What Is PLC fiber optic splitter?
Optical fiber splitter is an optical passive device that splits an optical fiber signal into multiple optical signal outputs. It can split an incident beam into two or more beams, including multiple inputs and outputs. What is a fiber splitter? How many fiber splitters do you know? This article will take you through the types of fiber splitters.
PLC splitter, also called Planar Waveguide Circuit splitter, is a device used to divide one or two light beams into multiple light beams uniformly or combine multiple light beams to one or two light beams. It is a passive optical device with many input and output terminals, especially applicable to PON (EPON, GPON, BPON, FTTX, etc.) to connect the MDF (main distribution frame) and the terminal equipment and to branch the optical signal.
PLC splitter provides a low-cost light distribution solution with high stability and reliability. PLC splitters can offer a splitting ratio of up to 1x64, which is generally higher than the splits of FBT splitter that another common type of optical splitter.
PLC Splitter Manufacturing Technology
PLC splitter is based on Semiconductor technology. As its name shows, PLC splitters are manufactured by planar waveguide circuit technology. PLC splitter design consists of one optical PLC chip and several optical arrays depending on the output ratio. The optical arrays are coupled on both ends of the PLC splitter chip.
PLC chip is one key component of a fiber PLC splitter. It is available in 1xN (N=2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64) and 2xN (N=2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64) splitting ratios.
Classifications of PLC Splitters
PLC Fiber Optic Splitter can be categorized by variety of classification methods, commonly have 3 types: the connectors, packaging method, splitting ratio. Nowadays, there are many packaging types of PLC splitters on the market to suit all applications.
The following are five typical PLC splitters types:
- Bare Fiber Optical Splitter
- Mini module Fiber Splitter
- ABS Splitter
- LGX Splitter
- Rack-Mount Splitter
Method 1: By package
PLC splitters can be classified based on different packages to meet clients’ needs in various scenarios, including small size PLC splitter that needs to be used in terminal boxes, big size in racks or big distribution box. There are mainly 4 types of basic package:
Basis package optical splitters can be used individually, also can be installed in different fiber optic box or fiber enclosures.
Method 2: Split Ratio (Take Mini Splitter For Example)
PLC Fiber Optic Splitter can be categorized by the PLC splitter chip they use, meaning there are 1xN and 2xN PLC splitters, such as 1×4 splitter, 1×8 splitter, 1×16 splitter, 2×32 splitter, 2×64 PLC splitters, etc. Users can choose different input and output numbers depending on subscriber conditions or project requests.
With the development of optical communications, the equal split taps can no longer meet the needs of various optical networks, there are many special applications and non-equal split scenario needs. The current market practice is to use different non-homogeneous 1×2 pull cone splitters with various homogeneous splitters to achieve the purpose of non-homogeneous splitting. This method is a 1×2 outgoing end and PLC tap incoming end fused together, fusion point using heat shrink tube protection. At the same time, we can also provide a more convenient and stable non-homogeneous solution for customers to use, is the direct use of non-homogeneous chip PLC splitter, currently available in mass production of 1X3, 1X5 and 1×9 splitter. For any inquiries please contact: sales@lightoptics.co.uk