OPTICAL FIBER

COMMUNICATION
&
Its Applications

By

AMOD KUMAR

Dy.DIRECTOR(Engg.)

STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE(Technical)

DELHI
Transmission of
information(audio,video,data,text
,
graphics or all)
from one point to another point

Optical Fiber Communication System
converts electrical signal into light signal
witch after passing through optical fiber
cable is reconverted into electrical signal
by using optical Receiver.
1 Two wire trans.line AF to UHF
region
Current Carriers
are
electrons
2 Co-axial cable AF to UHF
region

Current
Carriers
are
electrons
3 Optical fiber Optical
frequency
region
NO Current
Carriers but
Photons/
light waves
Wavelength Region
It lies in the range of 1THz to 10PHz
(infrared+visible light+ultraviolet)

It is very high as compared to the radio
frequecies(1MHz to 100MHz) or Micro Wave(1GHz to
100GHz)

We know that a large no. of channels& higher BW
transmission is possible with high frequency carrier.

Hence , Optical communication is better it is called
Broad Band Optical Fiber Communication.


Information
Signal
Point to Point Optical Communication Link

Light Source /
Modulator


Receiver /
Photodetector

User
Display

Transmitter Receiver
Optical
Fibre
It consists of following devices :
(1)Optical Transmitter :
It consists of light source , modulator & multipexer
It changes electrical signal to optical signal
Light source: LED/Laser Diode
Modulator : The information (like speech , music ,
digital code etc.) can generally be made available in
the form of electrical signal.
We know that the light intensity in LED or Laser Diode
varies with the applied voltage or current through
the device.
Hence the applied information signal voltage produces
a modulated light signal.


Light Sources
LED and LASER Diodes are two main sources of light in optical
communication system, both are made as p-n junction diodes.
These diodes are working under forward biased condition.
LED and LASER Diodes offer many advantages like compact
size, high efficiency, good reliability, right wavelength range,
small emissive area compatible with fiber-core dimensions, and
possibility of direct modulation at relatively higher frequencies.
LED is suitable for short-distance and low-bandwidth networks
(LAN). The material dispersion is higher due to larger spectral
width and limits the length of fiber link. LEDs are mainly used
along with multimode fibers
LED has certain disadvantages in comparison to LD like low
intensity, poor beam focus, low-modulation bandwidth, and
incoherent radiation.
LASER Diode (LD) is suitable for long-haul communication links
and used along with single mode fibers. LD radiation properties as
Brightness,
Directivity,
Narrow spectral width,
Coherence
High Speed (turned off/on)
make them the best light sources for long-haul fiber-optic links.
(2)Optical Receiver

It consists of photo-detector, demodulator &
demultiplexer.
It changes light signal back into electrical signal.

Photo detector : PIN diode / Avalanche diode
(photo diode)

Detector : The optical signal reaching the receiving end
has to be detected by a detector which converts light into
electrical signal so that the transmitted information may
be detected.
Semiconductor Photo Detectors
Photo detectors are the devices which convert light energy into
electrical energy
Semiconductors (Si, Ge, GaAs, AlGaAs etc.) are mainly used as
photo detectors in optical communication systems.
PN photodiode, PIN photodiode and Avalanche photodiode (APD)
are commonly used photo detectors in optical receives
Photodetector Principle
Particle nature: light exhibit particle nature, i.e. light consists of
photons having energy . There is quantum interaction between
photons and electrons.
u h E =
Absorption: When photons fall on semiconductor, they are absorbed.
The absorption of photons excites electrons from valence band to
conduction band, resulting in electron-hole pairs generation
(3) Optical Fiber
A basic optical fiber consists of two concentric
layers.Thinner layer, called core, has a
refrective index(n1) higher than the outer
layer,called cladding,has a refrective
index(n2) .

Light injected into the core & striking the core-
to-cladding interface at an angle greater than
the critical angle is reflected back into the
core.


Cladding
Core
Buffer coating (Jacket)
Buffer coating (Jacket)
Refractive index n2
Refractive index n1
[ n1 > n2 ]
A Schematic diagram of single optical fiber structure
Core : material are plastic ,glass, silica ,quartz etc.
dia 10 micro metre to 100 micro metre
Plastic core has high loss & hence glass cores are
preferred.

Cladding : The core is surrounded by a material like
glass, plastic ,silica etc is called cladding.


