subject: How Useful is the Toslink? [print this page] How Useful is the Toslink? How Useful is the Toslink?
Has anybody heard of the term Toslink? Do you know what it exactly means, and how it works? In these fast-paced times where high-tech fiber connection systems are the norm, Toslink is a very useful and relevant device. Here are a few interesting facts about the Toshiba Link. .
The Toshiba Link
The Toshiba Link, or TOSLINK, is actually a high-fiber connection system that was initially developed by Japanese technology company Toshiba for use in its CD players. This technology soon however became the benchmark for other CD player manufacturers as well. Today, the Toslink system or technology is used in a wide array of industries, from car audio and navigation systems, office automation, factory automation systems and more.
What are the Main Components of the Toslink?
The Toshiba Link is basically a data-transmission system which makes full use of optical signals, instead of electrical signals, and it is a much reliable system as compared to electrical data transmissions. This system is well-liked because it does not give out any unsavory sound or noise. The system consists of the following components: transmission module, receiving module, optical fiber cable and optical connectors. The transmission module's task is to change electrical signals into optical signals, while the receiving module reverts the optical signals back to electrical. The optical fiber on the other hand, works as the physical transmission line, and the optical connectors bridge the transmission and receiving modules tot he optical fiber cable.
Great for Use with Audio Equipments
The Toslink is a piece of equipment that's also commonly used for audio equipment, and this audio cable variant can fully support different physical standards and media formats. The best attributes of the Toshiba Link is that it considerably reduces electrical noise levels. The Toslink cable is mainly made up of high-quality yet inexpensive quality fibers; however, the standard length of this fiber is limited to only 5 meters in length. A conventional Toslink cable generally uses low-cost, 1 mm plastic optical fiber. However, depending on the required application and bandwidth, the Toshiba Link cable may use multi-strand plastic optical fibers or quartz optical fibers.
The typical Toslink cable also comes in a wide array of packages for digital audio applications. The available packages range from 25 mbps for DVD audio signal transmission, to high-speed optical transceiver applications like Fast Ethernet and IEEE1394. The Toslink system is considered to be quite dependable than electrical data transmission, because it eradicates electromagnetic noise, and does not affect digital transmission of sound or data. A Toshiba Link optical cable is also preferred because it is not susceptible to radio frequency interference and ground loops, unlike regular electrical cables.
Some Toslink cables or its related variants however, have been found to temporarily fail, as well as suffer irreversible damage, especially if this were tightly bent. The cable has also been assailed for having a limited range, because it is restricted by its high light-signal attenuation.
