Optical Splitter Type: Comparison Of FBT Splitter And PLC Splitter

According to the different spectroscopic principles and manufacturing processes, optical splitters can be divided into two types: fused biconical taper (FBT) and Planar Light-wave Circuit (PLC).

What Is PLC Splitter?

PLC splitter is based on planar lightwave circuit technology. It comprises three layers: a substrate, a waveguide, and a lid. The waveguide plays a key role in the splitting process which allows for passing specific percentages of light. So the signal can be split equally. In addition, PLC splitters are available in a variety of split ratios, including 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, etc. They also have several types, such as bare PLC splitter, blockless PLC splitter, fanout PLC splitter, mini plug-in type PLC splitter, etc. The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of PLC splitter.

Uneven PLC Splitter

With the continuous increase in the penetration rate of gigabit broadband to the home, FTTR has gradually entered the market and has evolved into an important direction for the next generation of home broadband upgrades. At present, operators are vigorously promoting FTTR, and the FTTR industry chain has ushered in a period of rapid development. In this networking mode, the average splitting splitter has been unable to meet the requirements, and the optical splitter with a specific channel and a non-uniform splitting ratio has ushered in the market demand.

The Uneven PLC Splitter is a two-in-one integrated device developed based on the PLC technology platform, which has both unequal ratio and equal ratio functions. The splitter function of the optical ratio is integrated in one device.

Compared with the equal splitting splitter chip, the unequal splitting splitter chip has more stringent requirements in terms of design and process. In the process, any link, including the uniformity of the refractive index of the core layer process, the uniformity of the width and angle of the waveguide in the photolithography process, and the angle of the waveguide and the aspect ratio of the etching process in the etching process are all difficult problems that need to be overcome.

The Uneven PLC Splitter is an important core optical device for realizing unequal ratio optical networking. (1*5, 1*9, 1*17)

What Is FBT Splitter?

FBT splitter is based on traditional technology to weld several fibers together from the side of the fiber. Fibers are aligned by heating for a specific location and length. Because the fused fibers are very fragile, they are protected by a glass tube made of epoxy and silica powder. And then a stainless steel tube covers the inner glass tube and is sealed by silicon. As technology continues developing, the quality of FBT splitter is very good and it can be applied in a cost-effective way. The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of FBT splitter.

FBT Splitter vs PLC Splitter: What Are the Differences?

Operating Wavelength

FBT splitter only supports three wavelengths: 850nm, 1310nm, and 1550nm, which makes its inability to work on other wavelengths. The PLC splitter can support wavelengths from 1260 to 1650nm. The adjustable range of wavelength makes PLC splitter suitable for more applications.

Splitting Ratio

Splitting ratio is decided by the inputs and outputs of an optical cable splitter. The maximum split ratio of FBT splitter is up to 1:32, which means one or two inputs can be split into an output maximum of 32 fibers at a time. However, the split ratio of PLC splitter is up to 1:64 - one or two inputs with an output maximum of 64 fibers. Besides, FBT splitter is customizable, and the special types are 1:3, 1:7, 1:11, etc. But PLC splitter is non-customizable, and it has only standard versions like 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, and so on.

Asymmetric Attenuation Per Branch

The signal processed by FBT splitters cannot be split evenly due to a lack of management of the signals, so its transmission distance can be affected. However, PLC splitter can support equal splitter ratios for all branches, which can ensure a more stable optical transmission.

Failure Rate

FBT splitter is typically used for networks requiring the splitter configuration of less than 4 splits. The larger the split, the greater the failure rate. When its splitting ratio is larger than 1:8, more errors will occur and cause a higher failure rate. Thus, FBT splitter is more restricted to the number of splits in one coupling. But the failure rate of PLC splitter is much smaller.

Temperature-Dependent Loss

In certain areas, the temperature can be a crucial factor that affects the insertion loss of optical components. FBT splitter can work stable under the temperature of -5 to 75℃. PLC splitter can work at a wider temperature range of -40 to 85 ℃, providing relatively good performance in the areas of extreme climate.

Price

Owing to the complicated manufacturing technology of PLC splitter, its cost is generally higher than the FBT splitter. If your application is simple and short of funds, FBT splitter can provides a cost-effective solution.

Conclusion(FBT VS PLC)

Although the outer appearance and size of FBT and PLC fiber splitter seem rather similar, their internal technologies and specifications differ in various ways. Over the past few years, splitter technology has made a huge step forward in the past few years by introducing PLC splitter. It has proven itself as a higher reliable type of device compared to the traditional FBT splitter. If high split counts, small package size, and low insertion loss are required, you are suggested to choose PLC splitter rather than FBT splitter.

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