Buffer Coating : For providing safety and strength a
buffer plastic coating or housing encapsules the core-
cladding of the fiberes.
Fiber Optic Structure
OPTICAL FIBER PRINCIPLES
Light Principle is used in Optical fiber

i.e. Total Internal Reflection
Refraction
Light ray going from one medium to different medium, deviates
from its original path. If Light goes from denser to rare medium, it
refracts away from the normal.If the light goes from rare to denser
medium, it refracts towards the normal
Denser
medium, n1
Rare
medium, n2
2 2 1 1
sin sin u u n n =
Snells Law of
Refraction


1
u
2
u
1 2
u u >
2 1
n n >
If
Refraction Cont..
Denser
medium, n1
Rare
medium, n2
2 2 1 1
sin sin u u n n =
Snells Law of
Refraction
1
u
2
u
2 1
n n >
Refraction Cont..
Denser
medium, n1
Rare
medium, n2
2 2 1 1
sin sin u u n n =
Snells Law of
Refraction
1
u
2
u
2 1
n n >
Critical Angle

Denser
medium, n1
Rare
medium, n2
Critical Angle
1
2 1
0
2 1
sin
90 sin sin
n
n
n n
c
c

=
=
u
u
c
u
o
90
2 1
n n >
o
c
90
1
s s u u
Condition of Total
Internal Reflection
Critical Angle
o
c
n
n
57 . 80
48 . 1
46 . 1
sin
46 . 1
48 . 1
1
2
1
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
=

u
For silica fiber

Denser
medium, n1
Rare
medium, n2
1
u
2 1
n n >
o
c
90
1
s s u u
Condition for Total
Internal Reflection
Total Internal Reflection
All the light-waves above critical angle will be reflected back in
the same medium. This is called Total Internal Reflection,
Cladding
Core
Lightwave is guided through optical
fiber by Total Internal Reflection
Optical Waveguide
Core with refractive index
Cladding with refractive index
Core diameter 2a
1
n
2
n
2a
Types of Optical Fiber

1. Step-Index Fiber
2. Graded-Index Fiber
3. Single-Mode Fiber
4. Multi-Mode Fiber


BUFFER
CLADDING
CORE
8-9m 125m
250m

50 / 125m, 62.5 / 125m, 100 / 140m
50m,
62.5m,
100m
125m
140m
250m
Typical Dimensions of Optical Fiber
Multi-mode Fiber
Single-mode Fiber
Single Mode Fiber
Non-dispersion-shifted fiber (NDSF), G.652 used near 1310nm, or
DWDM use in 1550nm (with dispersion compensators)
Dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF), G.653, used near 1550nm, not
suitable for DWDM due to non-linearity, but for TDM, support
10Gbps Ethernet
Non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF), G.655, at 1550nm,
used in DWDM and TDM
Cladding
Core
Propagation of light through multimode fiber
1
st
Mode
2
nd
Mode
3
rd
Mode
Optical fiber can support hundreds of modes depending
on its core diameter, refractive indices of core and
cladding and the wavelength of operation
A ray that is below a certain critical angle escapes from the fiber
(Yellow ray)
Propagation of lightwave in graded index fiber
Acceptance Angle/Numerical Aperture
1
2
n
n
Sin
c
= u
c
o
c
u o = 90
) 90 sin( sin
c
o
c
u o =
c c
u o cos sin =
2
1
2
1 cos
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
n
n
c
u
2
1
2 1
1 sin
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

n
n
c
o
Only those rays falling within an angle will propagate
through the fiber.This angle is call acceptance angle
a
u 2
( )
c a
n o u sin sin 2 2
1
1
=
c a a
n n o u sin sin
1
=
1 =
a
n
If
a
NA u sin =
2
2
2
1
n n =
a
u 2
c
o 2
1
n
2
n
Example of acceptance Angle
( )
o
a
o
c
n
n
07 . 28 ) 43 . 9 sin( 48 . 1 sin 2 2
43 . 9
48 . 1
46 . 1
1 sin
46 . 1
48 . 1
1
2
1
2
1
= =
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
=

u
o
For Silica fiber
For plastic fiber
2425 . 0 sin = =
a
NA u
5193 . 0 sin = =
a
NA u
54 . 62 2
402 . 1
495 . 1
2
1
=
=
=
a
n
n
u
OPTICAL CABLES
Loose Tube Type

