How do I draw fiber-optic lines in a schematic?

[Joerg]

Hello Folks,

Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
for the parts but:

What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?

 

[Ken S. Tucker]

Hello Folks,

Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
for the parts but:

What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?

Purple with white dots.
Ken

 

[Joerg]

I'm not sure there is a convention, but I've use a line with two adjacent
ohs "OO" on top of the line and terminate with some sort of arrow to
indicate its direction. This will obviously be some sort of graphics as
opposed to an actual net.

________ OO__> (imagine that the line is continuous underneath the two
ohs and that the arrow is centered on the line end)

Yes, that would be an option. Just wondering whether there are some
unspoken rules about this.

 

[Joerg]

Purple with white dots.

))

Only got pink. No seriously, it'll have to print monochrome.

 

[[email protected]]

Hello Folks,

Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
for the parts but:

What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?

google says: TIA-587, but it cost money to see what it is

-Lasse

 

[Joerg]

How about regular lines, but with little lambdas alongside?

Or dotted/dashed lines? With an appropriate note somewhere.

Well, yes, I can do all those. But I don't know what's customary in the
trade since I haven't done many FO projects until it all started last year.

And Lasse, thanks but I won't buy a freaking expensive standard printed
in umpteen languages just to find out ;-)

 

[[email protected]]

Well, yes, I can do all those. But I don't know what's customary in the
trade since I haven't done many FO projects until it all started last year.

And Lasse, thanks but I won't buy a freaking expensive standard printed
in umpteen languages just to find out ;-)

I wouldn't either

when I get to work I have access to a university internet connecting
they might have a subscription so I can check it out

you could try a university library

-Lasse

 

[Martin Riddle]

| Hello Folks,
|
| Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
| within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
| the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
| respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
| for the parts but:
|
| What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
| Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?
|
| --
| Regards, Joerg
|
| http://www.analogconsultants.com/
|
| "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
| Use another domain or send PM.

I would use what Aligent (HP) use on their transmitters/receivers application notes or spec sheets.

Cheers

 

[Joerg]

I wouldn't either

when I get to work I have access to a university internet connecting
they might have a subscription so I can check it out

Thanks, but only if it's quick and easy to find out.

you could try a university library

Well, the next one is almost an hour drive away and I don't have access
there. Ordering via our local library would take a long time if they do
standards at all (I doubt they would).

 

[Joerg]

| Hello Folks,
|
| Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
| within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
| the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
| respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
| for the parts but:
|
| What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
| Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?
|
| --
| Regards, Joerg
|
| http://www.analogconsultants.com/
|
| "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
| Use another domain or send PM.

I would use what Aligent (HP) use on their transmitters/receivers application notes or spec sheets.

So far I've only seen short pieces in "tube style" there, but no stuff
integrated in circuits. This board will have FO lines that are
functionally integrated. At least the real estate of a family-sized pizza.

 

[Martin Riddle]

| Martin Riddle wrote:
| > | Hello Folks,
| > |
| > | Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
| > | within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
| > | the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
| > | respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
| > | for the parts but:
| > |
| > | What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
| > | Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?
| > |
| > | --
| > | Regards, Joerg
| > |
| > | http://www.analogconsultants.com/
| > |
| > | "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
| > | Use another domain or send PM.
| >
| > I would use what Aligent (HP) use on their transmitters/receivers application notes or spec sheets.
| >
|
| So far I've only seen short pieces in "tube style" there, but no stuff
| integrated in circuits. This board will have FO lines that are
| functionally integrated. At least the real estate of a family-sized pizza.
|
| --
| Regards, Joerg
|

The circle with arrows seems to be in an IEC standard. IEC117
http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14191/css/14191_104.htm

Of course you need to buy the standard to find out.

Cheers

 

[Archimedes' Lever]

| Hello Folks,
|
| Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
| within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
| the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
| respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
| for the parts but:
|
| What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
| Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?
|
| --
| Regards, Joerg
|
| http://www.analogconsultants.com/
|
| "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
| Use another domain or send PM.

I would use what Aligent (HP) use on their transmitters/receivers application notes or spec sheets.

Cheers

Yes, they are quite proliferant with optical links in their gear.

GE FANUC too.

 

[Ken S. Tucker]

))

Only got pink. No seriously, it'll have to print monochrome.

=======~~=======
--------~----------~--------

Ken

 

[Glen Walpert]

So far I've only seen short pieces in "tube style" there, but no stuff
integrated in circuits. This board will have FO lines that are
functionally integrated. At least the real estate of a family-sized pizza.

For another reference point, the OSA Handbook of Optics uses both
single and double lines, clearly labeled "fiber" but with no other
symbol. ISTR that most of the papers I have seen in the SPIE Journals
do the same. IMO it does not matter as long as the difference between
wires, busses and fiber is clearly differentiated and your customer
likes it.

 

[Joerg]

For another reference point, the OSA Handbook of Optics uses both
single and double lines, clearly labeled "fiber" but with no other
symbol. ISTR that most of the papers I have seen in the SPIE Journals
do the same. IMO it does not matter as long as the difference between
wires, busses and fiber is clearly differentiated and your customer
likes it.

Ok, thanks, if SPIE endorses something then that ought to do. At least I
am not going to plunk down some exorbitant sum of money to a standards
body just to have a look.

 

[qrk]

Hello Folks,

Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
for the parts but:

What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?

From IEEE315-1975
http://qrkwiggles.googlepages.com/fibreoptic.gif

 

[Joerg]

From IEEE315-1975
http://qrkwiggles.googlepages.com/fibreoptic.gif

Thanks, Mark! I guess that settles it then. Gotta make a double-arrow
symbol now but with Cadsoft Eagle graphics stuff is fairly easy. One
just has to plug the ears when the ERC horn blares (it doesn't like
lines going through parts). Or I'll try a bitmap import.

 

[Eeyore]

Hello Folks,

Got a design coming up where there will be lots of fiber-optic parts
within the electronics. Has to be that way because it's fast stuff and
the only way for others to understand is if I draw the FO lines and the
respective parts into the schematic. No problem to generate nice models
for the parts but:

What is the standard or custom for FO lines from one part to another?
Use fat rounded bus lines? Some kind of "hollow" traces?

Since it's functionally a connection I see no special need to make it any
different to a wire (or bus come to that).

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

From IEEE315-1975
http://qrkwiggles.googlepages.com/fibreoptic.gif

Looks good !

Graham

 

[Joerg]

Since it's functionally a connection I see no special need to make it any
different to a wire (or bus come to that).

It has to be different, it's not a trace. Understanding a large
complicated signal maze is tough if you can't instantly see what's an
electrical path and what is fiber-optic.