The New Technology of Fiber Optics
This is the technology that uses the glass fibers to transmit the data. These glass fibers are called as the optical fibers. The transmission of the data is based on the principle of total internal reflection of the light as it passes through the glass fiber of a particular refractive index.
The light rays reflect and refract as they pass through the optical fiber. The optical fiber cable is made up of number of glass fibers. These glass fibers carry large amount of data as compared to the copper wires used for the data transmission since ages. These fibers unlike the metal fibers are light in weight and carry data in digital form.
This technology is most popular with the local area network. The cable wires which help you to access the internet work on this technology.
Application of fiber optics technology:
Local area network
This is the most common application of the fiber optics. The wires that connect you to the world are nothing but the glass fibers. These fibers transmit the data at fabulous speed so that you can access the internet at high speed.
Cable TV
The low power usage is what promoted the use of the optical fibers in cable TV networks. The Close Circuit television security also uses this technology because of the security features that it provides.
Telecommunication
The telephone companies are fast switching to this technology and replacing the long used copper wires with fiber optic cables.
Advantages of fiber optics technology
The optical fibers are lighter and thinner than the copper wires. They occupy less space with the same bandwidth. The energy loss is much lower as compared to the metal wire cables. The data is transmitted with less loss of energy but at much higher bandwidth.
The data transmission is not affected by the radio signals, lightning and other electromagnetic interferences. Thus the optical fibers provide much more secured medium for data transmission.
Single mode and multi mode fibers are the two type of optical fibers commonly used. The multi mode fibers have large core and are used for commercial purposes. Multi mode of light can pass simultaneously through these types of fibers. These types of fibers have large information carrying capacity and thus are used to transmit data to longer distance.
The optical fibers are made up of pure form of glass which forms core and cladding. A single or double layered coating encloses the cladding and core. The inner soft coating acts as a cushion for the fibers while the outer hard coating protects the wires from damages during handling and installation. This coating protects the fiber from any form of scratches and dust that damage the wires.
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