optical isolator

1. A device used in a high-speed, high-power fiber optic transmission system (FOTS)

to isolate erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), laser diode light sources and other devices.The optical isolators act as diodes, preventing signals from propagating in the upstream direction and confusing the downstream signal or device generating it. See also diode, EFDA, FOTS, and laser diode. 2. A device containing a short length of optical fiber and inserted into an electrified communications link to electrically isolate the attached devices from ground loops, power spikes, and surges. Such an optical isolator can act as a repeater, as well as a protector. See also link, optical fiber, protector, and repeater.

• Narrowband PCS (Narrowband Personal Communications Services or N-PCS)
• Narrowband TACS (NTACS)
• Narrowband Total Access Communications System (NTACS)
• narrowcast
• NAS
• NA-TDMA (North American Time Division Multiple Access)
• National Bureau of Standards (NBS)
• National Do-Not-Call Registry
• National Electrical Code (NEC)
• National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA)
• National Information Infrastructure (NII)
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• National Internet Registry (NIR)
• nationalize
• National Research and Education Network (NREN)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• National Television Standards Committee (NTSC)
• native
• NAT (Network Address Translation)
• natural monopoly
• NBS (National Bureau of Standards)
• NCC (Network Control Center)
• NCP
• NCSA Mosaic
• NCSA Mosaic