Fiber Optics For Broadband Networking Applications

ABSTRACT Computers have revolutionized the factory floor aswell as the office environment. As a result. there hasbeen a dramatic increase in the amount of information constantly exchanged between shop -floor computers that control and monitor plant equipment and among myriad office workers with individual desk -top computers. This widespread use of distributed processing has naturallyled to the need for reliable data communication links. A unique approach has been developed which permits the networking of broadband data over optical fiber. This Local Area Network is a broadband networkwhich utilizes analog techniques for communications.Analog methods allow for the use of multiple carrierfrequencies and thus multiple services. For example.multiple networks such as the Manufacturing Automation Protocol. Broadband Ethernet. and the PC Network cancoexist on the same optical fiber in addition to other broadband services such as video. 1. INTRODUCTION The development of the microprocessor has brought