Fiber Patch Cables
Definition: a protected and connectorized fiber-optic cable
Alternative term: fiber-optic patch cords
More general term: fiber cables
German: Faser-Patchkabel
Category: fiber optics and waveguides
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Author: Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta
Fiber patch cables, also called fiber-optic patch cords, are cables typically containing one or two optical fibers, which are equipped with standardized fiber connectors on both ends. They are generally sold in large quantities, rather than custom-made, although quite special models are also available.
Typically, the used fiber cables have some additional mechanical protection for the fiber(s), e.g. some aramid yarns surrounded by a polymer jacket. The outer diameter is usually several millimeters, i.e., far more than the diameter of the contained fiber, which is e.g. 125 μm. There are also armored fiber cables containing stainless steel tubes.
Path cables are used in many applications:
- They are convenient e.g. for connecting devices in the context of optical fiber communications including applications like cable TV (CATV) – mostly inside buildings, e.g. in fiber to the home installations.
- They are used in computer networks (LANs = local area networks) with optical transmission for higher data rates (e.g. 10 Gbit/s).
- They are also widely used in optical laboratories, e.g. for transmitting light from a fiber-coupled light source to a measurement setup, or from there to a spectrometer, and for fiber-optic sensor systems. Special versions are available for unusual wavelength regions, e.g. patch cords with mid-infrared fibers.
- In homes, TOSLINK fiber cables can transport digital sound signals.
A typical length of a fiber patch cable is between 0.5 m and a few meters, but cables with dozens of meters or more are also available.
The actual fiber is usually a glass fiber and sometimes (e.g. for consumer-grade TOSLINK cables) a plastic optical fiber (polymer fiber).
Fiber patch cables are available with a very wide range of fiber connectors; see the corresponding article for an overview on connector types. They can be different types of fiber connectors on the ends, e.g. LC on one end and ST on the other end.
Although some fiber cables can carry extremely high optical powers (e.g. several kilowatts), patch cables are limited to much lower powers – typically a most a few watts, as is sufficient e.g. for telecom applications.
Patch cables can contain different types of optical fiber, e.g. single-mode or multimode telecom fibers – even various specialty fibers. The color of the cable often indicates the type of transmission medium – for example, yellow cables with blue connectors containing single-mode fibers, and orange or gray fibers with black connectors for multimode fibers. Some fiber cables are called “bend-insensitive”, which more precisely means that the used fibers have reduced bend losses for a given bend radius, and a reduced critical bend radius.
Duplex patch cables contain two fibers. Their connectors can have two fiber connections; alternatively, there can be two connectors on each side.
Suppliers
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 83 suppliers for fiber patch cables. Among them:
NKT Photonics
Our Crystal Fiber portfolio of specialty fibers spans from nonlinear fibers optimized for octave spanning supercontinuum generation, over the World’s largest single mode ytterbium gain fibers for high power lasers and amplifiers, to advanced hollow core fibers guiding the light in air. Our single-mode LMA fibers are available as patch cords with standard termination in our aeroGUIDE product range. Moreover, we offer the CONNECT broadband fiber delivery system, enabling easy and robust single mode coupling for fiber delivery at any wavelength – with the industry’s highest coupling efficiency.
Schäfter + Kirchhoff
We offer single-mode, polarization-maintaining or multimode fiber cables.
TOPTICA Photonics
TOPTICA Photonics AG offers a wide range of optical fibers which are ideally suited for use with TOPTICAs lasers and FiberDock. These economically priced fibers cover a wide range of wavelengths. TOPTICA recommends to always purchase a fiber along with a laser and fiber coupler, as this ensures maximum fiber coupling efficiency. Also specialty fibers for power monitoring, beam splitting or combining are available with various ratios and also polarization maintaining.
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See also: fiber connectors, fiber cables, fiber optics, fibers, telecom fibers
and other articles in the category fiber optics and waveguides
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