Structure of H-PCF |
|
|
|
Types of optical fibers |
|
Type
of optical fiber |
All-glass
fiber
(AGF or GOF) |
Hard polymer-clad fiber
(H-PCF) |
Plastic
fiber
(APF or POF) |
Component |
Core |
Silica glass
(50 µm, 62.5 µm diam.) |
Silica glass
(200µm diam.) |
Plastic
(980 µm diam.) |
Cladding |
Silica glass
(125µm diam.) |
Hard plastic
(230µm, 250µm diam.) |
Plastic
(1000µm diam.) |
Simplicity of assembly
with an optical connector |
Fairly easy |
Very easy |
Very easy |
Attenuation |
1 - 3dB/km |
Min. 5 dB/km |
200 - 400dB/km |
|
|
|
Features of data transmission systems using H-PCF |
|
Reduction of system cost |
|
The cost for optical modules, which
transmit/receive optical signals,is dominant in the total cost
of optical data transmission system. By reducing the cost of
optical modules, the total cost for optical data transmission
system could also be reduced. |
|
In the case of H-PCF |
|
Large core |
|
|
|
Low cost light sources
are applicable to H-PCF, with which less accurate optical
axis setting is possible.
|
|
|
|
The total system cost
can be reduced. |
|
|
Crimp & Cleave connectors are applicable |
|
With conventional Glue &
Polish-type optical connectors, a time-consuming gluing
process and a skill-requiring polishing process make it
difficult to terminate them on-site, driving up cost. |
|
In the case of H-PCF |
|
Hard polymer-cladding |
|
|
|
Crimp & Cleave
connectors applicable |
|
|
|
Best suited for on-site
termination, which is performed within only a few minutes |
|
|
|
|
|
Strip the cord jacket. |
Squeeze the ferrule. |
Cleave the fiber. |
|
|
Lower attenuation even for cables for short/medium-distance |
|
In the case of H-PCF |
|
In the case of POF |
|
Silica glass core |
|
Plastic core |
|
|
|
|
Lower attenuation and
long-distance transmission
(approx. 1 km) possible, |
|
Higher attenuation
and long-distance transmission impossible |
|
offering highly reliable systems
with improved system
margins ensured |
|
(approx. several dozens
of meters) |
|