The document provides an overview of an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) in 29 sections. It describes how an OTDR works by transmitting light pulses into fiber optic cables and measuring the backscatter and reflections to characterize the cable and detect any defects. Reflection is key to identifying events like connectors, splices and breaks. The document also covers factors that affect OTDR traces and provides examples of traces for different cable features.
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Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The document provides an overview of an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) in 29 sections. It describes how an OTDR works by transmitting light pulses into fiber optic cables and measuring the backscatter and reflections to characterize the cable and detect any defects. Reflection is key to identifying events like connectors, splices and breaks. The document also covers factors that affect OTDR traces and provides examples of traces for different cable features.
The document provides an overview of an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) in 29 sections. It describes how an OTDR works by transmitting light pulses into fiber optic cables and measuring the backscatter and reflections to characterize the cable and detect any defects. Reflection is key to identifying events like connectors, splices and breaks. The document also covers factors that affect OTDR traces and provides examples of traces for different cable features.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The document provides an overview of an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) in 29 sections. It describes how an OTDR works by transmitting light pulses into fiber optic cables and measuring the backscatter and reflections to characterize the cable and detect any defects. Reflection is key to identifying events like connectors, splices and breaks. The document also covers factors that affect OTDR traces and provides examples of traces for different cable features.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
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OPTICAL TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETER
Lt Cdr Harshavardhan 2011 CRF 3631
CONTENT Basic Introduction Reflection is the key Block diagram Evaluation of few traces Factors affecting OTDR trace Cost analysis
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Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)
A device for characterizing a fiber optic cable
An optical pulse is transmitted through the fiber and the resulting backscatter and reflections to the input are measured as a function of time Useful in estimating attenuation as a function of distance Identifying defects and other localized losses
Check the quality of fiber optic links by measuring backscatter
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Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
FRESNELS REFLECTION Light moves from a medium of a refractive index (n1 )into a second medium with refractive index (n2) Both reflection and refraction of the light may occur. The Fresnel equations describe what fraction of the light is reflected and what fraction is refracted
Source-wikipedia
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n1 sin1 n2 sin2
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
RAYLEIGH BACKSCATTERING Result of the elastic collisions between the light wave and the silica molecules in the fiber. Accounts for about 96 percent of attenuation in optical fiber Light scattered in all directions after interaction with silica
some portion of the light propagates forward
deviates out of the propagation path and escapes from the fiber core reflected back toward the light source
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Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
REFLECTION IS THE KEY
Rayleigh backscattering used to calculate the level of attenuation in the fiber as a function of distance Expressed in dB/km shown by a straight slope in an OTDR trace Higher wavelengths are less attenuated than shorter ones and thus require less power to travel over the same distance in a standard fiber
Fresnels reflection detects physical events along the link. When the light hits an abrupt change in index of refraction (e.g., from glass to air) a higher amount of light is reflected back, creating Fresnel reflection thousands of times bigger than the Rayleigh backscattering. Fresnel reflection is identifiable by the spikes in an OTDR trace Reflections from connectors, mechanical splices, fiber breaks
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Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
HOW OTDR WORKS
An OTDR calculates the distances to Events by measuring the time elapsed between transmission of the light and reception of the reflection The rising edge of the reflection of the front panel connector and the reflection from a connector/splice/cracks
The distance and the time measured depends upon the the refractive index of the fiber
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Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
BLOCK DIAGRAM
Adapted from http://www.EXFO.com/application note 194
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Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
EVENTS Anything that causes loss or reflections other than normal scattering of the fiber material
Applies to all kind of connectors as well as damages such as bendings, cracks or breaks. The vertical axis is the power axis and the horizontal one is the distance axis
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
