Reading
from the lower left, the electrical signal (voice,
data, video) is converted by the transmitter into
a blinking LED or laser. The pulses of light enter
the core of the fiber, and travel to the other
end of the fiber link, where they are detected
or “seen” by the receiver, which converts
them back into their original electrical state
of voice, data, or video.
If
the electrical input to the transmitter is digital,
(sending 1’s and 0’s), the transmitter
will turn the light source on and off. If the
signal is analog, perhaps for a CCTV camera, the
light will brighten and dim to copy the analog
wave form.
This
brightening and dimming (analog) or turning on
and off (digital) happens at a very high rate
of speed.
It
is important to know that the light signals traveling
in a fiber optic strand are invisible to the human
eye. It is a VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE that
the technician should NEVER look into the end
of a fiber connector without checking first to
see if there is any light energy being transmitted.
While LED’s will not damage your eyesight,
the lasers used in fiber optics are generally
“Class 2”, and can harm vision with
repeated exposures.
DO
NOT LOOK INTO THE END OF A FIBER UNLESS YOU KNOW THAT
IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO A TRANSMITTER.Fiber
Optic Training |
