A Bare Fiber PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) Splitter is a type of optical splitter that is used to distribute optical signals across multiple paths without using any connectorized casing. This component is typically made with a silica optical waveguide technology, which allows it to divide a single optical input into multiple output fibers uniformly, ensuring minimal insertion loss.
Here are some key features and uses of the Bare Fiber PLC Splitter:
- Design and Structure: It consists of a single block of glass fiber with multiple channels for splitting light. The fibers are typically unprotected, meaning they don’t have a connector end, which makes them flexible for various applications where connectors are added later based on the specific needs.
- Low Insertion Loss: The PLC splitter offers very low insertion loss, which is crucial for maintaining the strength of the signal as it is distributed across outputs.
- Uniform Splitting: It provides uniform power splitting across all channels, which is essential for applications requiring a consistent signal strength in all outputs.
- Wide Wavelength Range: It can operate over a wide range of wavelengths, from 1260 to 1650 nm, making it suitable for various telecommunications applications.
- Applications: Due to its versatile and robust nature, Bare Fiber PLC Splitters are commonly used in fiber to the home (FTTH) networks, local area networks (LAN), cable television (CATV) systems, and anywhere that a single optical signal needs to be distributed to multiple locations.
- Installation: Since the fibers are bare, they are typically spliced onto other fibers in the network, which allows for more customization in network design and reduces the space needed for housing connections.
Bare Fiber PLC Splitters are crucial for efficient fiber optic network management, providing reliable, high-quality signal distribution in a compact form factor.
