Optical Communications Multiple Choice Questions on “Fiber Connectors”.
1. Demountable fiber connectors are more difficult to achieve than optical fiber splices.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: Fiber connectors must maintain tolerance requirements similar to splices in order to couple light efficiently between the fibers. Also, fiber connectors must accomplish this in a removable fashion. The connector design must allow repeated connection and disconnection without any problems of fiber alignment.
2. What is the use of an index-matching material in the connector between the two jointed fibers?
a) To decrease the light transmission through the connection
b) To increase the light transmission through the connection
c) To induce losses in the fiber
d) To make a fiber dispersive
Answer: b
Explanation: The index-matching material used might be epoxy resin. It increases the light transmission through the connection while keeping dust and dirt from between the fibers. It also provides optimum optical coupling.
3. How many categories of fiber connectors exist?
a) One
b) Three
c) Two
d) Four
Answer: c
Explanation: Fiber connectors are separated into two broad categories. They are butt-jointed connectors and expanded beam connectors. Butt-jointed connectors rely upon alignment of the two fiber ends butted to each other whereas expanded beam connectors uses interposed optics at the joint.
4. The basic ferrule connector is also called as _____________
a) Groove connector
b) Beam connector
c) Multimode connector
d) Concentric sleeve connector
Answer: d
Explanation: The basic ferrule connector is the simplest connector. The ferrules are placed in an alignment sleeve within the connector. The alignment sleeve is concentric which allows the fiber ends to be butt-jointed.
5. What is the use of watch jewel in cylindrical ferrule connector?
a) To obtain the diameter and tolerance requirements of the ferrule
b) For polishing purposes
c) Cleaving the fiber
d) To disperse a fiber
Answer: a
Explanation: Ferrule connectors have a watch jewel in the ferrule end face. It is used instead of drilling of the metallic ferrule end face which takes time. It is used to obtain close diameter and tolerance requirements of the ferrule end face whole easily.
6. The concentricity errors between the fiber core and the outside diameter of the jeweled ferrule are in the range of ___________ with multimode step-index fibers.
a) 1 to 3μm
b) 2 to 6μm
c) 7 to 10μm
d) 12 to 20μm
Answer: b
Explanation: The fiber alignment accuracy of the basic ferrule connector is dependent on the ferrule hole into which the fiber is inserted. The concentricity errors in the range of 2 to 6μm gives insertion losses in the range 1 to 2dB with multimode step index fibers.
7. The typical average losses for multimode graded index fiber and single mode fiber with the precision ceramic ferrule connector are _____________ respectively.
a) 0.3 and 0.5 dB
b) 0.2 and 0.3 dB
c) 0.1 and 0.2 dB
d) 0.4 and 0.7 dB
Answer: b
Explanation: Unlike metal and plastic components, the ceramic ferrule material is harder than the optical fiber. Thus, it is unaffected by grinding and polishing process. This factor enables to provide the low-loss connectors which have low losses as low as 0.2 and 0.3 dB in case of optical fibers.
8. Bi-conical ferrule connectors are less advantageous than cylindrical ferrule connectors.
a) FalseStat
b) True
Answer: a
Explanation: Cylindrical and bi-conical ferrule connectors are assembled in housings to form a multi-fiber configuration. The force needed to insert multiple cylindrical ferrules can be large when multiple ferrules are involved. The multiple bi-conical ferrule connectors are more advantageous as they require less insertion force.
9. In connectors, the fiber ends are separated by some gap. This gap ranges from ____________
a) 0.040 to 0.045 mm
b) 0.025 to 0.10 mm
c) 0.12 to 0.16 mm
d) 0.030 to 0.2mm
Answer: b
Explanation: In connectors, gaps are introduced to prevent them from rubbing against each other and becoming damaged during connector fixing/engagement. The gap ranges from 0.025 to 0.10 mm so as to reduce the losses below 8dB for a particular diameter fiber say 50μm.
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