What is a Fiber-Optic Module?

What is a Fiber-Optic Module?

Optical fiber modules are components used to connect optical fiber cables to electronic devices.  Optical fiber modules have many different parts, and different modules are designed to different specifications.  Each part of the module is connected to a board that can be installed as a unit of electronic equipment.  

The basic components of a fiber optic module include a transceiver, a position for connecting a fiber optic cable to the module, and a position for connecting the module to the electronic equipment on which it is installed.  The basic input/output system (BIOS) is a small computer chip that comes standard with fiber optic modules.  The BIOS allows a module to recognize its components and transfer information back and forth between the module and the electronics.  

The components of the fiber-optic module sit on a board that is relatively small and easy to install by a computer engineer in most electronics designed for personal use.  More complex electronic devices with many fiber optic connections may require larger, more complex fiber optic modules to allow them to connect many different fiber optic cables simultaneously.  Some modules also have active lights that show the system owner when the module is active and what it is doing.  This is a useful tool for monitoring the performance of fiber modules.  
Different types of optical fiber modules are connected to electronic devices in different ways.  The module can be inserted into the board or welded to the light of the board.  The connection between the fiber optic module and the fiber optic cable can also come in many different shapes, depending on the specification of the cable end plug.