Detailed explanation of fiber optic patch cord structure and classification

Optical fiber patch cord (also known as optical fiber connector) means the connector plug on both ends of optical cable to realize optical active connection; a plug at one end is called tail fiber. Fiber patch cord is similar to a coaxial cable, but there is no mesh shielding layer. The center is a light-propagating glass core. It is mainly used to realize the non-permanent fixed connection between equipment, equipment and instrument, equipment and optical fiber and between optical fiber in the system. It is an indispensable passive device in optical fiber communication system.

Internet information rapid development of the present, optical fiber due to the high rate, fast speed has been widely used, the fiber patch cord as important devices used to realize the activity of the connection, has been a data center, optical fiber to the home, local area network, from the fiber patch cord since universal, most people for the basic knowledge of optical fiber patch cord there are a lot of questions and problems, the next from fiber patch cord structure, classification, characteristics, application, etc.

Structure of the optical fiber patch cord

In the multi-mode optical fiber, the diameter of the core is 50 μ m~65 μ m, which is roughly equivalent to the thickness of a human hair. However, the diameter of the single-mode optical fiber core is 8 μ m~10 μ m. The core is surrounded by a glass envelope with a lower refractive index than the core to keep the fiber inside the core. On the outside is a thin plastic coat used to protect the cover.

Classification of optical fiber patch cords

Fiber patch cord can be divided into the common "single-mode fiber patch cord" and "multimode fiber patch cord" according to the different transmission media.

Single mode fiber (Single-mode Fiber): general fiber patch cord is shown in yellow, connector and protective sleeve are blue; long transmission distance.

Multimode fiber (Multi-mode Fiber): General fiber patch cords are shown in orange, some in gray, connector and protection are beige or black; short transmission distance.

According to the different connector structure, it can be divided into: FC fiber patch cord, SC fiber patch cord, ST fiber patch cord, LC fiber patch cord, MTRJ fiber patch cord, MPO fiber patch cord, MU fiber patch cord, SMA fiber patch cord, FDDI fiber patch cord, E2000 fiber patch cord, DIN 4 fiber patch cord, D4 fiber patch cord and other forms. The more common optical fiber patch cords can also be divided into FC-FC, FC-SC, FC-LC, FC-ST, SC-SC, SC-ST, etc.....

① FC type fiber patch cord: external reinforcement mode is metal sleeve, fastening mode is screw buckle. Generally used on the ODF side (the most used on the distribution frame)

② SC fiber patch cord: the connector connected to the GBIC optical module, its shell is rectangular, fastened with plug and plug latch without rotation.(Most used on a router switch)

③ ST type fiber patch cord: commonly used in fiber distribution frame, shell is round, fastening way is screw buckle.(For the 10Base-F connections, the connector is usually of the ST type. Often used in optical fiber distribution frame)

④ LC fiber patch cord: connector to SFP module with convenient modular jack (RJ) latch mechanism.(Common to routers)