Optical Communication

 Introduction

               Optical communication, also known as optical telecommunication, is communication at a distance using light to carry information. It can be performed visually or by using electronic devices. ... This article provides a basic introduction to different forms of optical communication.

                    An optical communication system uses a transmitter, which encodes a message into an optical signal, a channel, which carries the signal to its destination, and a receiver, which reproduces the message from the received optical signal. When electronic equipment is not employed the 'receiver' is a person visually observing and interpreting a signal, which may be either simple (such as the presence of a beacon fire) or complex (such as lights using color codes or flashed in a Morse code sequence).

Summary

             Fiber optical communications have transformed the telecommunication industry. Over many years of consistent reliability, fiber optics have become the predominant choice for Ethernet backbone infrastructure, high-speed internet services, and general data networking.

            Today, fiber optics have become increasingly common in small to midsize business networks. The demand for IP-based devices, such as VoIP phones, IP cameras, and video conferencing units, requires an increase in bandwidth to support IP communications. Due to its massive throughput capabilities, fiber optic can support bandwidth-intensive devices with no issue.

Advantages

1. Secure Communication:

              Fiber optic cabling is considered one of the most secure means of communication. The construction of the cabling makes interception of the transmission signaling extremely difficult. Any attempts to penetrate the glass cable will cause “light leakage” which in turn will cause noticeable degradation in communications.

2. Electromagnetic Compatibility:
Fiber optic cabling is resistant to many of the outside forces that degrade copper cabling. In areas such as industrial facilities where large motors, controllers, and air conditioners are constantly starting and stopping, fiber optic cabling is highly recommended. Electrometric interference and radio-frequency interference (EM/RFI) from the equipment can cause data loss increasing latency on packet streams as they traverse the network.

3. Speed:
Fiber-optic cabling is many times faster than traditional copper cabling. The small diameter glass fibers can support bandwidth speeds in-excess of 10-gigabit speeds per strand. While copper cabling can support these speeds, it would take multitudes of large diameter category 6 cables aggregated together to reach the speeds of one fiber strand.

4. Distance:
Fiber cable is the ideal means for long-distance, point-to-point hardline communications. The 328ft limit on traditional copper cabling restricts long-distance communication requiring the need of additional equipment to extend the signal. Towards the maximum reach of copper cables, attenuation will start to set in causing a slight reduction of speeds on gigabit transmissions. Fiber cables are far superior and less expensive for long-distance connectivity with the ability to achieve over 10 gigabytes of speed at over 40 km in length.

Applications

                 

           Optical fibers are used most often as a means to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber and find wide usage in fiber-optic communications, where they permit transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data transfer rates) than electrical cables.

                            Fibre optic cables are cables that contain several thousands of optical fibres in a protective, insulated jacket. The optical fibres are very thin strands of pure glass, which transmit information in the form of light. Fibre optic cables have revolutionized the world of network communication ever since their inception nearly four decades ago. Today, these cables have almost obliterated traditional methods of networking, which use metallic wires. Some of the most popular uses of fibre optic cables are listed below.

Internet

             Fibre optic cables transmit large amounts of data at very high speeds. This technology is therefore widely used in internet cables. As compared to traditional copper wires, fibre optic cables are less bulky, lighter, more flexible, and carry more data.   

Computer Networking

             Networking between computers in a single building or across nearby structures is made easier and faster with the use of fibre optic cables. Users can see a marked decrease in the time it takes to transfer files and information across networks

Surgery and Dentistry

                   Fibre optic cables are widely used in the fields of medicine and research. Optical communication is an important part of non-intrusive surgical methods, popularly known as endoscopy. In such applications, a minute, bright light is used to light up the surgery area within the body, making it possible to reduce the number and size of incisions made. Fibre optics are also used in microscopy and biomedical research.

Automotive Industry

                  Fibre optic cables play an important role in the lighting and safety features of present-day automobiles. They are widely used in lighting, both in the interior and exterior of vehicles. Because of its ability to conserve space and provide superior lighting, fibre optics are used in more vehicles every day. Also, fibre optic cables can transmit signals between different parts of the vehicle at lightning speed. This makes them invaluable in the use of safety applications such as traction control and airbags.

Telephone

               Calling telephones within or outside the country has never been so easy. With the use of fibre optic communication, you can connect faster and have clear conversations without any lag on either side.

Lighting and Decorations

                The use of fibre optics in the area of decorative illumination has also grown over the years. Fibre optic cables provide an easy, economical and attractive solution to lighting projects. As a result, they are widely used in lighting decorations and illuminated Christmas trees.

Mechanical Inspections

               Fibre optic cables are widely used in the inspection of hard-to-reach places. Some such applications are on-site inspections for engineers and also inspection of pipes for plumbers.

Cable Television

               The use of fibre optic cables in the transmission of cable signals has grown explosively over the years. These cables are ideal for transmitting signals for high definition televisions because they have greater bandwidth and speed. Also, fibre optic cables are cheaper as compared to the same quantity of copper wire.

Military and Space Applications

               With the high level of data security required in military and aerospace applications, fibre optic cables offer the ideal solution for data transmission in these areas.

               Fibre optic cables have an array of uses that go beyond what most people are aware of. You could have been using them all along and not have even known!

                                                                                    Created by-

                                                                                                Shreyas Kulkarni(BECA16)

                                                                                                                      Omkar Kusneniwar(BECA17)

                                                                                                                         Satish Jatale(BECA10)