Article Overview
The two main forms of optical splitters are Fused Biconical Taper (FBT) splitters and Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) splitters, each suited for different network requirements.
Fused Biconical Taper (FBT) Splitters
FBT splitters are an older, widely used type of optical splitter. They work by fusing and tapering two or more optical fibers together, allowing light from the input fiber to be gradually redistributed among the output fibers. The split ratio can be controlled by adjusting the length, torsion, and stretch of the fibers during the fusion process. FBT splitters are cost-effective and ideal for low split ratios (e.g., 1×2, 1×4), making them suitable for short-distance applications. However, they may exhibit uneven light distribution and are less effective for high-channel networks .
Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) Splitters
PLC splitters are a modern technology that uses photolithographic techniques to create waveguides on a silica or semiconductor substrate. Light is guided through these waveguides and split evenly across multiple outputs, providing uniform power distribution regardless of the split ratio. PLC splitters are ideal for high split ratios (e.g., 1×32, 1×64) and large-scale networks such as FTTH, FTTX, and PON systems. They are compact, support many branching channels, and maintain signal quality across different wavelengths, though they are generally more expensive than FBT splitters .
Other Considerations
- Balanced (2×N) splitters: These have two input fibers and N output fibers, often used for redundancy in networks.
- Insertion loss and uniformity: PLC splitters typically offer lower insertion loss and more consistent output power compared to FBT splitters.
- Applications: FBT splitters are suitable for smaller networks or low-channel applications, while PLC splitters are preferred for large-scale deployments requiring high reliability and uniform signal distribution . In summary, FBT splitters are cost-effective for small-scale, low-split applications, whereas PLC splitters provide precise, uniform splitting for high-channel, large-scale optical networks. The choice depends on network size, split ratio, and performance requirements.
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