BEGINNING OF A FIBER For a normal straight connector, the beginning of a fiber always shows a strong reflection at the front connector
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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FIBER END A strong reflection at the end of the fiber before the trace drops down to noise level
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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FIBER BREAK If the fiber is interrupted or broken, this is called a break Breaks are non-reflective Events. The trace drops down to noise level
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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CONNECTOR OR MECHANICAL SPLICE
Connectors within a link cause both reflection and loss
A mechanical splice has a similar signature to a connector. Usually it has lower loss and reflection values
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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FUSION SPLICE A fusion splice is a non-reflective Event, only loss can be detected. Modern fusion splices are so good, they may be nearly invisible
In the case of a bad splice, we may see some reflection
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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CRACKS A crack refers to as a partially damaged fiber that causes reflection and loss
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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PATCHCORDS Patch cords are used to connect the OTDR to the fiber under test
The initial reflection is not covering the beginning of the fiber
This allows better examination of the first connector
Source- OTDR pocket book by Agilent Technologies
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FACTORS AFFECTING OTDR TRACE
Dead zone Pulse width Dynamic range
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DEAD ZONE The time during which the detector is temporary blinded by a high amount of reflected light, until it recovers and can read light again Assume yourself driving on a highway during night
More reflection causes the detector to take more time to recover, resulting in a longer dead zone Determines how close together two events can be measured Dead zone increases as the pulse width increases
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PULSE WIDTH The time during which the laser is ON The shorter the pulse, the less energy it carries and the shorter the distance it travels due to the loss along the link (i.e., attenuation, connectors, splices, etc.). A long pulse carries much more energy for use in extremely long fibers
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NOISY TRACE Increased averaging time Results in a considerable improvement in SNR, while maintaining the good resolution of the short pulse. does not improve SNR indefinitely.
Longer Pulse width
Use the next available higher pulse (more energy). Dead zones extend along with the pulse width
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DYNAMIC RANGE Maximum optical loss an OTDR can be analyzed from the backscattering level down to a specific noise level.
It is the maximum length of fiber that the longest pulse can reach Bigger the dynamic range (in dB), the longer the distance reached. Typical values 20-50 dB Directly related to pulse width Specified for the longest pulse width at a three-minute averaging time with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) = 1 Improved by using longer pulse width and decreasing noise through averaging 7 September 2013 Optical Time Domain Reflectometer 21
COST ANALYSIS M/s Fluke OTDRs
Measurement Type Multimode OTDR Model OF-500-M Cost $9,265.00
Singlemode OTDR
OF-500-S
$10,295.00
Multimode plus Single Mode OTDR
OF-500-MS
$14,415.00
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THANK YOU
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REFERENCES http://www.EXFO.com/application note 194 by Jimmy Gagnon, Product Specialist, Optical Business Unit OTDR pocket guide Agilent Technologies Wikipedia
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TYPES OF FO CABLES Single-mode fibers used to transmit one signal per fiber. They have small cores(9 microns in diameter) and transmit infra-red light from laser. Multi-mode fibers used to transmit many signals per fiber (used in computer networks). They have larger cores(62.5 microns in diameter) and transmit infra-red light from LED.
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FO CABLE Core thin glass center of the fiber where light travels. Cladding outer optical material surrounding the core Buffer Coating plastic coating that protects the fiber.
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TYPES OF CONNECTOR TYPE FULL NAME COUPLING TYPE Snap (duplex) SIZE USE
MT-RJ
Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack / Media Termination recommended jack
Subscriber Connector / Square connector / Standard Connector
The Index of Refraction is a way of measuring the speed of light in a material. Light travels fastest in a vacuum. Index of Refraction is calculated by dividing the speed of light in a vacuum by the speed of light in some other medium (such as glass in the case of fiber optics!).
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OTDR SETUP IOR
Each different optical glass fiber has a different refractive index profile consistent with its type and manufacture process. Typical G.652.B singlemode fiber from Draka has an index number of 1.467 @ 1310nm and 1.468 @ 1550nm The longer the wavelength, the faster the light travels through the core. The user must set the OTDR to the proper GIR (Group Index of Refraction). If the GIR is not set to the proper number, the OTDR may overestimate or underestimate linear cable footage.
