What is Fiber Optic Splitter Definition
A fiber optic splitters, also named as a fiber optic coupler or a beam splitter, is based on a quartz substrate of an integrated waveguide optical power distribution device, similar to a coaxial cable transmission system. The optical network system uses an optical signal coupled to the branch distribution. The fiber optic splitter is one of the most important passive devices in the optical fiber link. It is an optical fiber tandem device with many input and output terminals, especially applicable to a passive optical network (EPON, GPON, BPON, FTTX, FTTH etc.) to connect the MDF and the terminal equipment and to branch the optical signal.
Fiber optic splitter is used to split a fiber optic beam into several beams at a certain splitting ratio. Fiber optic splitter is one of the key components in FTTH. Fiber optic splitter typical parameter include input and output part cable length, splitting ratio, working wavelength and with what kind of fiber optic connectors. Just like fiber patch cable, fiber splitters are usually with 0.9mm, 2mm or 3mm cables. 0.9mm outer diameter cable is mostly used in stainless steel tube package fiber optic splitters, while 2mm and 3mm cables are mostly used in box type package fiber splitters.
Based on working wavelength difference there are single window and dual window fiber optic splitters. And there are single mode fiber splitter and multimode fiber splitters. Typical connectors installed on the fiber optic splitters are FC or SC type.
Depend on the technology used, there are Fused Biconic Tapered (FBT) fiber splitter and Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) fiber splitter.
Fused Biconic Tapered (FBT) fiber splitter is a traditional type with over 20 years history, it is a mature products, material used to make such products is easy to get so the total cost is small. Fused fiber splitter has many defects, for example, if many output like 1X32, the size of such splitter will be big, its loss is sensitive to working wavelength.
Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) fiber splitter is developed based on silica glass wave-guide process with reliable precision aligned fiber pigtail in a miniature package. PLC fiber splitter has many advantages, one semiconductor could realize 1X32 splitting or more, which help make it a small size, and its loss is not sensitive to the working wavelength.
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