PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) splitter is an important component in PON (passive

optical network) where a single optical input is split into multiple outputs. This

makes it possible to deploy a Point to Multi Point physical fiber network with a

single OLT (optical line terminal) port serving multiple ONTs (optical network

terminal). The most common split ratios are 1:N or 2:N. N represents the output

ports, usually as 2, 4, 8, 16, etc. The optical input power is distributed uniformly

across all output ports. The PLC Splitter

shares the cost and bandwidth of the OLT and reduces fiber lines. This article

will tell about how to keep a high quality PLC splitter from manufacturing to testing

sides.
PLC splitter is composed by many miniature parts. Among them, there are three

main components: fiber array for the input and output, and the chip. These three main

components decide whether the PLC splitter is of good quality or not. Let’s see the

key manufacturing steps of a PLC splitter.
Then how to determine the quality of a Mini PLC Splitter? The GR-1209 standards provides

comprehensive optical performance criteria. The following will introduce these

specifications such as optical bandpass, insertion loss, return loss, uniformity and

directivity.
Optical Bandpass
In a PON system, the downstream transmission uses 1490nm wavelength and 1310nm

wavelength for the upstream transmission. Besides, the requirement for RF video

overlay and network testing/maintenance should also be considered. The transmission

wavelength for RF video is 1550 nm. And the wavelengths for networking testing and

maintenance are 1550 nm and 1625 nm. So the standard opterating wavelength for a PON

splitter is determined as 1260~1650 nm which covers most of the optical bands.
Uniformity
Uniformity means the maximum insertion loss value between one input port and any

two output ports or between two input ports and one output port. This can ensure that

the transmission power at each ABS PLC Splitter output port is the same in a PON system to simplify

the network design.
Directivity
Directivity is the part of power transferred from one input port to another input

port or from an output port to another output port. For a 2xN optical splitter, when

light injects into one of the input ports, light doesn’t only propagate out of the

output ports. Some of the light propagates back through the second input port. And

when the light injects into one of the output ports, light propagates back through

the other output ports. In a bidirectional transmission system such as a PON,

directivity is useful to reduce signal crosstalk. A high directivity value will

increase the insertion loss due to the optical power loss.
In FTTx and PON architectures, fiber optic splitter is an important component to

share the optic network with multiple users. The basic principle of fiber optic

splitter is to split one optic light beam into several parts at a certain ratio.

According to different manufacture technologies, fiber optic splitters can be divided

into PLC splitter and FBT Splitter.

You may wonder the differences of the two splitter types when making a choice between

them. This article aims at helping you to understand their distinctions and make

better decisions.
What Is FBT Splitter?
FBT, or fused biconic taper uses the traditional technology to fuse several

fibers together closely. Fibers are aligned by heating for a specific location and

length. Fusion process will not stop until the parameters of the fibers reach the

required standards. Since fused fibers are very fragile, they are protected by a

glass tube made of epoxy and silica powder. Then a stainless steel tube covers the

inner glass tube and is sealed by silicon. ABS FBT Splitter is also widely used for different

applications.
Since their invention in the 1970s, Fiber Optic Assemblies have greatly changed the way wires and

wire-dependent industries work. In the communications industry alone, fiber optic

cable types have largely replaced copper wire as the primary means of signal

transmission. Their use, however, spans a wide array of applications, including cable

television, educational institutions, electrical utility plants, industrial

companies, medical technologies, and military operations.
Fiber optic cable assemblies consist of an optical fiber, a reinforcement strand

for support, and fiber optic cable connectors. While copper wires depend on

electrical pulses to transmit data, fiber optic systems rely on light pulse

transmissions carried through the cable which delivers data at a quicker rate.
What is an optical fiber distribution cabinet
The Optical Distribution Cabinet can also be called the

optical fiber distribution cabinet. It is an upgraded version of the odf optical

fiber distribution cabinet. It is also used for fiber termination, fiber fusion

splicing, fiber wiring and fiber storage, but it uses the tray in the box to slide

down. Out-of-line design, so that you can install both the adapter panel and the

high-density MPO/MTP wiring box. It is a commonly used wiring tool for local area

networks and data centers, and can ensure long-term and reliable network

transmission.
The optical fiber distribution cabinet has various specifications, the common

ones are rack type and wall-mounted box type. U or RU as the unit, refers to the

height of the equipment designed to be installed in the rack, usually 1RU, 2RU, 4RU

size. It has a sliding-out and sliding drawer design, which not only can be flexibly

wired but also can protect the optical fiber very well. It is an ideal wiring

management solution for data centers.
What is Fiber Optic Adapter?
Fiber optic adapters (also known as Fiber couplers, Fiber Adapter ) are designed

to connect two optical cables together. They have a single fiber connector (simplex),

dual fiber connector (duplex) or sometimes four fiber connector (quad) versions. The

Fiber Optical Adapter can

be inserted into different types of optical connectors at both ends of the optical

fiber adapter to realize the conversion between different interfaces such as FC, SC,

ST, LC, MTRJ, MPO and E2000, and is widely used in optical fiber distribution frames

(ODFs) Instruments, providing superior, stable and reliable performance.
Features of Fiber Optic Adapter
The optical fibers are connected by an adapter through its internal open bushing

to ensure the maximum connection between the optical connectors. In order to be fixed

in a variety of panels, the industry also designed a variety of finely fixed flange.
Transformable optical adapters are available with fiber optic connectors of

different interface types on both ends and provide a connection between APC

faceplates. Duplex or multi-adapter adapts to increase installation density and save

space.