What is PLC or FBT Fiber Optic Splitter?

PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) or FBT (Fused Biconic Taper) Fiber Optic Splitter is a passive optical device that is used to split or combine optical signals in fiber optic networks. These splitters are used to divide the incoming optical signal into multiple output signals or combine multiple input signals into a single output signal. PLC splitters are made using a silica-based waveguide chip, while FBT splitters are made by fusing and tapering two or more fibers together. PLC splitters are known for their high performance, low insertion loss, and compact size, while FBT splitters are more cost-effective and suitable for smaller scale applications.

PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) Splitter

- Construction: Fabricated using a thin film deposition and etching process on a glass or quartz substrate.
- Output Ports: Multiple output ports arranged in a linear or circular configuration.
- Operation: Light enters the splitter and is split evenly among the output ports by precise waveguide structures.

FBT (Fused Biconical Taper) Fiber Optic Splitter

- Construction: Two or more optical fibers are fused together and tapered to form a biconical shape.
- Output Ports: Two or more output ports on opposite ends of the device.
- Operation: Light entering the input fiber couples into the common taper and is split between the output fibers based on their relative core diameters.

Comparison

| Feature | PLC Splitter | FBT Splitter |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Output Ports | Can have many (e.g., 1xN, 2xN) | Typically 2-4 |
| Insertion Loss | Lower | Higher |
| Polarization Dependence | Low | High |
| Temperature Stability | High | Lower |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
| Applications | Telecommunication networks, data centers | PON systems, optical sensors |

Key Differences

- Fabrication Method: PLC splitters are fabricated using a microelectronic process, while FBT splitters are made by fusing fibers.
- Number of Output Ports: PLC splitters can have multiple output ports, while FBT splitters typically have two.
- Insertion Loss: PLC splitters have lower insertion loss compared to FBT splitters.
- Polarization Dependence: PLC splitters are less polarization-dependent than FBT splitters.

Optical splitter is one of the most important passive devices in optical fiber link, generally being used to realize optical signal splitter between OLT (Optical Line Terminal) and ONU (Optical Network Unit) in passive optical network. Optical splitter distributes optical signals from one optical fiber to multiple optical fibers. There are many forms of distribution, including 1×2, 1×4, 1×N, or 2×4, M×N. The general framework of FTTH is OLT - ODN - ONU, with optical splitter being applied in ODN, to enable multiple end users to share a PON interface. In PON framework, when the buildings are scattered and irregular, such as villas, with long distance and low user density, the centralized splitting method can make full use of resources to cover the surrounding area. In a passive optical network, only one optical splitter may be used, or multiple optical splitters may be used to divide optical signals together. View Detail https://www.glsun.com/article-p88-what-is-plc-or-fbt-fiber-optical-splitter.html