There are two main requirements for the use of optical fibres: Firstly, the transfer of data over great distances and secondly, the transfer of data in an environment with strong electromagnetic interference.
DATA TRANSFER IN A DIFFICULT EMC ENVIRONMENT
In industrial practice, data communication problems due to electromagnetic interference are not at all uncommon. The use of optical fibres puts a definitive, system-based end to these problems. In contrast to copper Ethernet cables, the fibre-optic technology allows for non-critical laying in the 230/380V cable conduit, additionally offering the option of extending the copper Ethernet cable’s maximum length of 100 m well into the kilometre range. A media converter with a fibre-optic port is required at both ends of these optical fibres, which connect the terminal device to the network via a short RJ45 cable while providing a reliable uplink to the higher-level network via the fibre-optic port to bypass inverters, drives and similar “jamming devices”.