About 4 decades ago the fiber optic cable was introduced, and it changed the world with its different applications. Fiber optic cables contain several thousand optical fibers in a protective insulated jacket. The optical fibers present in the fiber optic cable transmit information in the form of light and consist of very thin strands of pure glass.
In this article, we will discuss the fiber optic cable and its uses.
What is fiber optic cables?
Fiber optic cables transmit data in the form of light particles. Optical fibers are thin strands of flexible glass, these strands are bundled together to create the core – where the data is transmitted through.
The core is surrounded by a layer called the cladding. The cladding has a lower refractive index, causing the light signals to reflect inside the core.
Three elements of a fiber optic cable.
Core – The glass fiber where the light signals are transmitted through.
Cladding – The material surrounding the core that cause the light to reflect through the fiber core.
Buffer/Coating – The material that strengthens the cable.
Digital data send through light?
1. The data is sent from your computer to a transmitter.
2. The transmitter convert the digital signal into a light signal.
3. The light signals now travels thought the fiber cable until it reaches the receiver.
4. Now the signal is converted back to digital format.
Few advantages over traditional wiring
- Fiber optic is smaller, lighter, and thinner.
- The signal loss of fiber optic is less than copper cables.
- Fiber-optic cables can transmit signals much further than copper cables.
- The transmission speeds are much faster.
- Fiber-optic does not use electricity, so it is not affected by EMI (Electromagnetic Interference)
- Fiber-optic cables cables have greater bandwidth.
- Fiber-optic use less energy.
There are 2 common types of fiber optic cables
Single mode uses a laser and is designed to transmit data over long distances. Single mode fiber transmit a wavelength of either 1310 or 1550 nm (Manometers)
Multimode have a thicker core, allowing multiple pathways and wavelengths of light signals to be transmitted. Multimode is designed for shorter distances, it uses LED’s instead of a lasers to transmit light signals.
The Uses of Fiber Optic Cables
The fiber optics are not only used in telecommunication services. But it is used in almost many applications of industries.
1. Computer networking
With fiber optic cables the users of the computer network can receive and read information and files just in a few seconds. This helps users save a lot of time while increasing efficiency.
2. Cable Television
For high definition television quality, fiber optics is the best solution. The fiber optic cables not only provide users with high definition quality, it is also a cost-effective choice compared to the same quantity of copper wire.
3. Internet
We know that the internet connects people all around the world in mere seconds. With fiber optic cables it was made possible to transmit the best quality of large data at a very high speed. Fiber optic cables are lightweight and carry large data easily.
4. Telephone
With fiber-optic communication, we can talk to people anywhere anytime all around the world. We can transmit our information simultaneously without and delay.
5. Military and Space Applications
In the military, the most important thing is data security and confidentiality while communicating. Fiber optic cables provide the confidentiality and secure transmission of data which helps in the military and aerospace applications.
6. Automotive industry
The fiber optic cables provide great lighting and uses narrow space, which is why they are used in the automotive industry. The interior and exterior of vehicles use fiber optics for lighting. Not only lighting the fiber optic cables transmit signals between different parts of the vehicle. This is mainly used in the safety applications for airbag activation signals and traction control.
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