FA1000-62-85A1-0024A Datasheet, PDF (9/18 Pages) Glenair, Inc. – The Glenair Eye-Beam™ Fiber Optic Revolution

QwikConnect
Fiber Optic Illustrated Glossary
Power Booster
Amplifier  A device inserted within a transmission path, that boosts the
strength of an optical signal. Amplifiers can be placed just after the
transmitter (power booster), between the transmitter and the receiver
(in-line amplifier), or just before the receiver (preamplifier).
Transmitter
In-Line Ampli er
Preampli er
Receiver
APC  Abbreviation for Angled Physical Contact. A style of fiber optic
connector with a 5° -15° angle on the connector tip for the minimum
possible backreflection.
Attenuation  Loss or decrease in power from one point to another in a
fiber optic cable.
Attenuation Limited Operation  The condition in a fiber optic link when
operation is limited by the power of the received signal (rather than
by bandwidth or by distortion). Attenuation is usually measured in
decibels per kilometer (db/km) at a specific wavelength. The lower the
number, the better the fiber.
Axis  The center of an optical fiber.
Light In
Axis
Angled Finish
SCATTERING
ABSORPTION
Decreased
Light Out
Backreflection (BR)  A term applied to any process in the cable plant that
causes light to change directions in a fiber and return to the source.
Light
In
Occurs most often at connector interfaces where a glass-air interface
causes a reflection.
FIBER 1
FIBER 2
Air gap at connector causes re ection
Backscattering  The return of a portion of scattered light to the input
end of a fiber; the scattering of light in the direction opposite to its
original propagation.
Bandwidth  The information carrying capacity of an optical fiber,
expressed in MHz/km. The measure is dependent upon wavelength
and type of light source.
Bandwidth Limited Operation  The condition prevailing when the
system bandwidth, rather than the amplitude of the signal, limits
performance. The condition is reached when modal dispersion
distorts the shape of the waveform beyond specified limits.
16
Light In
Backscattering
Light
Source
MHz/km
QwikConnect n January 2011
Bend Radius  Radius a fiber or fiber optic cable can bend before breaking
or suffering increased attenuation.
Buffer  A protective coating applied directly to the fiber
Bend Radius
not exceeded
Bend Radius
exceeded
Strength material and jacket
Bu er
Core with Cladding
Butt Splice  A joining of two fibers without optical connectors arranged
end-to-end by means of a coupling. Fusion splicing is an example.
Using an electric arc to weld two fiber optic cables together fusion
splicing offers sophisticated, computer controlled alignment of fiber
optic cables to achieve losses as low as 0.05 dB.
Cladding  Material that surrounds the core of an optical fiber. Its
lower index of refraction, compared to that of the core, causes the
transmitted light to travel down the core.
Cleaved ber ends
Electric Arc Weld
Fusion-spliced ber
Cladding
Core
Light Cladding allows for
complete internal re ection.
No light is lost.
Without cladding,
Light can leak out.
Cleave  The process of separating an optical fiber by a controlled fracture
of the glass, for the purpose of obtaining a fiber end, which is flat,
smooth, and perpendicular to the fiber axis.
Core  The light-conducting central portion of an optical fiber, composed
of material with a higher index of refraction than the cladding. The
portion of the fiber that transmits light.
Decibel (dB)  Unit for measuring the relative strength of a signal.
QwikConnect n January 2011
Core •
Cladding •
Buffer •
Strength
Material •
Jacket •
Source
a meter can be used
00.00
to measure signal
strength in dB
17