TABLE OF CONTENTS As discussed in Chapter 1, History of Fiber Optics, the idea of transmitting information with light is not new just the technology that makes it easily possible is. Like optical fiber, light source technology has improved rapidly over the decades. These technological advances have greatly increased data transmission rates and reduced costs. Fiber optic transmitters are available to support every standardized network with a variety of connector choices.
This chapter discusses current fiber optic light source and transmitter technology as it applies to common telecommunication network standards, industrial control systems, and general-purpose systems. The performance standards that we discuss in this chapter do not represent the highest levels achievable in the lab or on the test bench. They represent commonly available parts for standardized networks, the types of networks that a typical fiber optic installer or fiber optic technician are exposed to. All performance values were obtained from manufacturers' data sheets or networking standards.
The light sources used in fiber optic communication systems are far different from the light sources used to illuminate your home or office. Fiber optic light sources must be able to turn on and off millions to billions of times per second while projecting a near-microscopic beam of light into an optical fiber. On top of this performance, they must be reasonably priced, highly reliable, easy to use, and available in a small package.
Semiconductor light source technology has made all this possible. Today's fiber optic communication systems use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and
