FIBER OPTIC TRANSMISSION

SYSTEMS
 FIBER OPTIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS

• A fibre-optic communication system has 3

basic components
– the optical transmitter
– the optical receiver and
– the fibre-optic cable
• In the transmitter, the input signal modulates the
light output from the semiconductor laser diode
• The light is then focused into the fiber-optic cable.
• This fibre carries the modulated optical signal to
the receiver
• The receiver then reconverts the optical signal
back into the original electrical (analog or digital)
signal.
 Advantages of Optical-Fibre over Metallic
Systems
• Resistant to EM interference
– Therefore, immune to high voltage, lightning, etc
• No radiation emitted
• High channel capacity due to its high bandwidth
• Low attenuation rates requiring fewer repeaters
(What is the implication, in terms of long
distance communication?)
• Small size; less duct space
 Bandwidth and Attenuation
• Bandwidth and Attenuation affect
transmission performance
• Bandwidth can be affected by several factors,
including dispersion
• To avoid dispersion, lasers with narrow optical
bandwidths are used with fiber that has low
dispersion.
 Attenuation
• It is the decrease in light power during light
propagation along an optical fiber

• The basic causes of attenuation or (signal loss)

include.
– Absorption
– Scattering
– Bending (Macro- and Microscopic)
Attenuation
• Fibre loss is the ratio of power output at the
end of a fiber, to power launched into the
fiber,

• We measure (loss) attenuation in decibels

(dB)
• The attenuation per unit of fiber length, A is
given as;
A(dB/km) = loss(dB)/fibre length (km)
• Example
A communications system uses an optical
fiber whose attenuation , A, is 0.5 dB/km. Find
the output light power if the input power is
1 mW and the link length is 15km.
Solution
 rearranging

Giving =
= 0.1778mW
 Optical Power Budgets and Distance
Calculations
• Minimum Transmit Power
– The worst-case transmit power for a device to provide a target-
guaranteed performance (usually, minimum receiver sensitivity)
• Minimum Receiver Sensitivity
– The minimum amount of light required by the receiver to operate
correctly.
• To calculate the link budget, subtract all losses from the
available power
• Losses include,
– cable attenuation,
– connector losses
– splice losses
 Other useful parameters.
1. cable attenuation
It is obtained by multiplying the cable attenuation with the total
length of the network (km). E.g. a 5km long cable with
attenuation of 0.5dB/km will cause attenuation of 2.5dB.
2.Connector loss
Connectors are devices that joins fiber optic cable to electronic
devices. Since most transmitters, multiplexers, receivers etc
are electronic device. A typical network will have six(6)
connectors. The total loss is obtained by multiplying the total
number of connectors with the loss of each. Eg. Six
connectors each with loss of 0.5dB will total 3.0dB
• Splice loss
Splicing is simply the joining of a fiber optic cable to each other.
This is done since it is impossible to obtain one long fiber
cable for the entire network. Each splice introduces some loss
at that joint.
• Repair splice loss
In the life of the network possible repairs are anticipated as well
as possible fiber cut which needs splicing. Hence we estimate
and calculate for a possible number of splices due to repairs.
 What is Optical Fibre?
An optical fibre consists 3 different parts.
– Core
– Cladding
– Buffer Coating

Basic Theory :
Light has to be confined to the core so that the digital
signal can be transmitted from one place to another
through light.

Basic Elements of the Optical Fibre System :

ELECTRICITY LIGHT ELECTRICITY

Transmitter Receiver
LED/Laser Avalanche Photo
Light Glass Fibre Diode
Source

Light
Source
OPTICAL FIBRE FREQUENCIES
TYPES OF FIBRE
Elements of Optical Transmission System
Optical Fibre Transmission System

Major components
1. Modulator
2. Light source
3. Connectors (Couplers)
4. Optical glass Fibre
5. Light sensor/Detector
6. Optical amplifiers/Repeaters
7. Optical fibre joints (splices)
LIMITATIONS TO TRANSMISSION
ATTENUATION
 Example
• To calculate the ratio of 1 kW (one kilowatt, or 1000 watts) to 1 W in
decibels, use the formula

• Similarly for amplitude, current or voltage (power is proportional to the

square of the above 3 quantities. )
Laser Output Power, Receiver Sensitivity and dBm
Example 1
 Answer (Example 1)
Transmitter 8 Connectors Receiver

• Connector loss= 8*1dB= 8dB

• Cable loss= (4*100)/1000=0.4dB
• System margin = 5dB
• Sensitivity= -30 dB
• Transmitter Power = connector loss+cable
loss+system margin+sensitivity
• Therefore, 8 + 0.4 + 5 – 30 = -16.6dB
Example 2
 Answer (Example 2)
Transmitter Receiver
2 Connectors

• Connector loss= 2*1.5dB = 3 dB

• Cable loss= 0.4dB * 50 = 20 dB
• System margin = 8 dB
• Sensitivity= -34 dB
• Transmitter Power = connector loss+ cable loss + system
margin + sensitivity
• = 3+20+8-34= -3 dB
• No: of splices= 3/ 0.15 = 20 splices
 Answer (Example 2)
Transmitter Receiver
2 Connectors

• Connector loss= 2*1.5dB = 3 dB

• Cable loss= 0.4dB * 50 = 20 dB
• System margin = 8 dB
• Sensitivity= -34 dB
• Transmitter Power = connector loss+ cable loss + system
margin + sensitivity
• = 3+20+8-34= -3 dB
• No: of splices= 3/ 0.15 = 20 splices
 Question

If the System Margin is -10dB, calculate the receiver sensitivity.

Give your overall observation?
Answer
 Question on Practical system – 1
Long haul telephone optical fibre system consist with the following
components
Part One Question Contd

Calculate the Power Budget

and estimate whether the
system will Function?
Part 1
Answer
Part Two Question – Use of Optical Amplifiers

The Previous system has been re engineered with two optical

amplifiers as detail out below

Verify the Power budget for correct

operation?
Part Two Answer – Use of Optical Amplifiers
Part Two Answer Contd – Use of Optical Amplifiers
Part Two Answer
Example 3 (f) Contd– Use of Optical Amplifiers
Part Three Questions – Onsite Re engineering Problems

Due to site and optical amplifier operational problem, the above

system was again re engineered as follows

By calculating the Power Budget verify whether

the system can be operational or not?
Part Three Answer – Onsite Re engineering Problems

Then the Calculation for segments 2 and 3 are given below;

Part Three Answer Contd– Onsite Re engineering Problems
 FIBRE OPTIC CABLE
In general fibre optic cable can be separated into
two types;
Indoor and
Outdoor
 Optical tools for maintenance
• OTDR
• Splicing machine
Optical Time Domain Reflectometry
Principle (OTDR)
 Fusion splicing

• It is the process of fusing or welding two fibers together usually by an

electric arc. Fusion splicing is the most widely used method of splicing as it
provides for the lowest loss and least reflectance, as well as providing the
strongest and most reliable joint between two fibers. 
• Virtually all singlemode splices are fusion.
• Fusion splicing may be done one fiber at a time or a complete fiber ribbon
from ribbon cable at one time. First we'll look at single fiber splicing and
then ribbon splicing.