3. Introduction
Plastic optical fibers (POFs) are a low-cost solution for low-
speed, short-distance applications in digital car networks,
industrial networks, and home networks and appliances.
The plastic optical fiber is made out of a plastic such as
acrylic (PMMA) as the core material and fluorinated or
perfluorinated polymers as the cladding materials.
The working key principle is the total internal reflection at
the interface between the core and the cladding (having a
lower refractive index), which confines the propagating
light beam within the core.
7. Index profiles
PMMA Step Index
core = Constant
refractive index
PMMA Graded Index
Core = several layer of
material with different
refractive indexes
Perfluorinated Polymer
Graded index
Core = parabolic index
8. Overview - POF (PMMA and
perfluorinated)
Index profile Type of fiber Core Ø NA Attenuation Bandwidth
SI-POF (PMMA)
SI-POF low NA
980µm
980µm
0.5
0.3
180dB/km
~ 50 MHz . 100m
~ 100 MHz . 100m
DSI-POF 980µm 0.3 180dB/km ~ 100 MHz . 100m
GI-POF (PMMA)
980µm
500µm
0.2 200dB/km ~1.5 GHz . 100m
GI-POF (PF)
62.5/245
120/450
200/490
0.3 50dB/km ~ 3 GHz . 100m
9. Step Index polymer optical fiber (SI-
POF)
Core Ø : 980 μm
Cladding Ø : 1000 μm
Attenuation : 180 dB/km
Bandwidth : 10 MHz . 100m (100 MHz . 100m)
Wavelength : 650nm
Advantage : easy, fast and inexpensive connection technology
commercially available (Mitsubishi, Toray , Fuji,
Optimedia)
Disadvantage: high attenuation, low bandwidth
10. Attenuation spectra of PMMA fiber
Light
Wavelength
(Nm)
Attenuation
(dB/km)
red 650 180
amber 570 66
green 520 73
11. Core Ø : 900 μm
Cladding Ø : 1000 μm
Attenuation : 180 dB/km
Bandwidth : 100 MHz . km
Wavelength : 650nm
Cable : tight buffer
Advantage : easy, fast and inexpensive connection technology
commercially available (Mitsubishi, Fuji, Optimedia)
Disadvantage : high attenuation
Multistep Index Plastic Optical Fiber
(GI-POF)
12. Core Ø : 120 μm
Cladding Ø : 500 μm
Attenuation : 50 dB/km
Bandwidth : 1000 MHz*km
Wavelength : 1330nm
Cable : loose buffer (extra strength members)
Advantage : low attenuation, high bandwidth
Disadvantage : termination, expensive, similar to GOF
commercially not available (Asahi, Nexans, Chromis)
Graded Index Plastic Optical Fiber (GI-
POF)
13. Attenuation spectra of per fluorinated POF
Light
Wavelength
(Nm)
Attenuation
(dB/km)
infrared 850 20
1300 50
14. Plastic optical fiber
IEC 60793-2-4 – Specification for category A4 multimode fiber
A4a A4b A4c A4d A4e A4f A4g A4h
Core Ø (µm) * * * * 500 200 120 62.5
Cladd Ø (µm) 1000 750 500 1000 750 490 490 245
NA 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.30 0.25 0.19 0.19 0.19
Buffered yes yes yes yes no no no no
cabled yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Operating
wavelength (nm)
650 650 650 650 650 650, 850, 1300 650, 850, 1300 850, 1300
* Typically 15 to 35 µm smaller than the cladding diameter
15. Simplex and Duplex cables (PMMA fiber)
Tight Buffer
Tightly buffered with a thermoplastic
material.
PMMA POF - Step Index, Multistep, Graded
Index
Tight buffer
Cladding
Core
Tight buffer
Cladding
Core
16. Duplex cables (per fluorinated fiber)
lose buffer
Cladding
Core
Outer sheath
Strength member
Single loose tube
Loose sheath with air cap (µm up to
mm). Dry – no gel
Perfluorinated POF
Graded Index
17. Cable for harsh environment (PMMA fibers)
Tight buffer
Cladding
Core
Outer sheath
Strength
member
Filling element Tight Buffer
Tightly buffered with a thermoplastic
material.
PMMA POF - Step Index, Multistep, Graded
Index
Outer sheath and strength members
e.g. PUR outer sheath and aramid yarns for
drag chain and harsh industrial
environments
19. REFERENCE
United States Patent
PLASTIC OPTICAL CABLE
Tatsukami et al. ,
POLYMERIC OPTICAL CONDUCTOR
Beuth et al. , United States Patent
OPTICAL TRANSMISSION FIBER
Yamamoto et al. , United States Patent
