Since the early years of fiber optics, there has been a need to passively switch, tap, split, and multiplex optical signals. Today’s technology allows designers to expand on these original tasks by also providing the ability to direct, control, and filter optical signals for more creative and cost-effective system designs using innovative passive devices.
In fiber optics, the word “passive” refers to those devices do not require electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical conversion during its operation. Passive optical components include simple optical connectors, splices, and fixed optical attenuators, but also more complicated, electronically controlled, optical devices like switches and variable optical attenuators.
In the case of CATV networks, optical splitters allow for broadcasting of video signals to thousands of subscribers through the hybrid fiber coax systems. Splitters are also known as couplers, and have a number of characteristics that determine their function and application. These include the number of input and output ports, signal attenuation, the directionality of the light transmission, wavelength selectivity, single- or multimode operation, as well as the polarization sensitivity and the polarization-dependent loss of the device.
Fiber optic splitter, also named beam splitter, is based on a quartz substrate of integrated waveguide optical power distribution device, the same as coaxial cable transmission system, The optical network system also needs to be an optical signal coupled to the branch distribution, which requires the fiber optic splitter, Is one of the most important passive devices in the optical fiber link, is optical fiber tandem device with many input terminals and many output terminals, Especially applicable to a passive optical network (EPON, GPON, BPON, FTTX, FTTH etc.) to connect the MDF and the terminal equipment and to achieve the branching of the optical signal.Fiber optic splitter is a key optical device in passive optical network (PON) systems, also known as a passive optical splitter, which splits the optical signal power evenly into all the output ports. In the PON field plant, fiber plc splitter is placed on an electric pole, connecting the distribution optical cable in the air and the drop wire to the customer premises. A 1 × N splitter can be part of an N × N star coupler. Most Splitters available in 900um loose tube and 250um bare fiber. 1×2 and 2×2 couplers come standard with a protective metal sleeve to cover the split. Higher output counts are built with a box to protect the splitting components
In the early days, the only passive components available were simple optical splitters and attenuators, which used internal filters to change attenuation values. As optical technology matured, wavelength- specific components emerged, leading to advances such as wavelength division multiplexing, which vastly increased the data capacity of optical networks.
Optical attenuators are commonly used in fiber optic communications, either to test power level margins by temporarily adding a calibrated amount of signal loss, or installed permanently to properly match transmitter and receiver levels. Sharp bends stress optic fibers and can cause losses. If a received signal is too strong a temporary fix is to wrap the cable around a pencil until the desired level of attenuation is achieved.[1] However, such arrangements are unreliable, since the stressed fiber tends to break over time. variable optical attenuator used in fiber optic systems may use a variety of principles for their functioning. Preferred attenuators use either doped fibers, or mis-aligned splices,or total power since both of these are reliable and inexpensive. Inline style attenuators are incorporated into patch cables. The alternative build out style attenuator is a small male-female adapter that can be added onto other cables.
In the 1990s this expanded multiplexing capability came from a surge of new technologies, all influencing each other. Low loss single-mode fibers operating at 1550 nanometers with losses in the 0.2 dB per kilometer range, allowed for longer spans without regeneration of the optical signal.
Simultaneously, intense research and experimentation led to the development of the erbium doped fiber amplifier or EDFA, and incorporated passive optical couplers, isolators, filters, and WDMs.
The EDFA was unique in that it could optically amplify all wavelengths across an optical spectrum. As manufacturers began to produce lasers with tighter spectral widths, dense wavelength division multiplexing, known as DWDM, with optical spacings in to the tenths of nanometers, became a reality. This required optical filters to demultiplex these wavelengths.
Combined with new optical fibers, the EDFA and an explosive communications revolution, these technologies would drive optical multiplexing into point-to-point, long haul networks, and eventually into metropolitan area networks. These networks use DWDM in ring architectures, which require an optical solution to add and drop wavelengths at multiple points throughout the physical ring.
Fiberstore is a leading worldwide manufacturer and supplier of premium passive fiber optic components and specializes in fully tested integrated fiber optic solutions & services. Our components can be found on the ocean floor, in space, and around the house. Gould’s fiber optic components make your application more reliable because of their excellent performance in all kinds of conditions. Fiberstore Products in this class include: WDM/CWDM/DWDM, Optical Switch, Optical Circulator, Optical Isolator, PLC Splitter, Fiber Optic Attenuator, Patch Cord and Adapters, Optical Collimator, Polarization Maintaining products and some Hybrid Combination components. You can find all kinds of standard passive parts here and at the same time, special and customized solutions are offered. Just drop us a message and Flyin Team will get back to in 24 hours.
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