Plastic optical fiber (POF) is by high-transparent polymer such as polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC) as the core material, PMMA, fluorine plastic, etc. as cortical material class of optical fiber. The type of material having different optical attenuation performance and temperature range of applications. The plastic optical fiber can not only be used to access network 100 to 1000 meters, can also be used for a variety of cars, aircraft, and other delivery vehicles, is excellent in the short-distance data transmission medium.
POF compared with quartz fiber has the following advantages: a low modulus, large core diameter (0.3-1.0mm), can use a simple continuation POF connector, it will not affect even the center of fiber optic splice the deviation of the alignment 30μmcoupling loss; Large numerical aperture (about NA0.5), the acceptance angle up to 60 °, only 16 ° quartz fiber available cheap LED and high coupling efficiency; deflection, ease of processing and use; low loss in the visible regionwindow; light weight; costs and low processing costs.
POF Network LAN system in comparison with other transmission medium, and also has obvious advantages: POF is not sensitive to electromagnetic interference radiation does not occur, the different attenuation constant data rate, bit error rate can predict in electrically noisy environment used; joint design tolerances control requirements can be reduced its size is longer, and therefore into a network and low cost.
The plastic optical fiber as the ideal short-range communication network transmission medium, has an important place in the family of intelligent, office automation, industrial networking, automotive airborne communications network, military communications network, data transmission.
Through the plastic optical fiber, we can realize intelligent home appliances, home PC, HDTV, telephone, digital imaging devices, home security equipment, air conditioning, refrigerator, sound system, kitchen appliances, etc.) networking, to home automation and remote control and management, improve living networking quality; through plastic optical fiber, we can achieve the office equipment, such as computer networking computer parallel processing, high-speed transmission of data between the office equipment can greatly improve work efficiency, and remote office.
At low speed LAN 100Mbps data rate is less than the transmission within 100 meters of with SI index plastic optical fiber to achieve; within 150Mbps50 meters transmission used a small numerical aperture of POF achieve.
Currently, POF is also available a wide range of applications in manufacturing industries. By converter, POF can connector with RS232, RS422, 100Mbps Ethernet, Token Ring and other standard protocols, resulting in harsh industrial manufacturing environments to provide a stable, reliable communication lines. Capable of high-speed transmission of industrial control signals and instructions, to avoid electromagnetic interference by using a metal cable lines lead to the risk of interruption of communication transmission.
POF light weight and durable, automotive machine communication network and control system can form a network, the micro-computer, satellite navigation equipment, mobile phones, fax and other peripherals into the overall design of the locomotive, visitors can also plastic optical fiber optical fiber network in the seatenjoy music, movies, video games, shopping, Internet and other services.
On Military Communications, POF is being developed for high-speed transmission of a large number of third, confidential information, such as the use of POF, light weight, good flexibility, quick connection, suitable for portable wear characteristics for the soldiers wearable light computer systems, and can be inserted into the communication network to download, store, send, receiver mission critical information, and displayed in the helmet display.
With the continuous advancement of POF manufacturing technology and raw materials preparation technology, the cost of production of POF will continue to decrease; see from the laser, the development of optoelectronic integrated devices, connectors, domestic and international technology has made rapid progress, with the there will be a sharp fall with the continuous expansion of production scale, it is believed that the cost of sending and receiving devices, POF access communication advantages.
Source: FiberStore