optical budget

The optical budget is the totality of all factors affecting the light output on an optical transmission link. The light signal fed into an optical fiber is subject to light level amplifying and attenuating factors on the optical transmission path.

The total budget must be calculated in such a way that the amplifying factors, i.e. the level increase caused by optical amplifiers, at the end of the transmission link are in any case greater than the level attenuating factors caused by the attenuation of the optical fiber, splices, connectors and passive optical components.

Determining the attenuation budget using the example of an optical link

The optical budget is therefore the level consideration of an optical link, starting with the input level of the optical source, laser or light emitting diode, through the attenuation values of the optical fiber, taking into account the length, the attenuation values of the connection components, the level increase by amplifiers and the sensitivity of the optical receiver.

This budget is an indispensable consideration for error-free data transmission.