What is a fiber optic cable?
A fiber optic cable contains anywhere from one to several hundred optical fibers within a plastic casing. 光纤电缆(或光纤电缆)以光的形式传输数据信号，传输距离从几英尺到数百英里不等，比传统铜缆中的信号快得多.
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What are fiber optic cables made of?
Fiber optic cables are made up of glass fibers that transmit light signals over short and long distances. 它们用于工业通信设置以及用于高速数据传输的电信网络. 它们还用于传输高功率激光能量，如用于外科手术的医疗激光器和军事激光防御系统. In communications applications, 光纤正在取代铜线，因为它们可以比铜线传输更多的信息，而且速度更快.
What are the 2 main types of optical fiber?
There are two main categories of optical fibers: single-mode and multimode. “Mode” refers to a ray of light traveling down the fiber. Multimode (multiple rays of light) fiber is further classified as either graded-index or step-index. The index profile describes the way the multiple rays of light travel down the fiber. In a multimode graded-index fiber, 光沿着光纤沿正弦波方向传播，几乎同时到达光纤的末端. This type of multimode fiber is used in a short distance, data communications networks such as within a building or between buildings in an office park. In a multimode step-index fiber, 多束光以一种随意的方式沿着光纤传播，每束光在不同的时间到达末端. These types of fibers are also used in short-distance, harsh industrial and aerospace environments to provide secure communications. 大芯多模阶跃折射率光纤可用于在手术室等场所传输激光能量, to clean graffiti from historical monuments, and to direct energy in military defense systems. Multimode fibers vary in core size from 50 to 2000 microns. They may be made from pure silica quartz, plastic, or other materials.
Single-mode fiber is designed to allow only one ray of light to travel down its path. The single ray travels the length of the fiber in a step-index pattern. This type of fiber can carry very large amounts of data (e.g., hundreds of phone calls) over very long distances, between cities, regions, countries, and continents when laid on the ocean floor.
What are the main types of fiber optic cables?
Fiber optic cables come in various constructions depending on the end-use. 它们的范围从单一结构(一根纤维外涂PVC或其他塑料)到由数百根纤维组成的电缆，这些纤维在管中分组，并绕着带有塑料外护套的中心强度构件绞合. Multimode fibers are usually constructed in simplex, duplex, 拉链设计，可以是紧缓冲或松管配置，包括从1到几个10的纤维. 单模光纤电缆结构更为复杂，可能包含数百根光纤.
任何一种类型的光纤电缆的电缆结构都是为了保护内部的光纤:防止过度弯曲, crushing, strenuous pulling, etc. The outer jacket of the cable 可以由各种塑料材料制成，从PVC到聚氨酯到聚乙烯等等.
What are the main components of a fiber optic cable?
The number of components making up a fiber optic cable will vary depending on the end-use. Some designs are simple when applications are light-duty. The harsher the environment the fiber optic cable will be exposed to, the more complex the cable structure. In simple terms, a fiber optic cable has 5 basic components:
- The core of the optical fiber which may vary in size between 8 microns and 2000 microns.
- The cladding which is the layer that surrounds the core. This is usually silica and can sometimes be plastic.
- The coating. This is the outer layer of the optical fiber. It is extruded and may be colored for easy identification in multi-fiber cables.
- 一个强度构件，它将提供额外的保护，防止破损/信号恶化.
- An outer jacket to provide a final layer of protection for the optical fiber inside.
How many fibers are in a fiber optic cable?
The number of fibers in a fiber optic cable is called “fiber count”. Fiber count will vary depending on the application. Today, it can range from one fiber up to about 7,000 fibers. 电缆制造商正在不断寻找增加光纤数量的方法，以适应不断增长的带宽需求.
Do fiber optic cables get hot?
No. Fiber optics are not heated by the light they carry, and therefore do not emit heat or cause any other type of heating effect.
What happens if fiber optic cable gets too hot?
Fiber optic cables can be damaged by heat. 如果电缆的温度超过了制造商推荐的储存和使用温度范围, 电缆护套将不再保护内部的光纤，这可能导致衰减增加(信号减弱)并可能导致光纤断裂.
Does cold weather affect fiber optic cable?
光纤电缆被设计成可以在很宽的温度范围内工作，包括很冷的温度. The manufacturer selects jacketing material based on the end-users environmental factors. 制造商将指定其生产的电缆的储存和工作温度范围.
What is so special about fiber optic cables?
光纤通过光子(光粒子)传输数据，而铜电缆则以电子方式传输数据. Data travels at the speed of light in fiber designed for long-distance networks. Data cannot travel as fast or as far in copper cables. 此外，与铜缆不同，光纤电缆不受EMI(电磁干扰)的影响。. 光纤电缆在当今社会中被广泛使用，因为它们提供了使物联网(IOT)成为可能所需的数据速度和带宽.
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Why is fiber optic cable very popular?
光纤在电信和数据传输应用中普及的主要原因是它比铜线提供了许多优点. These include:
• Optical fiber has no electrical resistance, so there are no losses due to heat generated by current flow through the conductor;
•使用光纤传输信号的速度比使用传统导体要快得多.
Which type of fiber is most widely used?
Single-mode optical fibers account for the largest volume of optical fiber manufactured today. Single-mode fiber optic cables link cities, regions, countries, continents. They are installed aerially, underground, and on the ocean floors.
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When would you use fiber optic cable?
如果需要在远距离上传输大量数据，而损失很小，服务提供商就会安装光纤电缆. 需要在短距离内传输激光能量的OEM也将使用光纤. Optical fiber would be the choice if avoidance of EMI is a key requirement.
Are fiber optic cables expensive?
光纤电缆现在足够便宜，它们被安装在世界各地的个人家庭和办公室内.
How long does a fiber optic cable last?
Fiber optic cables are very durable and can withstand extreme temperatures and conditions. When designed and installed per industry-standard recommendations, fiber optic cables have no known expiration date.
How is fiber optic cable installed?
根据所安装的光纤电缆的类型，制造商可以提供具体的安装方法. Installations can be performed aerially on poles or underground, either via a direct buried approach or in ducts. Once this has been completed, 安装人员必须安装组成光学系统的各种组件:接头, connectors, etc. Finally, once all these elements have been properly connected, they are tested to ensure proper operation.
