Optical Fiber – A flexible, transparent fiber made of glass or plastic that transmits light signals using the principle of total internal reflection for high-speed data communication. Types may be single-mode or multimode, referring to the modes supported in the fiber core.
Multimode Fiber – Fiber that supports multiple modes and has a core size of 50μm or 62.5μm. Generally used for up to 1000m transmission distances. Typical types in use today are OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5.
Single-Mode Fiber – Fiber that supports a single-mode and has a core size of ~9μm. Generally used for long haul transmission distances > 1km.
Patch Cable – A pre-terminated fiber cable that connects two systems. The connectors can be the same, such as two SC connectors, or different, such as an LC connector to an SC connector.
Simplex Cable – A fiber cable with a single jacketed fiber included in the cable construction.
Duplex Cable – A fiber cable with two separately jacketed fiber cables included in the construction.
Fiber Optic Connector – A mechanical device used to align and join optical fibers to ensure minimal signal loss.
Data Rate – Number of bits of data transmitted in a given time period from a transmitter to a receiver, usually given in bits/sec (bps) or kbps or Mbps or Gbps.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) –A general technology term regarding using multiple wavelengths of light to carry different signals simultaneously.
Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) – Optically coupling light of different wavelengths onto a single fiber for simultaneous data transmission, with each channel using a different color (wavelength) of light.
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) – An advanced type of WDM that uses closely spaced wavelengths to increase the data capacity of optical fiber networks. Typically used for long-haul (10km+) fiber transmission systems.
Fiber Optic Extender – A device that uses fiber optic cables to extend the range of digital or analog signals, such as video, audio, or data, beyond the limitations of traditional copper cables. For example, the Real4K Fiber Extender for HDMI allows uncompressed 4K video transmission up to 1000m over just one fiber.
Optical Balun – A device that converts the electrical video protocol to an optical signal for transmission over optical fiber. The optical balun then connects to the installed fiber cable via fiber optic connectors.
Active Optical Cable (AOC) – A cable that converts an electrical signal to an optical one for transmission over optical fiber and then back to the electrical signal at the receiving end. Most AOCs use multiple fibers and cannot be cut to length or field terminated.
Active Optical Adapter – A module that converts electrical signals to optical or optical signals to electrical with a detachable, pluggable optical fiber.
Video Over IP – A technology that transmits video and audio signals over an IP (Internet Protocol) network, enabling streaming and distribution of multimedia content over local area networks (LANs) or the internet.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) – Disruption in the operation of electronic devices or data signals caused by external electromagnetic fields or signals, which can lead to degraded performance or complete malfunction of the affected system.
Optical Subassembly (OSA) – A key component in fiber optical communication systems that converts electrical signals into optical signals and vice versa. It typically includes a laser diode (often a VCSEL), photodetector, laser diode driver (LDD) integrated circuit, transimpedance amplifier (TIA) integrated circuit, optical coupling lenses, and a microcontroller.
Embedded Optical Module (EOM) – A compact module that integrates an optical transmitter, receiver, or transceiver directly into a system’s printed circuit board, facilitating high-speed data transfer within electronic devices. This often greatly simplifies circuit board design because the high-speed signals do not need to be routed to the board edge.
Transceiver Module – A device that both transmits and receives optical signals, all in a single module package.
Multiplexer (MUX) – A device that combines multiple optical signals into a single fiber optic cable to optimize the use of the available bandwidth.
Demultiplexer (DEMUX) – A device that separates a multiplexed signal into its original individual channels.
Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) – A small, generally low-power, semiconductor laser with a vertical emission plane, used as a light source in many optical transmitters.