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Fiber Patch Cables

Author: the photonics expert Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta (RP)

Definition: a protected and connectorized fiber-optic cable

Alternative term: fiber-optic patch cords

More general term: fiber cables

Category: article belongs to category fiber optics and waveguides fiber optics and waveguides

DOI: 10.61835/az6 Cite the article: BibTex plain text HTML Link to this page LinkedIn

Fiber patch cables, also called fiber-optic patch cords, are cables typically containing one or two optical fibers, which are equipped with standardized fiber connectors on both ends. They are generally sold in large quantities, rather than custom-made, although quite special models are also available.

Typically, the used fiber cables have some additional mechanical protection for the fiber(s), e.g. some aramid yarns surrounded by a polymer jacket. The outer diameter is usually several millimeters, i.e., far more than the diameter of the contained fiber, which is e.g. 125 μm. There are also armored fiber cables containing stainless steel tubes.

Path cables are used in many applications:

Figure 1: A fiber connector at the end of a fiber patch cable. The photograph has been kindly provided by NKT Photonics.

They are convenient e.g. for connecting devices in the context of optical fiber communications including applications like cable TV (CATV) – mostly inside buildings, e.g. in fiber to the home installations.
They are used in computer networks (LANs = local area networks) with optical transmission for higher data rates (e.g. 10 Gbit/s).
They are also widely used in optical laboratories, e.g. for transmitting light from a fiber-coupled light source to a measurement setup, or from there to a spectrometer, and for fiber-optic sensor systems. Special versions are available for unusual wavelength regions, e.g. patch cords with mid-infrared fibers.
In homes, TOSLINK fiber cables can transport digital sound signals.

A typical length of a fiber patch cable is between 0.5 m and a few meters, but cables with dozens of meters or more are also available.

The actual fiber is usually a glass fiber and sometimes (e.g. for consumer-grade TOSLINK cables) a plastic optical fiber (polymer fiber).

MTP fiber patch cable — Figure 2: A fiber adapter cable with 24-fiber MTP connectors. Source: Sylex.

Fiber patch cables are available with a very wide range of fiber connectors; see the corresponding article for an overview on connector types. They can be different types of fiber connectors on the ends, e.g. LC on one end and ST on the other end. Versions for a large number of fibers are available, also versions with multiple fiber connectors on each end.

Although some fiber cables can carry extremely high optical powers (e.g. several kilowatts), patch cables are limited to much lower powers – typically a most a few watts, as is sufficient e.g. for telecom applications.

Patch cables can contain different types of optical fiber, e.g. single-mode or multimode telecom fibers – even various specialty fibers. The color of the cable often indicates the type of transmission medium – for example, yellow cables with blue connectors containing single-mode fibers, and orange or gray fibers with black connectors for multimode fibers. Some fiber cables are called “bend-insensitive”, which more precisely means that the used fibers have reduced bend losses for a given bend radius, and a reduced critical bend radius.

Duplex patch cables contain two fibers. Their connectors can have two fiber connections; alternatively, there can be two connectors on each side.

More to Learn

Encyclopedia articles:

Suppliers

The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 102 suppliers for fiber patch cables. Among them:

Le Verre Fluore

Any LVF fluoride passive fibers or fluoride active fibers can be wired.

Discover our range of fiber patch cables and their applications.

art photonics

Our fiber-optic patch cables are suited for remote sensing, illumination and radiation detection, process spectroscopy, low power laser delivery etc. The robust design of the cables secures long term use. We offer a variety of step-index and graded-index multimode and single-mode silica fiber-optic cables with standard SMA, FC/PC, FC/APC or ST connectors. Custom ferrules can also be implemented upon inquiry.

Fibercore

Fibercore has delivered over 40 years of innovation and excellence in developing and manufacturing speciality optical fiber. All of our fiber products have been developed with our customers in mind with market leading capabilities to produce an extensive range of fibers including;

We are continuously expanding our product ranges to cover wider and more demanding customer applications. So if you have a specific development project or require a custom fiber, we would like to discuss it further with you. We will work together with you to find the best solution.

Diamond SA

At our headquarters in Switzerland Diamond, we manufacture on 13,500 m² our fiber optic assemblies on a wide variety of fiber and cable. Depending on customer requirements, we manufacture and pre-assemble our products with different fiber and ferrule technologies. We have over 40 years experience in the field of fiber optic technology and offer both standard and custom connectors.

Schäfter + Kirchhoff

We offer single-mode, polarization-maintaining or multimode fiber cables. PCF fiber cables and special braodband RGB fibers are also available.

Guiding Photonics

Guiding Photonics produces multimode and single-mode fiber-optic patch cables for mid-infrared, high-power, and UV sources. The fibers can be packaged with SMA 905, FC/PC type connectors, or left bare.

TOPTICA Photonics

TOPTICA Photonics AG offers a wide range of optical fibers which are ideally suited for use with TOPTICAs lasers and FiberDock. These economically priced fibers cover a wide range of wavelengths. TOPTICA recommends to always purchase a fiber along with a laser and fiber coupler, as this ensures maximum fiber coupling efficiency. Also specialty fibers for power monitoring, beam splitting or combining are available with various ratios and also polarization maintaining.

AMS Technologies

AMS Technologies carries a broad portfolio of fiber patch cables, manufactured according to Telcordia GR-326-CORE, with a long list of different connectors, connector finishes, coatings and fibers:

standard single mode (SM), multi mode (MM) and polarization maintaining (PM) patch cables with FC, SC, ST, LC, MU, SMA905 as well as MTP and MPO or other types of fiber connectors
SM, MM and PM patch cables for high-power applications
fixed attenuating SM or MM fiber patch cables
hermetically sealable SM, MM and PM patch cables with glass or metal solder

Beyond standard fiber, our patch cables can also be manufactured using your custom fiber for special projects. And we are happy to provide you with an end-to-end patch cable solution manufactured exactly to your requirements and specifications.

GLOphotonics

The Hollow Core Photonic Crystal fiber patch cable for ultra-short pulse from UV to mid-infrared.

Friendly and standard connectors are available: FC, SMA, ST, LC, D80.

We can offer end-capping, post-processed termination, cell termination for gas handling, and water cooling.

Ideal for micromachining, bio-imaging, biomedical, surgery, microscopy, OCT, spectroscopy, nonlinear imaging, and sensing.

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