What Is Fiber Optic Patch Cord?
Introduction
Fiber optic patch cord is also known as fiber optic jumper or fiber optic patch cable. It’s made of two parts: optical connector and fiber optic cable. Inside of the fiber optic patch cord, there is a core with a high refractive index surrounded by a coating with a low refractive index. Due to the transparency of the core and coating’s low refractive index, optic signals could transmit with little loss over long distances. Outside of the coating, there is a protective jacket which could protect the core and coating.
Classification
Fiber optic patch cord could be classified into various types by different standards.
- By Fiber Optic Connector Structure
Categories classified under this situation are very abundant. And they are LC, SC, FC, ST, E2000, MU, MTRJ, MPO, ESCON Fiber Optic Patch Cord. Here we just briefly introduce LC Fiber Optic Patch Cord.
LC is the short form of Lucent Connector. LC fiber patch cord connector is a push and latch structure, with plastic housing and accurate 1.25mm ceramic ferrule. LC type is a popular kind of small form fiber optic patch cord which reduce the space and it is widely used for densely installation.
- By Transmission Media
According to transmission media, usually fiber optic patch cords include two types: single mode optic patch cords and multi-mode optic patch cords.
Single mode optic patch cords have a narrow core and only carries one single mode of light. Single mode optic patch cords are often used in network connections over long distances. Multi-mode optic patch cords have a much wider core and can carry multiple signal modes of lights. Thus it causes modal distortion. So the transmission distance is limited when using multi-mode optic patch cords.
- By Fiber Core
According to the fiber core, it can be divided into simplex fiber optic patch cord and duplex fiber optic patch cord.
Simplex fiber optic patch cord consists of a single fiber, and is most often used in applications that only require one way transfer. Simplex fiber optic patch cord is available in single mode and multi-mode. Duplex fiber optic patch cord consists of two fibers, and the construction style usually is in a zip cord. This cable is often used in applications that require simultaneous, bi-directional data transfer for duplex communication.
Features
Fiber optic patch cord has low insertion loss and high return loss. It’s quite adaptable to the environment. And the operating temperature covers from -20 degree centigrade to 75 degree centigrade. Besides, it has high durability with more than 500 times mating.
Applications
Fiber optic p atch cord is commonly applied in fiber optic network. Patch cables are used to connect CATV, telecommunication networks, computer fiber networks and fiber test equipment. And applications include FTTH (Fiber to the Home), premise installations, data processing networks, WANs (Wide Area Networks), LAN (Local Area Network), fiber optic communication system, optical fiber connected and transmitted equipment, defense combat readiness, etc.