Optical Fiber

Connection
Chapter 4

Introduction
How to launch optical power into fiber and fiber to
fiber?
Considering NA, core size, refractive index profile, power
distribution, etc.

Why joint the fiber?

For long cable runs
Connecting devices such as amplifiers, pigtails, etc. to
fibers

Why it is so important?
One way to control losses in fiber optic system

Type of connectorization
Permanent fusion splicing
Temporary mechanical splicing, connector

Source-to-fiber coupling
Power coupled to the fiber measured in radiance (brightness)
Radiance = power radiated into a unit solid angle per unit
emitting surface area

Source-to-fiber coupling
A part of a unit spheres (radius 1) surface which is enclosed by the solid angle is used as a
measure of the solid angle in steradian (sr)
Example
1 sphere : 4
1/2 sphere : 2
1/8 sphere : /2

Example
A light source radiates in a cone with the solid
angle = 0.4 sr. How large is the illuminated
surface at a distance of 1 cm?

Lambertian radiance
pattern
Radiance pattern for a
Lambertian
source
(which
means
the
source is equally bright
when viewed from any
direction)
and
the
lateral output of a
highly directional laser
diode.

Power coupling
calculation

Power coupling
calculation

The power coupled from a surface emitting LED

into a graded index fiber (for rs < a)

Example
Consider an LED having a circular emitting area of
radius 35 m and a Lambertian emission pattern
with 150 W/(cm2.sr) axial radiance at a given
drive current. Let us compare the optical powers
coupled into two step index fibers, one having a
core radius of 25 m with NA = 0.2 and the other
is 50 m with NA = 0.2.

Fiber-to-fiber joints

Mechanical
misalignments

Lateral displacement
Loss due to core center not at the same level
Very critical for single mode fiber
Fiber

Lateral Offset

Angular displacement
Light travel within 7-8 degree inside the fiber
Causes 0.2 dB loss for every angle displaced
Angular
Misalignment

Fiber

Longitudinal displacement
(air gap)
Loss due to Fresnel reflection in air gap
Causes about 0.17 dB loss for each air/glass interface

Fiber

Air Gap

Example
The end faces of two optical fibers with core
refractive indices of 1.50 are perfectly aligned and
have a small gap between them. If this gap is
filled with a gel having a refractive index of 1.3,
let us find the optical loss in decibels at this joint.

NA mismatch
When light travel from high NA to lower NA
fiber, it experience high loss
Fiber

Fiber with
higher NA

Fiber with
lower NA

Core size mismatch

Loss occurs when light travel from larger to smaller core
Fiber

Fiber with
larger core

Bottle -Neck

Fiber with
smaller core

End surface finishing

A poor end surface finishing cause light to
reflect into other that intended direction
Fiber

Rough surface

Connectorization
principles
ALIGNMENT

CONCENTRICITY

FC connector
Description:
Originated from Japan (NTT)
Coupling Mechanism
Threaded Type
Usage:
For Singlemode use
Applications:
Telecommunication System
Advantages:
Low Cost & good performance
Disadvantages:
Usually pre-terminated, not
suitable for field termination

SC connector
Description:
Develop by NTT (Japan)
Coupling Mechanism
Spring clip. Push and Pull.
Usage:
For Both Multimode and
Singlemode
Application:
Data Communication &
Telecommunication
Advantages:
More stable and reliable design.
International Premises Cabling
Standard
Disadvantages:
Higher cost (than ST)

SMA connector
Description:
Originated from coax
connector design, one of the
earliest fiber optic connector
Coupling Mechanism
Unkeyed, ThreadedType
Usage:
For Multimode use
Application:
Control, Monitoring System &
Data communication System
Advantages:
Popular in Europe (Datacom
Equipments)
Disadvantages:
Variable loss due to freerotate

ST Connector
Description:
Develop by AT&T in 1980
Coupling Mechanism
Spring loaded. Push and
Turn. Keyed bayonet
action.
Usage:
Mainly For Multimode use,
Singlemode version also
available
Application:
Data Communication
Advantages:
Lower cost, popular usage
in Datacom
Disadvantages:
Spring loaded causes
instability

