Fiber Optics Applications Overview
The past several decades has witnessed the tremendous growth of fiber optics technology which has completely revolutionized communications. In telecommunication market, every concern is full of countless smart and sophisticated fiber optic products these days, like optical transceiver modules, patch panels, patch cords (e.g. MTP cable), and so on. Compared with copper wiring, fiber optics is more secure and features less electrical interference. It seems that fiber optics has become a part of everyday lives. Until now, the most common use of fiber optics today is the Internet, in which the information is sent digitally through fiber optics across the entire world. Certainly, this is just a piece of iceberg. Here goes other fiber optics applications.
Telecommunication applications using fiber optics are widespread, ranging from global networks to desktop computers. These involve the transmission of voice, data, or video over distances of less than a meter to hundreds of kilometers, using one of a few standard fiber designs in one of several cable designs.
Carriers use optical fiber to carry plain old telephone service (POTS) across their nationwide networks. Local exchange carriers (LECs) use fiber to carry this same service between central office switches at local levels, and sometimes as far as the neighborhood or individual home (fiber to the home [FTTH]).
Optical fiber is also used extensively for transmission of data. Multinational firms need secure, reliable systems to transfer data and financial information between buildings to the desktop terminals or computers and to transfer data around the world.
Due to the use of use of fiber optics, the transportation system has become more integrated and efficient. With the increase in traffic and more demands for efficiency, “smart highways” have begun to adopt fiber into things like automated toll booths, traffic signals, and message signs that are changeable.
Additionally, the fiber optic cables are being utilized in lots of other technical and complicated ways. Take the electric train (image below) for example, fiber optic cable is used as the transmission medium to control the switching of power semiconductors within the converters that create the right frequency and voltage for the electrical drive motors and electrical systems. A little complicated, right? Since the distances traveled to accomplish such conversions can be quite far, fiber optic cable provides a much better solution than copper.
Besides transportation, fiber optics also has heavy use in military nowadays. The military would test the cables rigorously and decided whether they are perfect for use in many of their applications. They offer better performance, more bandwidth, and greater security for their signals - all at a lower cost. They're strong, and more importantly lightweight, and can also be used outdoors in harsh environments. Thus, optical cabling is an excellent choice for the military's retrieval and deployment applications.
In addition, fiber optics has also started to bring benefits to missile launchers and radar systems. In many of their control systems, a single pencil-sized optical fiber can replace miles (and pounds) of copper wiring.
Maybe UAVs and drones sound unfamiliar to you, since they are the fairly new and fast growing applications of fiber optics. Here UAVs stand for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. With the ability to provide a fast and efficient way to transmit a large amount of data over long distances, fiber is utilized as the main communication conduit between the UAV and ground control. Or more specifically, between ground control and the antenna that controls the UAV, if you were wondering why there weren't any cables trailing behind drones in all the photos and videos you've seen.
Tiny drones have been entirely powered by “laser over fiber”, basically using light and optical cables to make it fly. The fiber has the added benefit of being lighter than copper wiring, and non-conductive, meaning it won't short out any power lines the UAV happens to bumble into, and it won't attract pesky lightning strikes, neither.
Apart from what have been discussed above, other applications also include the utilization of fiber optics, such as the decorative lighting for Christmas trees, signs, and art. Showcases displayed in boutiques use optical fibers to illuminate from different angles using a single light source.
Some special fiber optic cables can be used for sensor applications in areas that involve oil-well monitoring and fire or leak detection. The extra bandwidth offered also enables cable television to transmit signals to their subscribers faster and more efficiently. Fiber also shows up in research institutions, colleges and universities, as well as in the aerospace, biomedical, and chemical industries.
It's a truth that fiber optics has become an essential part in people’s daily life,and and brought a lot of benefits. As a professional fiber patch cord manufacturer, Fiberstore provides various fiber optic products, like the above mentioned fiber optical modules, patch cords (e.g. LC to LC fiber cable single mode), and so on. If you want such products for networking use, Fiberstore is a good place for your choices.
