fiber optic

Hi Guest!

Fiber optics work by sending pulses of light down an optical fiber. The light is generated at the transmitting end by a laser diode or an LED. The receiving end contains a photo-diode or photo-transistor that converts the light pulses back into an electrical signal. The fiber itself conducts the light by means of total internal reflection (some use more sophisticated means having complicated explanations, but this is the general idea).

Fiber optics have a number of advantages over copper. One particular advantage is fiber's immunity to electrical noise and crosstalk. Optical fiber is completely immune to nearby lightning strikes, for example (but not direct ones, which can reduce even the most well-designed system to toast).

Another advantage is that data can be sent down a fiber at very high data rates.

Still another is total electrical isolation between the transmitting and receiving ends. When you use copper you run the risk of creating ground loops. Basically this is caused by two electrical grounds having an electrical potential between them. When the grounds are connected (the signal requires a return path) current flows. Sometimes the current can be very large; large enough to destroy the equipment on both ends.

Hope this clarifies things a bit.

-e

ok mr europium, i got your explaining.

many thanks i appreciate your help.

For a more in depth explanation see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavelength-division_multiplexing