E-2000

TM

connector
Description:
Develop by Diamond
Coupling Mechanism:
Spring clip. Push and Pull.
Usage:
For both singlemode and
multimode use
Application:
Data Communication
Advantages:
Lower cost, popular usage in
Datacom
Disadvantages:
Dust cap can sometime jam

FDDI Connector
Description:
Fiber Distribution Data Interface
Coupling Mechanism
Spring clip. Push and Pull.
Usage:
For Both Multimode and
Singlemode
Application:
For FDDI stations and
connections (100Mbps)
Advantages:
Duplex application, more
organized
Disadvantages:
High cost and difficult to
terminate

CONNECTORS
SPECIFICATIONS
Insertion Loss
Typical: 0.3dB for Multimode
0.2dB for Singlemode
Return Loss
Typical: -45dB for PC
-55dB for APC
Operating Temperature/Cycling
Typical: -40 to 80 degree (Max change:
0.3dB)
Repeatability
Typical: 100 reconnect (0.3dB)
Tensile Strength
40 pounds (Kelvar)
2 pounds (buffer)

Component of connector
Kevlar
Sleeve

Strain
Relief
Boot

Ferrule

Body/
Housing

Dust
Cover

Strain Relief
Limiting the bending at the back
of the connector and secure the
connector to the cable
Body/Housing
Metal or Plastic Part of the
connector that provides
coupling/attachment mechanism
(Push-Pull, Bayonet or screw
thread)
Ferrule
Metal/ceramic/zirconia/plastic
precision part of the connector
that provides a narrow hole
(>125) for aligning and
concentrate the fiber in the
connector.

Cable assemblies

ST-ST Simplex

SC-SC Duplex

SC-SC Simplex

FDDI-FDDI

LC-LC Simplex

MTRJ-MTRJ
Simplex

What is a Fusion splicing?

A fusion splice is a junction of two (or more)
optical fibers that have been melted together.
This is accomplished with a machine that
performs two basic functions: aligning of the
fibers and melting them together typically
using an electric arc.

Example of Fusion Splicing

How to make a
Fusion splice?
Fusion splicing consists of four basic steps, regardless
of how sophisticated a machine is.
Step
Step
Step
Step

1
2
3
4

Prepare the fiber

Cleave the fiber
Fuse the fiber
Protect the fiber

How to make a
Fusion splice?
Preparing the fiber is accomplished by stripping away
all the protective coatings, jackets, tubes, etc., until
you are left with the bare fiber. The main concern here
is cleanliness. A clean fiber is essential for the all
important cleaving step.
Cleaving the fiber properly is the key to successful
splicing. It is virtually impossible to make a good
fusion splice with a poor cleave. A comparison of two
cleaves shows why:

Process of fusion splicing

What happens if we splice

50 m to 62.5 m fiber?

When transmitting from the 62.5 m fiber to the 50

m fiber you will experience a one-time loss of
approximately 3.0 dB strictly due to the differences in
core diameter, numerical aperture, and scattering
coefficient.
The splice quality could also slightly affect the total
loss. The analogy of two pipes with different inner
diameters may help visualize that light "leaks" when
passing from the large pipe to small pipe, but
negligible "leaks" occur when water flows in the
opposite direction. When transmitting from the 50.0
m fiber to the 62.5 m fiber you can expect only the
loss associated with the splice itself.

What happens if we splice

single-mode to multimode
fiber?

This is typically not done. Since the core sizes

and glass structure are significantly different,
it is very difficult to obtain a good splice. Even
if a good splice were made, a one-time loss of
> 10 dB would occur due to the mismatched
cores.

Environmental factors
that affect a splice.
Cold and hot temperatures can be compensated for
by increasing or decreasing the fusion current.
Humidity does not generally affect single-mode
splicing.
Humidity does affect multimode splicing. Reduce the
current if necessary.
Humidity can affect the cleanliness of the electrodes
so check them more often than usual in humid
conditions.
Splicing at high altitudes (3,000 ft) requires a higher
fusion current.
Remember, most batteries experience decreased life
in cold areas.