Higher Bandwidths With Fiber Optics

Cloud computers, big information and IoT contribute to the fact that more and more data has to be transferred and ever higher bandwidths are required, although they could easily be remedied with fiber optic cables. However, the complicated dealing with has so far left many customers hesitating, although action has to be taken. Because the digitalization of all areas of life continues to advance. Artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence based on large amounts of data are only one aspect of this pattern. Applications from the cloud are now commonplace, house education, office and video conferencing instead of school, office and business trips are another aspect that has become more important in the past year. However, one of the consequences of digitization is always the same: Pass-away amounts of data grow, and with it, demands on bandwidth in the data networks.

The copper cable slowly reaches its limits. This does not only apply to the domestic DSL connection – Deutsche Telekom is now moving away from the copper abdominal muscle and will certainly soon only be installing fiber optics. The fiber optic cable is already widely used in data centers. Building cabling, networking in hospitals and medical practices, the infrastructure of research institutions is also increasingly being implemented using fiber optics. With 5G, fiber optics are even finding their way into the antenna mast and in the foundation of industrial production.

Band width versus diameter

Many workstations are still upgrading to fast Gigabit Ethernet with up to 10 GB / s. These can still be implemented with high-quality copper cables. But at the latest on the next network level, when data from numerous users come together, things get tight. Simply increasing the number of copper cables is only possible to a limited extent. On the one hand, cable guides are only able to absorb to a limited extent; on the other hand, electromagnetic interactions between the copper cables can interfere with data transmission if too many cables are too close together. These effects can even be used to intercept data transmission on the copper cable without being noticed.

Pass away thin glass fibers offer a multiple of the bandwidth of copper cables with much smaller cable cross-sections. Are the usual transfer rates of 20 until 100 GB / s not an issue. At the same time, much longer distances can be bridged without an intermediate amplifier. And data security is also better, as there are no spill-over effects. In some applications, the lower weight or the possibility of using it in potentially explosive areas also play a role, since fiber optic cables do not transport electrical energy, so neither flying sparks nor grounding problems are significant.

Complex plugging processes of fiber optic cables

Given these undeniable advantages of fiber optics would be a bet expected across the board. But the managing director of LWL has so far slowed down the spread of this powerful network technology. Expertise and precision are not only required during installation. Up to now, every single plugging process has also been accompanied by a time-consuming inspection and cleaning. If the relevant requirements are not observed, transmission problems, instabilities or even damage to the connection system can occur. This threatens costly troubleshooting and repair.

The cause lies in the sensitive technology. Even the smallest particles, such as grains of dust or plant pollen, penetrate the connector away from the connector, can inhibit the light beam to such an extent that data transmission suffers or becomes impossible. An error-free, reliable installation is therefore only possible with trained specialist staff. In view of the increasing demands on reliability and availability of network access, passes away was a serious disadvantage.

From 3MTM religious woman comes the EBO (Enhanced Light Beam Optical Interconnect) connector concept, which is a decisive step forward offers. Pass Away Expanded Light Beam Link (EBC) initially expands the light beam at the transition from one fiber to the other and then focuses it again. Pass-away interference from particles is minimized, as plant pollen or a grain of dirt that has penetrated only block a small part of the enlarged light surface. The light beam is no longer completely blocked, but only slightly weaker. This fully retains the ability to transfer data.

The new concept also shows its strengths when it comes to the decisive quality criteria of a fiber optic connector system. On the one hand it causes a significantly lower insertion loss IL (Insertion Loss), on the other hand it shows a high return loss RL (Return Loss).

Pass away redesigned optics make it possible to use the plug-in concept for both single-mode and multimode fiber-optic cables. In singlemode applications, according to the manufacturer, the insertion loss is less than 0, 70 dB, the return loss is above 55 dB. These values ​​are retained even over several hundred mating cycles.

In the standard version, pass away ferrule 12 singlemode or multimode fibers. However, the system is scalable and enables up to 192 to connect fibers. Rosenberger OSI entered into a close cooperation with 3MTM with regard to this new technology at an early stage and leads the manufacturer’s corresponding basic connectors, but also develops its own connector systems in cooperation with its customers. There are still many applications with different requirements that can be implemented with this plug-in concept, you can be sure at Rosenberger OSI.

Efficiency in production and use

The plug-in concept aims at it abdominal That the handling becomes easier and still the highest reliability of the network connections is guaranteed. The connector already shows that efficiency was the focus of development. Instead of ceramic, a ferrule made of high-precision injection-molded plastic with grooves is used, no holes are required. Inside the injection-molded part there is a mirror reflex collimation lens, which expands and refocuses the beam.

Pass away fibers can be automated into the injection molding ferrule positioned and glued in place. Even without the use of guide pins, these are fixed in such a way that there is practically no deviation in the fiber alignment. There is also no need for time-consuming polishing of the fiber ends, and damage to the fibers through mutual contact is also excluded.

At the same time, this plug-in concept reduces the effort, which has so far been created with every plugging process. And last but not least, this also reduces the demands on the individual who carries out the cabling – without damaging the operational reliability of the fiber optic network.

Suitable for numerous applications

Currently, complex backplane cabling is the focus of the applications. But the increase in IoT applications with correspondingly powerful networks, for example in building cabling, is also a driver for the use of EBO technology. Further applications are already evident in the abdominal region, because new technology shows its strengths especially in harsh environments.

Compared to other connector concepts, it is less sensitive to Dust and also against vibrations. Is it particularly suitable, for example, for the use of 5G and side computers in industrial production. High bandwidths and low latencies can only be achieved in the Foundation by means of fiber optics, which are required in the long term for Industry 4.0.

Pass away 5G networks themselves should also be mentioned; FTTA (Fiber to the Antenna) is required here. Insensitive networks with ever higher bandwidths are also in demand in mobile use, for example on trains and airplanes, and considerable vibrations will certainly occur during operation. Rosenberger OSI develops suitable connector systems for such applications together with customers according to their individual requirements.

Together with the advancing digitization of all areas of life and business the use of fiber optics will continue to gain in importance due to the higher achievable bandwidths alone. The advantages, in addition to the bandwidth, for example, the smaller diameter and the ability to bridge larger distances, have hitherto been opposed to the complicated management of mating processes. Not only the complex handling, which takes up a lot of time, acted as a brake here. But also the knowledge required for this, which limited the group of specialist staff who can be entrusted with such tasks.

This is exactly where pass away easier-to-use Increased Light Beam Optical Interconnect technology. It opens up many new areas of application for high-bandwidth fiber optic technology. Faster plug-in processes and fewer restrictions in the selection of suitable personnel translate into lower costs and shorter project times. Nothing stands in the way of the advance of this technology.