PLC Splitter – A Passive Component Used in Passive Optical Network (PON)
PLC splitter is a passive component used in Passive Optical Network (PON) to distribute fiber optic signals to multiple subscribers. It has no electronics and requires no power.
The basic function of a plc splitter is to separate an incident light beam into several light beams. The splitter is made of two materials: a substrate and a cladding.
Bare Fiber PLC Splitter
PLC splitter is a passive component used to distribute optical power in the FTTH passive optical network. It is fabricated using silica optical wave guide technology and can be used in the GPON, EPON, and BPON networks. It features good channel-to-channel uniformity, high reliability and small size.
It can be applied in different types of networks, and is a good choice for customers who need high quality PON splitters. It can also help reduce the cost of installation.
Compared to FBT, PLC splitter has many advantages including low insertion loss, high return loss, and excellent uniformity over a wide wavelength range from 1260 nm to 1620 nm. Moreover, the compact configuration and small size occupy little space.
However, it is not ideal for applications with long distance transmission. The maximum insertion loss will vary depending on the split and increase substantially for those splits over 1:8.
The insertion loss can be reduced through the use of superior connectors and fiber arrays. The insertion loss can be improved by the use of a high-quality fiber array block with accurate pitch and depth in v-grooves. It can also be improved by the use of an adjustable splitting ratio.
In addition, it can also be adjusted to work on multiple operating wavelengths (850nm, 1310nm, and 1550nm) without tinnitus, which makes it an efficient solution for a variety of applications.
This is a popular PON product for both new and existing installations and can be installed in the pigtail cassette, test instrument or WDM system. It is relatively fragile on fiber protection and needs a complete protection design on the carrying box body and device to ensure safety.
Another benefit of this product is that it can be installed in a bare fiber enclosure, which minimizes the space occupation. It is available in 250um bare fiber or 900um loose tube and is manufactured in a simple proprietary process, resulting in a reliable, low-cost device.
As a trusted FTTx vendor, Fiberstore offers a full line of bare fiber PLC splitters to meet your specific application needs. We offer six major package types to meet your requirements: Bare Fiber Optical Splitter, ABS Splitter, Module Splitter, Rack-Mount Splitter, Fan-Out & Blockless Splitter, and LGX Splitter.
Blockless PLC Splitter
A PLC splitter is a passive optical component that allows a single fiber link to be equivalently divided into multiple strands of fiber. It plays an important role in the applications of technologies like GPON, EPON and BPON by enabling a single network interface to be shared among many subscribers. However, with the network cabling environment becoming more and more complex, various PLC splitters with different package form factors are being invented, which makes selecting the right one difficult.
During selection, split ratios are a crucial consideration. It is also important to choose a PLC splitter with the proper size and the correct cable type. In addition, the type of fiber used for the connection should also be considered.
The bare fiber PLC splitter family is a type of PLC splitter with a bare fiber input and output that can be terminated at the fiber ends with a variety of connectors such as SC, LC, FC or ST types. It is commonly used for FTTH, PON, LAN and CATV applications.
Bare fiber PLC splitters are available in several appearances to meet the needs of a range of applications. These appearances plc splitter include bare fiber PLC splitters with fan out, blockless PLC splitters and rack mount PLC splitters.
These appearances are based on Broadex Technologies’ Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) splitter, a passive optical power management device that uses silica waveguide structures to evenly divide an optical signal from 1 or 2 input channels and distribute the split signal to N multiple output channels. The products are Telcordia GR 1221 CORE qualified, and RoHS compliant.
They are available in a variety of splitter ratios including 1×4, 1×8, 1×16,1×32, and 1×64. They are also available in a wide array of single mode and multimode fibers.
Unlike bare fiber PLC splitters, blockless PLC splitters are manufactured with a plc splitter compact stainless tube package that provides stronger fiber protection. Moreover, they have a selection of connectors at the fiber termination and can be installed directly in distribution boxes or network cabinets to provide higher speed FTTH connections.
In general, a blockless PLC splitter is a more cost-effective solution than a fanout version because it has a lower loss and higher reliability. It can be a good choice for installations that are short of space.
1xN PLC Splitter
Planar lightwave circuit (PLC) splitters are passive optical power management devices that use silica waveguide structures to evenly split an optical signal from one or two input channels and distribute the split signal to N multiple output channels. PLC splitters have wide operating wavelength range, good channel-to-channel uniformity, high reliability, small size and are widely used in PON network to realize optical signal power management.
Compared with fused biconical-taper (FBT) items, PLC products provide greater potential functionality and a more compact design. They also operate at a wider scope of temperatures and feature higher splitting ratios. In addition, they have a more diverse operating spectrum than FBT items, which makes them more useful for many applications.
PLC splitters are available in a variety of packaging types, including fan-out, module and rack mount. They are fabricated with plasma chemical vapor deposition technology and a patented fabrication process that provides stable performance. They are Telcordia GR 1221 CORE qualified and RoHS compliant.
The 1xN series of PLC splitters from Tarluz have a number of features and benefits that make them a great choice for optical signal distribution in a PON network. These include low insertion loss and polarization dependent loss, miniature size, wide operating wavelength and temperature range, super reliability, and excellent channel uniformity.
Additionally, they are a cost-effective solution to meeting fiber distribution requirements. They are compatible with a wide range of singlemode fibers and can be pigtailed to a standard fiber optic connector. They can be provided with a variety of fiber termination options and are 900um loose tube protected on the input and output fibers.
When choosing a plc splitter, customers should consider the number of ports, the type of port, and whether they want to have redundant outputs. They should also choose a product that is designed for a particular application.
PLC splitters are typically deployed in the central office of a PON network to divide optical signal power into multiple equal inputs, or in a cascade structure with multiple splitters that connect to each other at multiple locations. Cascade splitters are more suitable for dense environments, while centralized splitters offer a cost-effective solution in areas with low take rates.
2xN PLC Splitter
A plc splitter is a passive optical device that can divide or combine multiple light beams into one or two light beams uniformly. It is mainly applied to passive optical networks (PON, EPON, GPON, BPON, etc.) to connect the MDF and terminal equipment, and to achieve branching of optical signal. It consists of three main parts, including an input fiber array, a planar light-wave chip, and an output fiber array.
PLC optical splitter is based on planar lightwave circuit technology, and it provides a low cost light distribution solution with a small form factor and high reliability. It is a key component in FTTx network, and its high quality performance includes low insertion loss, low PDL, low back reflection loss, good uniformity of transmission parameters within the entire spectrum of transferred optical signals and excellent return loss.
As the core of a PON network, a PLC optical power splitter is a passive optical device that combines multiple optical power flows into one or more symmetrical output ports. This type of splitter is typically deployed between an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) in the central office and multiple Optical Network Units (ONUs) in the end users’ areas, to realize point-to-point or point-to-multipoint (P2MP) physical fiber connectivity.
Because of their high quality performance, PLC optical splitters are widely used in passive optical networks. They can achieve up to 1:32 or 2xN splitting ratio, depending on the number of input and output fibers. This helps to reduce the amount of fiber optic cable required and save space in the installation.
Another advantage of PLC splitters is their high spectral uniformity, which can reduce the cost of connecting multiple ONUs. Furthermore, their insertion losses are not sensitive to the working wavelength, which can minimize their effect on a network’s overall performance.
In addition to the standard versions of 1xN and 2xN PLC splitters, there are also some types of LGX splitters that can be installed in a rack. These splitters come with a strong metal body that protects the PLC splitter components inside the closure and have pre-teminated adapters for connection to outside equipment. They are ideal for outdoor or indoor applications in FTTH projects, CATV or data communication centers.