Fiber Optic
Glossary
Adapter
A mechanical media
termination device designed to align and join fiber optic connectors. Also
referred to as a coupler mating sleeve.
Buffer
The protective coating over a fiber that surrounds the fiber cladding.
Buffered Fiber
Fiber protected with an additional material to provide ease in handling,
connectorization and increased tensile strength.
Cable
An assembly of optical fibers and other material providing mechanical and
environmental protection and optical insulation of the waveguides.
Cable Assembly
Fiber optic cable that has connectors installed on one or both ends. General use
of these cable assemblies includes the interconnection of multimode and
singlemode fiber optical cable systems and optoelectronic equipment. If
connectors are attached to only one end of the cable, it is known as a pigtail.
If connectors are attached to both ends, it is known as a jumper.
Cladding
The material surrounding the core of an optical fiber. The cladding must have a
lower index of refraction in order to steer the light in the core.
Cleave
The process of cutting
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.
Connector
A mechanical device used to align and join two fibers together to provide a
means for attaching and decoupling it to a transmitter, receiver or another
fiber. Commonly used connectors include the ST, FC, and SC.
Core
The central region of an optical fiber through which light is transmitted.
Ferrule
A small alignment tube attached to the end of the fiber and used in connectors.
Generally made of stainless steel, alumina, or zirconia, used to confine and
align the stripped end of a fiber.
Fiber
Thin filament of glass. An optical waveguide consisting of a core and a cladding
which is capable of carrying information in the form of light.
Fiber Optics
Light transmission through optical fibers for communication or signaling.
Insertion Loss
The
amount of the signal that is lost (attenuation) as the signal passes through a
connection or interface.
Kevlar
An
aramid fiber used to provide crush resistance and pulling strength in a fiber
cable. Kevlar is a trademark of the Du Pont Company.
Micron (um)
Another term for micrometer. One millionth of a meter. 10exp6 meter.
Mode
A term used to describe a light path through a fiber, as in multimode or
singlemode.
Multimode Fiber
A fiber type which supports multiple light paths through its core.
Optical Fiber
Thin
glass wire designed for the transmission of light. It has enormous transmission
capacity capable of carrying billions of bits per second. In addition, unlike
electrical pulses, light pulses are not affected by interference caused by
random radiation in the environment.
Physical Contact (PC)
An acronym for "Physically Contacting".
Connectors aligned and mated so that no air gaps exist between them creating
positive contact between the fibers to minimize loss and reflections.
Pigtail
Fiber optic cable that has connectors installed on one end. See also Cable
Assembly.
SC
A type of optical fiber connector. The SC utilizes the same 2.5 mm ferrule as
the ST, held in a housing that allows for "push-pull" insertion and removal of
the connector from the adapter. Rapidly becoming the connector of choice for
data networks.
Singlemode Fiber
Optical fiber with a small core diameter in which only a single-mode, the
fundamental mode, is capable of transmission.
ST
A registered trademark of AT&T for their fiber optic connector. A
connector type with a bayonet housing which is spring loaded. Originally, an
acronym for "Straight Tip".
Tight Buffer
Type of cable construction whereby each glass fiber is tightly buffered by a
protective thermoplastic coating . High tensile strength rating achieved,
providing durability, ease of handling and ease of connectorization.
Wavelength
(I)
The distance an electromagnetic wave travels during the time it takes to
oscillate through one complete cycle. The wavelengths of light used in fiber
communications are usually measured in nanometers (nm).
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