Plastic optical fiber based components for LAN and data communication applications

The authors describe the design philosophy and performance of a newly developed low cost, robust, high-performance plastic-optical-fiber (POF)-based connection system designed for LAN (local area network) and data communication applications. System requirements, optical end finishing techniques, connection system components, termination procedure, and connector performance are discussed. This connection system will provide the benefits of fiber optics for short-distance applications at a cost significantly below what is available with glass fiber technology. The hot plate process and unique ferrule design result in a robust, high quality, repeatable optical finish that can be accomplished in either an automated fashion or with simple hand-held tools. As a result, POF has become a viable alternative to glass fiber for medium-distance data transmission and LAN applications