The definition and function of PLC optical splitter
PLC optical splitter, also called Planar Waveguide Circuit splitter, is a device used to divide one or two light beams into multiple light beams uniformly or combine multiple light beams to one or two light beams.It is a passive optical device with many input and output terminals, especially applicable to FTTX,EPON, GPON, BPON, etc to connect the main distribution frame and the terminal equipment and to branch the optical signal.
PLC optical splitter has below advantages
1)Uniform light splitting and multiple splitting, the optical signal can be evenly distributed to multiple end users, and the number of channels is as high as 64.
2)Compact structure, small size, can be installed without a large space, commonly used in various boxes.
3)The more split channels, the more obvious on low-cost,so it is very suitable for passive optical network.
PLC Optical Splitter Manufacturing Technology
PLC Optical splitter is based on Semiconductor technology. As its name shows, PLC splitters are manufactured by planar waveguide circuit technology. PLC splitter design consists of one optical PLC chip and several optical arrays depending on the output ratio. The optical arrays are coupled on both ends of the PLC splitter chip.
That is the two ends of the chip are respectively coupled to package the input end and the output end of the multi-channel optical fiber array, and the branching function is completed on the chip, and up to 64 branches can be realized on one chip.
PLC chip is the key component of the PLC splitter. It is available in 1:N (N=2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64) and 2:N (N=2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64) splitting ratios. Below shows the 1x8 PLC splitter chip.
Classifications of PLC Splitter
According to different quantity of the chip of the PLC Fiber Optic Splitter,there are 1xN and 2xN PLC splitters, such as 1x4 splitter, 1x8 splitter, 1x16 splitter, 2x32 splitter, 2x64 PLC splitters, etc.
According to different packages,there are bare PLC splitter, Micro steel pipe PLC splitter, ABS PLC splitter, PLC splitter with splitter, tray PLC splitter, rack-mounted PLC splitter splitter, LGX splitter and mini plug-in PLC splitter, etc.
Application of PLC Optical Splitter
In passive optical networks，PLC splitter is widely installed between the PON Optical Line Terminal and the Optical Network Terminals/Units that the OLT serves. The single fiber link coming from the Central Office OLT is connected with the input of a splitter and is split into a given number of fibers leaving the splitter. The number of outputs in the PLC module determines the number of splits.
Two ways for PLC optical splitter to realize optical signal splitting
The PLC optical splitter can realize optical signal splitting in two ways: Centralized Splitting or Distributed Splitting.
Centralized Splitting means that the PLC splitter is centrally installed at a certain position between the optical line terminal (OLT) and the optical network unit (ONT), and centrally performs optical splitting processing on the signal at the central office, and then transmits it to each end user.
Centralized splitter configuration generally uses a combined split ratio of 1:64, with a 1:2 splitter in the central office, and a 1:32 in an outside plant enclosure such as a cabinet.
Distributed Splitting configuration normally has no splitters in the central office. It is distributed more and scattered, and the structure is complex. There are two levels.The first level of splitting (1:4 or 1:8) is installed in a closure, not far from the central office; the second level of splitters (1:8 or 1:16) is situated at terminal boxes, close to the customer premises.
Conclusion
As demand for higher bandwidth continues to grow, telecommunication companies rely on the PON network and need reliable PLC splitters to provide fiber optic links to an increasing number of users. PLC splitter allow a single PON network interface to be utilized by multiple users, maximizing a fiber network’s user capacity, offering the best solution for network builders.