What is Fiber Patch Cord？

Fiber patch cord (also known as a fiber optic patch cable or fiber optic jumper) is a length of fiber optic cable with connectors on both ends, used to connect different optical devices in a fiber optic network. These cables are typically used for linking components such as routers, switches, servers, optical transceivers, and other networking equipment, ensuring the transfer of data through light signals.



Fiber patch cord are made up of:

Core: The central part of the cable that carries the light signal, typically made from glass or plastic fibers.

Cladding: Surrounds the core and helps to reflect light back into the core.

Jacket: The outer protective layer, which shields the internal components from physical damage and environmental factors.

Types of Fiber Patch Cords:

Single-mode Fiber (SM):

Designed for long-distance communication (up to several kilometers or more).

Has a small core (around 8 to 10 microns) that carries a single ray of light.

Typically used for high-bandwidth applications, like telecommunication and internet backbones.

Multi-mode Fiber (MM):

Used for shorter distances, typically within buildings or local networks.

Has a larger core (50 or 62.5 microns) that allows multiple light rays to propagate.

Common in data centers or local area networks (LAN).

Connectors:

Fiber patch cords come with various types of connectors on the ends, such as:

LC (Lucent Connector)

SC (Subscriber Connector)

ST (Straight Tip)

FC (Ferrule Connector)

E2000

MTP/MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On/Pull-Off), for high-density connections.

These patch cords play a crucial role in the efficient performance of fiber optic networks by providing flexibility and ease of connection and disconnection. They can be used for routing fiber signals, testing equipment, or connecting fiber networks to devices.

Applications

Telecommunications: In telephone networks, fiber patch cords are used to connect different components in central offices. For example, they connect optical line terminals (OLTs) to distribution frames. In mobile networks, they are used to link base station equipment such as radio remote units (RRUs) and baseband units (BBUs) to ensure efficient transmission of mobile signals.

Data Centers: Data centers use a vast number of fiber patch cords to connect servers, storage arrays, and networking equipment. They enable high - speed data transfer between different racks and within the server cabinets. The use of fiber patch cords helps in creating a high - bandwidth and low - latency network infrastructure that is essential for modern data - intensive applications like cloud computing and big data analytics.

Local Area Networks (LANs): In corporate offices and campus networks, fiber patch cords are used to connect switches, routers, and access points. They provide a reliable and high - speed connection for wired Ethernet networks, especially when longer cable runs are required or when a more robust connection than copper cables is needed.