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TEL 116 – Fiber Optics Transmission Systems

Course Description:

Introduces the fundamentals of fiber optics and explores the applications of fiber optics transmission systems.  Laboratory exercises give students hands-on experience with fiber optic devices.  Topics include:  introduction to optical fiber principles, types of optical fiber, characteristics of optical fiber, factors contributing to fiber losses, fiber optic systems, installation and maintenance of fiber optic systems, fusion/quick connect splicing, and terminations.

 

Competency Areas:

Hours:

 

 

 

Introduction to Optical Fiber Principles

Class

4

Types of Optical Fiber

D. Lab

0

Characteristics of Optical Fiber

P. Lab/O.B.I.

6

Factors Contributing to Fiber Losses

Credit

6

Fiber Optic Systems

 

 

Installation and Maintenance of Fiber Optic Systems

 

 

Fusion/Quick Connect Splicing

 

 

Terminations

 

 

 

 

 

Prerequisite:

TEL 103 or ELC 120

Corequisite:

 

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will:

Hours

Class

D. Lab

P. Lab/

O.B.I.

INTRODUCTION TO OPTICAL FIBER PRINCIPLES

5

0

0

Optical fiber development

Describe the two methods of light propagation within optical fibers.

 

 

 

Light propagation

 

 

 

 

Total internal reflection

 

 

 

 

Continuous refraction

 

 

 

 

TYPES OF OPTICAL FIBER

4

0

0

Types of optical fiber

State the advantages or disadvantages of types of optical fiber for a particular application.

 

 

 

Fiber materials

 

 

 

 

Methods of propagation

 

 

 

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF OPTICAL FIBER

5

0

12

Energy launching

Explain the importance of the critical angle of propagation and numerical aperture of a step index fiber.

 

 

 

Numerical aperture, source area, source radiation pattern

 

 

 

 

Radiation pattern versus fiber numerical aperture

List five general areas where the energy or information can be lost in a fiber optic link.

 

 

 

Interface loss

 

 

 

 

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO FIBER LOSSES

4

0

8

Attenuation, dispersion

Identify six factors that contribute to attenuation within a fiber-to-fiber connection.

 

 

 

Summary of fiber losses

 

 

 

 

FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS

10

0

0

Data direction

Describe the different types of fiber optic communication systems.

 

 

 

System length

 

 

 

 

Networks

 

 

 

 

Spectral range

Compare the performance of fiber optic systems.

 

 

 

Bandwidth and rise time

 

 

 

 

Attenuation/km and total attenuation

 

 

 

 

INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS

6

0

34

Pulling fiber optic cable

Install fiber optic cable using proper methods for pulling, securing, and marking the cable.

 

 

 

Securing and marking cable

Splice fiber optic cable using the proper equipment and techniques.

 

 

 

Connectors and splices

 

 

 

 

Troubleshooting and repair

Test fiber optic cable.

 

 

 

 

Install and test fiber optic electronics.

 

 

 

 

Analyze fiber optic system failures.

 

 

 

 

Sectionalize fiber optic system trouble and repair.

 

 

 

FUSION/QUICK CONNECT SPLICING

3

0

3

Process

Discuss the process involved in performing a quality Fusion/Quick connect splice.

 

 

 

Equipment

Name the equipment item(s) required to perform and quality test a Fusion/Quick connect splice.

 

 

 

Performance

Perform a Fusion/Quick connect splice to industry quality standards.

 

 

 

TERMINATIONS

3

0

3

Requirement

Discuss the requirements for optical fiber terminations.

 

 

 

Equipment

Name the equipment item(s) required to perform optical fiber terminations.

 

 

 

Performance

Perform an optical fiber termination to industry quality standards.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resources

 

Books:

 

Keiser, G.  (1991).  Optical fiber communications (2nd ed.). New York:  McGraw-Hill.

Senior, J. M.  (1992).  Optical fiber communications.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall.

Smith, D. R.  (1993).  Digital transmission systems.  New York:  Van Nos Reinhold.

Taylor, H. F. (Ed.).  (1988).  Advances in fiber optics communications.  Norwood, MA:  Artech House.

VanEtten & Yan Der Plotts.  (1991).  Principles of optical fiber communications.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.