The Internet of Things requires lightning-fast connections, and electrical engineers at the University of California, San Diego are finding new ways to speed up and strengthen signals sent through fiber optic cables.
Fiber optic cables send information across multiple channels. If too much is sent over a long distance at high speeds, the signal distorts. Researchers have been working on how to de-scramble that information, especially since this could effect not only IoT but the internet in general. The UC San Diego team developed a “frequency comb,” an electronic filter that predicts and reverses physical distortions that would otherwise affect the signal. It allows them to send clear data over 7,000 miles of cable, breaking traditional capacity limits 20 times over.
Engineers have increased fiber optic capacity nearly 20 times
With the amount of internet-connected devices increasing every day, the need for better, faster Internet is considerable. This breakthrough could potentially increase the strength of the fiber optic cables that connect the world See also: How one Boston company wants to revolutionize lithium-ion batteries …
Filed Under: Cables + cable management, Materials • advanced