Connector types

These elements are responsible for connecting the fiber lines to an element, whether it be a transmitter or a receiver. The types of connectors available are very varied, among which we can find the following:

• FC, which is used in data transmission and telecommunications.
• FDDI, is used for fiber optic networks.
• LC and MT-Array that are used in high data density transmissions.
• SC and SC-Duplex are used for data transmission.
• ST or BFOC is used in building networks and security systems.

• Light beam emitters: These devices are responsible for converting the electrical signal into a light signal, emitting the light beam that allows data transmission, these emitters can be of two types:

1. LEDs. They use a current of 50 to 100  mA , its speed is slow, it can only be used in multimode fibers, but its use is easy and its life time is very long, in addition to being economical.
2. Lasers. This type of emitter uses a current of 5 to 40  mA , they are very fast, it can be used with both types of fiber, singlemode and multimode, but on the contrary its use is difficult, its life time is long but less than of ledes and are also much more expensive.

• Electric light-current converters. This type of device converts light signals from fiber optics into electrical signals. They are limited to obtaining a current from the incident modulated light, this current is proportional to the received power, and therefore, to the waveform of the modulating signal.

It is based on the opposite phenomenon to recombination, that is, on the generation of electron-hole pairs from photons. The simplest type of detector corresponds to a PN semiconductor junction. The conditions that a photodetector must fulfill for its use in the field of communications are the following:

1. The reverse current (in the absence of light) must be very small, in order to detect very weak optical signals (high sensitivity).
2. Quick response (high bandwidth).
3. The noise level generated by the device itself must be minimal.

• There are two types of detectors: PIN photodiodes and APD avalanche detectors.

1. PIN detectors: Its name comes from the fact that they are made up of a PN junction and a new zone of intrinsic material (I) is inserted between that junction, which improves the efficiency of the detector. It is mainly used in systems that allow easy discrimination between possible light levels and over short distances.
2. APD Detectors: Avalanche photodiodes are photodetectors that show, by applying a high voltage in reverse, an internal effect of current gain (approximately 100), due to impact ionization (avalanche effect). The mechanism of these detectors is to launch an electron at high speed (with enough energy), against an atom so that it is capable of pulling off another electron fiber optics engineering jobs.

• These detectors can be classified into three types:

1. Silicon: they have a low noise level and a performance of up to 90% working in the first window. They require high supply voltage (200-300  V ).
2. Germanium: suitable for working with wavelengths between 1000 and 1300 nm and with a performance of 70%.