What is Fiber Optic Splitter and Types

What is a Fiber Optic Splitter?

Fiber optic splitter is a passive optical device used to distribute optical signals, which can divide input optical signals into multiple outputs to meet the fiber optic access needs of multiple terminal devices. Optical splitters are a very important component in fiber optic links, widely used in fields such as fiber optic communication, fiber optic sensing, and fiber optic testing.

Optical Splitter Types

Optical splitters can be divided into two types based on their working principles: Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) optical splitters and Fused Biconic Tapered (FBT) optical splitters.

PLC Splitter

PLC splitter is an integrated waveguide optical power distribution device based on quartz substrate, manufactured using semiconductor technology to achieve optical signal distribution (usually 1 x N, or 2 x N)

Feature:

Low loss, wide working wavelength range, able to meet the transmission needs of different wavelengths

Good uniformity of light distribution, allowing for uniform distribution of light signals to ends

Small size, light weight, and easy installation

Good reliability and stability, able to operate stably for a long time

Application:

Common applications include optical routing, optical network monitoring, and optical distributed sensing systems in optical communication systems

There are many different types of PLC fiber optic splitters on the market, common ones are:

Bare Fiber PLC Splitter
Micro-tube PLC Splitter
ABS PLC Splitter
LGX PLC Splitter
Rack Mount
PLC Splitter

Bare Fiber PLC Splitter

Bare fiber PLC splitter has no connectors at all ends, leaving only the bare fiber. It is usually directly spliced with the fibers of the input and output optical cables, and is mainly suitable for infrequent disassembly occasions.

Micro-tube PLC Splitter

Micro tube PLC splitter is a device that encapsulates PLC chips in micro steel pipes. It has a similar appearance to bare fiber splitters, but does not require fiber fusion during installation. It is mainly used for internal installation in junction boxes, terminal boxes, etc.

ABS PLC Splitter

ABS PLC splitter encapsulates the PLC chip in an ABS plastic box. It has a compact appearance and is more flexible in application, widely used in indoor wiring, fiber distributed sensing, and other scenarios in fiber optic access networks.

LGX PLC Splitter

LGX PLC splitter has a sturdy metal box with standard fiber optic interfaces, making it easy to install and connect. It can be easily installed in fiber enclosures, terminal boxes, suitable for various plug and play network integration environments.

Fiber Distribution Outdoor Boxes for plc 1*8 Splitter

Rack Mount PLC Splitter

Rack mounted PLC splitter is an optical splitter designed for installation in a 19 inch rack or cabinet. It typically has multiple fiber input and output interfaces, which can meet the requirements of high-density cabling in data centers or server rooms.

A fiber optic splitter is a passive optical device used in fiber optic networks to divide a single input signal into multiple output signals or combine multiple input signals into a single output. Splitters are commonly used in Passive Optical Networks (PONs), Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) deployments, CATV (cable television), and other optical communication systems.

There are different types of fiber optic splitters, and they can be classified based on various factors, including construction method, configuration, and functionality. Below is a comprehensive list of the main types of fiber optic splitters:

1. Fused Biconical Taper (FBT) Splitters

Description: FBT splitters are made using the fused biconical tapering technique, where two fibers are heated and stretched together to create a taper. The light is then split between the two fibers.
How it Works: The input signal is passed through a tapered fiber region, which splits the signal to multiple output fibers.
Advantages:
- Low cost and easy to produce.
- Commonly used for low-to-medium split ratios (like 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16).
Disadvantages:
- Higher insertion loss compared to other types of splitters (especially at high split ratios).
- Limited bandwidth.
Applications: Often used in FTTH, PONs, and CATV networks.

2. Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) Splitters

Description: PLC splitters are made using a planar lightwave circuit technology, where optical fibers are integrated into a planar substrate. The light is distributed using photolithographic processes.
How it Works: A single input fiber is coupled to the waveguide network of the PLC splitter, which distributes the light uniformly to multiple output fibers.
Advantages:
- Low insertion loss and high uniformity of signal distribution.
- Can be used for high split ratios (e.g., 1:32, 1:64, 1:128).
- High reliability and performance over a wide range of wavelengths.
Disadvantages:
- More expensive compared to FBT splitters.
- Larger size compared to FBT splitters.
Applications: Ideal for high-density networks, such as FTTH, GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Networks), and data centers.

What is the FBT Splitter?

The FBT splitter is a primary optical splitter. Not only does it use cheap and easily available raw materials, but it also holds a manufacturing process simple and threshold-free. An FBT splitter undergoes the following steps during its production:

Firstly, the optical fibers are stripped of their coating layer to expose the bare glass and are bundled together in a specific configuration. The number of fibers depends on the desired number of outputs.
Next, the fibers are fused using a high-temperature fusion splicer. Fibers are melted and merged into a single structure in this process.
The fibers are stretched and twisted to form a particular biconical waveguide structure. The fiber stretching length and torsion angle created during tapering determine the splitting ratio.
After achieving the desired tapering, the excess input fibers are cut off to ensure correct port configuration. Finally, the splitter is housed in a protective casing to safeguard the fragile fused area.

The uncomplicated flow of production allows this type of optical splitter to be widely applied. But this rough process also makes FBT splitters lack precision, making them suitable primarily for devices with fewer outputs. An FBT splitter over 1×4 will require a combination of several 1×2 structures and an integral package. Steel tube splitter and ABS splitter are two common packaging types for FBT splitter.

What is the PLC Splitter?

The PLC splitter takes an optical chip containing a lightwave circuit as the core component. The input fiber on the fiber optic link transmits light energy to the chip through an optical array coupled to one end of the chip, and the waveguide on the chip plays a role in splitting the optical signals and conducting them to the output fibers through another optical array coupled to the other end of the chip. The introduction of semiconductor chip technology contributes to reducing the size of optical splitters. Moreover, this sophisticated technology has effectively improved the division capacity of such splitters, making the splitting more accurate and even. But this also means that the fabrication process of the PLC optical splitter is more complicated. In terms of packaging way, there are many types of PLC splitters, for example, bare splitter, mini PLC splitter with steel tube or module design, ABS PLC splitter packaged in a plastic box, LGX PLC splitter or cassette splitter packaged in a metal box, rack-mounted PLC splitter designed for 19-inch rack, etc. PLC splitters are preferable in FTTH deployments.