FOA CFOT Terms and Definitions A thru Z
Watts - -What is a linear measure of optical power?
-Wavelength - -What is the measure of the color of light, usually expressed
in nanometeres (nm) or microns (*m)?
-Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) - -What do you call a technique of
sending signals of several different wavelengths of light into the fiber
simultaneously?
-Working Margin - -The difference (in dB) between the power budget and
the loss budget (i.e. the excess power margin) is known as what?
-Visual Fault Locator (VFL) - -A device that couples visible light into the fiber
to allow visual tracing and testing of continuity.
-Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) - -A type of laser that emits
light vertically out of the chip, not out of the edge, and is widely used in fast
multimode networks.
-Transmitter - -A device which includes an LED or laser source and signal
conditioning electronics that is used to inject a signal into fiber.
-Total internal reflection - -Confinement of light into the core of a fiber by
the reflection off the core-cladding boundary.
-Test source - -A laser diode or LED used to inject an optical signal into fiber
for testing loss of the fiber or other components.
-Test kit - -A kit of fiber optic instruments, incl. power meter, source and
test accessories (to measure loss and power)
-Test cable - -A short single fiber jumper cable with connectors on both
ends. This cable must be made of fiber and connectors of matching type...
-Termination - -The preparation of the end of a fiber to allow connection to
another fiber or active device.
-Talkset - -A communication device that allows conversation over unused
fibers.
-Surface emitter LED - -LED that emits light perpendicular to the
semiconductor chip. Most LEDs used in data communications are this type.
, -Step index fiber - -This is a multimode fiber where the core is all the same
index of refraction.
-Steady State Modal Distribution - -Equilibrium modal distribution (EMD) in
multimode fiber (achieved some distance from the source) where the relative
power in the modes becomes stable with increasing distance.
-Splitting Ratio - -The distribution of power among the output fibers of a
coupler.
-Splice (fusion or mechanical) - -A device that provides for a permanent
connection between two fibers.
-Source - -A laser diode or LED used to inject an optical signal into fiber
-Singlemode Fiber - -A fiber with small core that allows only one mode of
light to propagate. Commonly used with laser sources for high speed, long
distance links.
-Sheath - -Term used for outer protective layers of a cable (jacket, armor
and strength members)
-Scattering - -The change of direction of light after striking small particals
that causes loss in optical fibers.
-Repeater - -A device that receives a fiber optic signal and regenerates it for
retransmission (typical in very long fiber optic links)
-Refractive index - -Property of optical materials that relates to velocity of
light in material.
-Receiver - -A device containing a photodiode and signal conditioning
circuitry converting light to an electrical signal in fiber optic links.
-Receive cable - -Known good fiber optic jumper cable attached to power
meter for loss testing. Must be made of matching fiber and connectors of
cables tested.
-Preform - -Large diameter glass rod where fiber is made or "drawn" from.
-Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) - -Dispersion in singlemode fiber
caused by difference in speed of light of the fibers polarization modes.
-Plastic-clad Silica (PCS) fiber - -Fiber made with glass core and plastic
cladding.
Watts - -What is a linear measure of optical power?
-Wavelength - -What is the measure of the color of light, usually expressed
in nanometeres (nm) or microns (*m)?
-Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) - -What do you call a technique of
sending signals of several different wavelengths of light into the fiber
simultaneously?
-Working Margin - -The difference (in dB) between the power budget and
the loss budget (i.e. the excess power margin) is known as what?
-Visual Fault Locator (VFL) - -A device that couples visible light into the fiber
to allow visual tracing and testing of continuity.
-Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) - -A type of laser that emits
light vertically out of the chip, not out of the edge, and is widely used in fast
multimode networks.
-Transmitter - -A device which includes an LED or laser source and signal
conditioning electronics that is used to inject a signal into fiber.
-Total internal reflection - -Confinement of light into the core of a fiber by
the reflection off the core-cladding boundary.
-Test source - -A laser diode or LED used to inject an optical signal into fiber
for testing loss of the fiber or other components.
-Test kit - -A kit of fiber optic instruments, incl. power meter, source and
test accessories (to measure loss and power)
-Test cable - -A short single fiber jumper cable with connectors on both
ends. This cable must be made of fiber and connectors of matching type...
-Termination - -The preparation of the end of a fiber to allow connection to
another fiber or active device.
-Talkset - -A communication device that allows conversation over unused
fibers.
-Surface emitter LED - -LED that emits light perpendicular to the
semiconductor chip. Most LEDs used in data communications are this type.
, -Step index fiber - -This is a multimode fiber where the core is all the same
index of refraction.
-Steady State Modal Distribution - -Equilibrium modal distribution (EMD) in
multimode fiber (achieved some distance from the source) where the relative
power in the modes becomes stable with increasing distance.
-Splitting Ratio - -The distribution of power among the output fibers of a
coupler.
-Splice (fusion or mechanical) - -A device that provides for a permanent
connection between two fibers.
-Source - -A laser diode or LED used to inject an optical signal into fiber
-Singlemode Fiber - -A fiber with small core that allows only one mode of
light to propagate. Commonly used with laser sources for high speed, long
distance links.
-Sheath - -Term used for outer protective layers of a cable (jacket, armor
and strength members)
-Scattering - -The change of direction of light after striking small particals
that causes loss in optical fibers.
-Repeater - -A device that receives a fiber optic signal and regenerates it for
retransmission (typical in very long fiber optic links)
-Refractive index - -Property of optical materials that relates to velocity of
light in material.
-Receiver - -A device containing a photodiode and signal conditioning
circuitry converting light to an electrical signal in fiber optic links.
-Receive cable - -Known good fiber optic jumper cable attached to power
meter for loss testing. Must be made of matching fiber and connectors of
cables tested.
-Preform - -Large diameter glass rod where fiber is made or "drawn" from.
-Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) - -Dispersion in singlemode fiber
caused by difference in speed of light of the fibers polarization modes.
-Plastic-clad Silica (PCS) fiber - -Fiber made with glass core and plastic
cladding.