Center Tube Type
Optical Cables: Loose Tube type metallic sheath cable
1. Central Strength member
2. Water blocking yarn
4. Loose Buffer Tube
5. Plastic film tape (for binding loose tube)
6. Water blocking tape
8. Rip cord
7. Tensile filament yarn
3. Optical Fiber
9. Jacket (PE=polyethylene)
10. Corrugated steel foil laminated
tape
Optical Cables: Loose Tube type dielectric cable
1. Central Strength member
2. Water blocking yarn
3. Optical Fiber
4. Loose Buffer Tube
5. Plastic film tape (for binding loose tube
6. Water blocking tape
7. Rip cord
8. Tensile filament yarn
Jacket (PE=polyethylene)
Optical Cables: Loose Tube type metallic sheath cable
1. Central Strength member
2. Water blocking yarn
4. Loose Buffer Tube
5. Plastic film tape (for binding loose tube)
6. Water blocking tape
8. Rip cord
7. Tensile filament yarn
3. Optical Fiber
9. Jacket (PE=polyethylene)
10. Corrugated steel foil laminated
tape
Optical Cables: center tube type metallic sheath cable
1. Optical Fiber
2. Center core tube
3. Water blocking yarn
4. Rip cord
5. Corrugated metallic armor
6. wire Strength member
7. Jacket (PE=polyethylene)
Optical Cables: center tube type dielectric cable
1. Optical Fiber
2. Center core tube
3. Water blocking tape
5. Rip cord
6. Jacket (PE=polyethylene)
4. Fiber glass reinforced plastic (FRP)
strength member
Optical Cables: 1000 fibers slotted rod type cable
1. Center strength member
2. Slotted rod
3. Optical Fiber ribbon
4. Plastic film tape
6. Tensile filament yarn
7. Rip cord
8. Jacket (PE=polyethylene)
5. Rip cord
Cross Section of Optical Cable
Optical Modulation
Techniques
Why Modulation
A communication link is established by transmission
of information reliably
Optical modulation is embedding the information on
the optical carrier for this purpose
The information can be digital (1,0) or analog (a
continuous waveform)
The bit error rate (BER) is the performance measure
in digital systems
The signal to noise ratio (SNR) is the performance
measure in analog systems
Types of Optical Modulation
Direct modulation is done by superimposing
the modulating (message) signal on the driving
current
External modulation, is done after the light is
generated; the laser is driven by a dc current
and the modulation is done after that
separately
Both these schemes can be done with either
digital or analog modulating signals
Direct Modulation
The message signal (ac) is superimposed on the
bias current (dc) which modulates the laser
Robust and simple, hence widely used
Issues: laser resonance frequency, chirp, turn on
delay, clipping and laser nonlinearity
Limitations of Direct Modulation
Turn on delay and resonance frequency are the two
major factors that limit the speed of digital laser
modulation
Saturation and clipping introduces nonlinear
distortion with analog modulation (especially in multi
carrier systems)
Nonlinear distortions introduce second and third
order intermodulation products
Chirp: Laser output wavelength drift with modulating
current is also another issue
External Optical Modulation
Modulation and light generation are separated
Offers much wider bandwidth up to 60 GHz
More expensive and complex
Used in high end systems
OTDR Functions
Distance / Length Measurement
m, km, ft
Fiber Loss Measurement
dB/km, dB
Connector / Splice Loss
Measurement
dB Loss
Return Loss
Chromatic Dispersion measurement
Group delay curve
Dispersion curve
Large Bandwidth
Low Loss
EMI immunity
High quality noise free reception
Small size (diameter)
Light weight
Security
Safety

WHY OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION



1. Need for ultra-high speed communications

- Rapid access to very large databases

- High-definition image transmission ( such as X-ray, MRIs
and cat scans, for intercity medical tele-conferencing)

- 3D images for robotics and next generation surveillance and
tracking systems.

- Computer-computer communications
- Information superhighway communications

- TV cables with a massive number of channels


WHY OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION
Cont..
12
10 5
2 Low Loss coefficient : An improvement of at least three
orders of magnitude in the dB/km loss coefficient over
coaxial cables.
Extremely low loss cable can be used in long-haul
communications (~0.2 dB/Km at a wavelength of 1.55
micrometer)
3. Extremely large bandwidth : ~ Hz at wavelength
1.3 micrometer and Hz at 1.55 wavelength
micrometer
4. Energy confinement : the energy is trapped so effectively
within the optical fiber that the fiber channel is virtually
immune to the effects of external fields and noise
5. Extremely light weight


12
10 12
. Fibre is expensive for short distance
connection.
Connectors are expensive compare to copper
connectors.
Connections and joints are relatively lossy.
Difficult to tap in and out-need expensive
couplers.
Relatively careful handling required
AIR & TV Networks
(DRM Tx , Opto-coupler in Radio Tx)
Telecommunication Networks
(ISDN & Broadband for Internet,LANs&
WANs)
Factory Automation
Defence
Banks
Railways etc.






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