are sensitivity, bit rate transparency, bit pattern independence, dynamic range,
acquisition time etc. As the noise contributed by receiver is higher than other
elements in the system so, we must put a keen check on it.

Types Of Optical Fibers:

Single mode - only one signal can be transmitted, uses single frequency.

Multi-mode – several signals can be transmitted, several frequencies used to

modulate the signal.

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ADVANTAGES-

1) Enormous potential bandwidth- The optical carrier frequency in the range

1013 to 1016 Hz (generally in the near infrared around 1014 Hz or 105 GHz) yields a
far greater potential transmission bandwidth.
2) Small size and weight-Optical fibers have very small diameters which are
often no greater than the diameter of a human hair. Hence, even when such fibers are
covered with protective coatings they are far smaller and much lighter than
corresponding copper cables.
3) Signal security- The light from optical fibers does not radiate significantly
and therefore they provide a high degree of signal security.
4) Low transmission loss-The development of optical fibers over the last 20
years has resulted in the production of optical fiber cables which exhibit very low
attenuation or transmission loss in comparison with the best copper conductors.
5) Potential low cost- The glass which generally provides the optical fiber
transmission medium is made from sand – not a scarce resource. So, in comparison
with copper conductors, optical fibers offer the potential for low-cost line
communication .

Benefits Of Optical Fiber Communication System:

Some of the innumerable benefits of optical fiber communication system are:

1) Immense bandwidth to utilize

2) Total electrical isolation in the transmission medium
3) Very low transmission loss,
4) Small size and light weight,
5) High signal security,
6) Immunity to interference and crosstalk,
7) Very low power consumption and wide scope of system expansion etc.
These are the main advantages that have made optical fiber communication system
such an indispensable part of modern life.

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FIELD OF APPLICATION-

Due to its variety of advantages optical fiber communication system has a wide range
of application in different fields namely

1) Public network field which includes trunk networks, junction networks, local
access networks, submerged systems, synchronous systems etc.
2) Field of military applications ,
3) Civil, consumer and industrial applications,
4) Field of computers which is the center of research right now.

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CONCLUSION-

Though there are some negatives of optical fiber networking and communication
system in terms of fragility , splicing , coupling set up expenses etc .but it is an
unavoidable fact that optical fiber has revolutionized the field of networking,
communication, medical, and military field.

We are currently in the middle of a rapid increase in the demand for data bandwidth
across the earth. For most applications optical fibers are the primary solution to this
problem. They have potentially a very high bandwidth, with many of the bandwidth
limitations now being at the transceivers rather than being an intrinsic property of the
fiber allowing easy upgrading of systems without relaying cable. This is creating a
surge in the deployment of fiber both in backbones of networks and in topologically
horizontal cabling, which inturn is supporting and propelling the industry into further
research. With the adoption of new techniques such as DWDM, soliton transmission,
and ultimately the purely optical network, we have a medium that will satisfy our
communication needs for the foreseeable future.

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REFERENCES-

1) Prof. Dr.-Ing. G. Wenke. “Report On Fiber Optics Cables”.

2) Francis Idachaba, Dike U. Ike, and Orovwode Hope, “Future Trends in

Fiber Optics Communication”, “Proceedings of the World Congress on
Engineering”, 2014 Vol I, WCE 2014, July 2 - 4, 2014, London, U.K.

3) “Optical Fiber”, www.thefoa.org. The Optic Association. Retrieved 17

April 2015.

4) . "Guide To Fiber Optics & Permises Cabling". The Fiber Optics

Association. Retrieved December 22, 2015

5) John M. Senior, “Optical Fiber Communications Principles and Practice”,

Third Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall.

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